The trip to Tommy’s settlement in Jackson is a point of respite for Joel and Ellie in both The Last of Us game and the series. The two are able to take a breath, shower, get warm coats for the winter, and talk about future plans. In the series, this means a long talk between Joel and Tommy. Tommy tells Joel he can’t replace him for the rest of Ellie’s trek to the Fireflies — he has a good life here in Jackson, with his wife Maria and a baby on the way.
