The Last of Us has consistently delivered some of television's most emotionally devastating hours. Whether it's the standalone love story of Long Long Time, the gut-wrenching finale of Season 1, or the seismic events of Season 2, every episode leaves a mark. Which one hit hardest?
1Long Long TimeSeason 1, Episode 3 — A standalone love story between survivalists Bill and Frank spanning two decades, widely considered one of TV's greatest episodes.1000pts
2KinSeason 1, Episode 6 — Joel reunites with his brother Tommy in Wyoming, a breather episode that shifts the tone toward quiet hope and long-buried trauma.692pts
3Look for the LightSeason 1, Episode 9 — The gut-wrenching season finale in which Joel makes an irreversible choice to save Ellie, setting the stage for every conflict to come.546pts
4Through the ValleySeason 2, Episode 2 — The most pivotal and devastating episode of the entire series, delivering a landmark moment that irrevocably reshapes the story.498pts
5InfectedSeason 1, Episode 2 — Joel and Ellie navigate fungal-infected zones in a tense, atmospheric episode that establishes the show's terrifying creature mythology.311pts
6Endure and SurviveSeason 1, Episode 5 — A Kansas City episode packed with emotional stakes as Henry, Sam, and a monstrous bloater ambush collide in a devastating sequence.311pts
7When We Are in NeedSeason 1, Episode 8 — Joel and Ellie's harrowing encounter with David and his violent religious community, culminating in one of TV's most disturbing scenes.311pts
8Future DaysSeason 2, Episode 1 — Four years after the events of Season 1, the new chapter opens with Joel and Ellie's fractured but loving relationship — and the gathering storm ahead.249pts
9Feel Her LoveSeason 2, Episode 5 — Ellie confronts a key figure deep in WLF territory in a scene that pushes Bella Ramsey's performance to new heights.249pts
10Left BehindSeason 1, Episode 7 — A flashback episode revealing the bittersweet final night Ellie shared with her best friend Riley at an abandoned mall.223pts
11The PriceSeason 2, Episode 6 — A series of intimate flashbacks in which Joel finally confesses his lie to Ellie, resulting in the most emotionally devastating conversation in the show.178pts
12ConvergenceSeason 2, Episode 7 — The season finale that brings Ellie's mission to a sobering impasse, closing the chapter on an emotionally relentless season.178pts
13When You're Lost in the DarknessSeason 1, Episode 1 — The acclaimed series premiere introducing Joel and Ellie against a beautifully constructed post-outbreak world.96pts
14Please Hold My HandSeason 1, Episode 4 — Joel and Ellie's bond deepens during a tense road crossing, culminating in a shocking nighttime ambush that changes the dynamic between them.96pts
