The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6 Packs a Heart-Wrenching Emotional Impact Through a Minor Yet Significant Detail

HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6 left viewers stunned with its emotional resonance, merging blatant sorrow with nuanced storytelling. A particularly moving detail, noted by Reddit user Unwept_Skate_8829, centers around a recognizable and profoundly symbolic item: Joel’s watch. In a twist, however, the watch isn’t first seen on Joel’s wrist — it’s actually worn by his father in a flashback scene.

The episode starts with a flashback to 1983 in Austin, Texas, depicting a young Joel (portrayed by Andrew Diaz) along with his brother Tommy (David Miranda) living in the oppressive environment of their abusive father, Javier (Tony Dalton), a police officer. During a tense moment in the kitchen, Joel takes the rap for something Tommy did to protect his younger sibling from their father’s fury. Javier, trying to legitimize his actions, opens two beers and asserts that he’s doing better than his own dad — a chilling instance of inherited trauma. It’s during this moment that Javier is seen wearing a watch familiar to fans.

This watch, which becomes Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) as the series progresses, transforms into a significant emblem throughout the narrative. It signifies not just the passage of time, but also the legacy of fatherhood — both the kind Joel lived through and the kind he aims to personify. In Season 1, Joel’s daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) has the watch fixed as a birthday surprise for her father. Sadly, on that very day, Sarah meets her end during the outbreak of the cordyceps infection, and the watch sustains damage amidst the turmoil. Joel chooses not to repair it, instead opting to wear it as a quiet homage to his daughter and a reminder of everything he’s endured.

The emotional significance of the watch re-emerges in Season 2, Episode 3, following Joel’s tragic demise at the hands of Abby (Kaitlyn Dever). Back in Jackson, his brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) prepares Joel’s remains for burial and takes off the watch, telling his departed sibling to “Give Sarah my love.” Later, Ellie (Bella Ramsey), Joel’s surrogate daughter, discovers the watch along with his pistol in a red box on his bed — a parting gift from Tommy, representing the strong connections they all shared.

Through this small yet impactful detail, the series chronicles the watch’s journey through the generations — from Javier to Joel, and ultimately to Ellie. It acts as a tangible symbol of the trauma, love, and loss that shape these characters’ lives. More than just a mere timepiece, the watch embodies the theme of lost time — and the future that was taken away — in a world torn apart by violence and sorrow.

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

Looking to delve further into the universe of The Last of Us? Here’s how to engage with the games that inspired the series.