He sees her: Gail and Eugene v. Joel and Ellie 2x2/2x6
Perspective Tilt...
Like changing the angle of a camera to capture the different shots of the same scene, Eugene's life and death - even for it's brief screen glimmer - illuminates so much more about TLOU 2x2. Apart from it's obvious plot anchors of Joel lying to Ellie and circling back to the Salt Lake, firstly it creates a new angle on the dynamic for Ellie/Gail. Gail is so hell bent on Ellie being a smart, manipulative liar, and now we know why. Ellie lashing out at Joel from her personal righteous but selfish and narrow lens of anger shatters a peaceful illusion of Eugene's final message for Gail because from Ellie's perspective she'd want the truth even if it hurt. Gail, despite being a mental health professional, might have at her core been more at peace with a lie (the truth made her spiral), which is why she takes aim at Ellie's dishonest speech to the Jackson Council. In part because she sees Ellie can be honest (brutally) *or* dishonest, the key feature being when it suits her with little regard for collateral (like Gail), a self-centered choice. She projects this trait onto Joel in the exchange "because you're selfish / because I love you" when, at least from Gail's perspective, that's more telling of Ellie's motivation. In all likelihood, Gail probably wishes that Ellie had maintained a lie to spare her pain. It makes the sting of resentment worse when a truth-teller is capable but unwilling to give a palliative lie, like an inverse light upon the untold conflict between Ellie and Joel, which is why I think Gail dials in even more mistrust and ire: she calls Ellie a liar in spite, which is the remnant echo of a plea.
And lastly Joel's scene with Eugene is so aching in the marrow of my bones, particularly because of a perfect line of dialogue (an I don't say perfect ever), pleading to the effect: "I need her last words for me! / If you love someone you can always see their face. / I can see her."
Those 2x6 lines and the visceral silence of the act reframe this 2x2 scene into an endless carnival mirror of love and pain for which I cannot express the depth of which I admire the writers while simultaneously falling past the bottom of despair.
Gif Sources X O X
Her last words for me — Close your eyes, it'll be worth it — I see her.
