Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Last of Us season 1 and The Last of Us Part II.Joel's decision at the end of The Last of Us season 1 was a controversial one, raising questions over whether Joel was right or not, and why he made such a choice. Joel clearly made his The Last of Us season 1 ending decision in an attempt to protect Ellie, but some would argue that the negative consequences of this choice far outweigh the benefits. There are arguments on both sides, with Joel's choice in The Last of Us season 1's finale being one of the most discussed moments from the series.

The Last of Us follows Joel as he attempts to get a young girl named Ellie to a rebel hospital due to Ellie's immunity to the Cordyceps virus that has ravaged the world. Joel and Ellie finally arrive at their sought-after destination in the finale of The Last of Us season 1, but the doctors never get a chance to synthesize a cure from Ellie's blood. This is the second wave of controversy surrounding Joel's decision at the end of the story, as it has been a hotly-debated topic ever since the ending of the original The Last of Us game.

Joel Lied About The Cure To Protect Ellie In The Last Of Us

Ellie and Joel looking out at the plains in The Last of Us

Upon arriving at the hospital in The Last of Us season 1's finale, Joel and Ellie are promptly knocked out by some Firefly guards. When Joel wakes up, he finds himself in a hospital with an old Firefly friend named Marlene having vouched for the duo. Marlene explains to Joel that Ellie is already in surgery. However, Joel discovers that the surgery requires removing parts of Ellie's brain, causing him to go on a rampage. Stopping at nothing to save Ellie, Joel kills almost everyone in the hospital and takes a still-unconscious Ellie away. When she wakes up, Joel lies and says that the cure did not work.

While Joel's decision to kill the Fireflies is controversial in its own right, the biggest issue coming out of the finale is that Joel chooses to lie to Ellie. Importantly, however, Joel only does this to protect Ellie. Joel was not aware of what Ellie wanted before he rescued her, so he fears that she will disagree with his decision. Joel lies to Ellie in order to prevent her going back to the hospital and sacrificing herself for the good of humanity. Even if she does not want to give her life, Joel's lie still protects Ellie from the mental burden she would have to carry if she knew what really happened.

Why Joel Felt He Had To Kill All Of The Fireflies In The Hospital

Joel with his gun up on someone in The Last Of Us finale

The big action set-piece during the ending of The Last of Us season 1 is Joel's firefight in the hospital, with him killing all kinds of Fireflies in order to protect Ellie. Joel clearly felt that he must kill all of the Fireflies in order to prevent Ellie from having to sacrifice herself in the future. Joel knew that he would have to lie to Ellie about what happened in the hospital, and he also knew that if any of the Fireflies lived, they could eventually find Ellie and tell her the truth. HBO's version of Joel only killed a few people prior to the season finale, emphasizing the difficulty of his decision.

Related: The Last Of Us: Every Firefly Member (& What Happened To Them)

Most of the Fireflies that Joel kills are armed guards, meaning a self-defense argument can be made in those cases. However, Joel also kills the doctor that was going to perform surgery on Ellie, which represents a more direct and callous kill. In the world of The Last of Us, there are very few doctors and scientists left, meaning that this Firefly doctor could be the only person able to perform surgery on Ellie. Killing the doctor could mean that, even if Ellie wanted to sacrifice herself, no doctor could ever synthesize a cure from her blood, which explains Joel's decision to kill him.

Will Joel Ever Tell Ellie The Truth About The Cure In The Last Of Us?

Bella Ramsey as Ellie in The Last of Us episode 8 with a blood spattered face looking traumatized

Ellie will eventually learn the truth about what happened at the hospital, and that moment is not too far away. Early in the original The Last of Us Part II video game, Joel reveals that he lied to Ellie - something that she does not handle well. Since this happens so early in the game, this scene will most likely occur early in The Last of Us season 2 also, which is confirmed to cover the events of the second video game. Joel revealing his lie to Ellie is sure to be a major storyline in The Last of Us season 2, making the show's future even more tragic.