And just like that, the Season 1 finale of HBO's The Last of Us has come to a close. The first nine episodes of the series stuck pretty close to the events of the 2013 game, with some important changes along the way to deepen character development. In the end, though, those of us who have played The Last of Us know how it has to end. And even with some added context in the Season 1 finale, the series beautifully landed the story's conclusion.

Warning: The following contains spoilers for the Season 1 finale of The Last of Us, as well as the events of The Last of Us Part II. If you haven't seen the episode yet or don't want to be spoiled on the 2020 game, turn away now.

A true standout in this final episode is a returning Marlene (Merle Dandridge), who not only got pivotal moments with Pedro Pascal's Joel throughout the episode but was also explored via her own flashback, which is an incredibly important piece of her story--and allowed for the return of a fan-favorite performer from the games.