Last week concluded with a tragic scene.. where Henry shoots himself in front of Joel and Ellie, after he shoots his little brother Sam who became Infected and tried to attack Ellie. In the sixth episode, "Kin," we see that despite the time passed, Ellie and Joel are still affected by this incident. Joel worries about bringing Ellie to the Fireflies and whether he is the right protector for her, while the episode becomes about both the bonds we don't choose and the ones we do, as Joel reunites with his long-lost brother and grows closer to Ellie.
"Kin" starts with a flashback to the previous episode's tragic ending, and then takes us three months later to a scene where Joel holds a man's wife at gunpoint. The man, who has just returned from a hunting trip, puts his gun down and claims he hasn't seen Joel's brother. The man's wife reveals that Joel has a girl with him, and Ellie comes down with a gun in hand despite Joel wanting her to stay hidden. The couple laughs at Ellie, and Joel asks the man to show him where they are on the map. However, the man disappoints Joel by stating that he hasn't heard of Tommy or the Fireflies. He advises them to never go past the river, as it's a place of death, and if Tommy is there, he's likely gone. This information seems to unsettle Joel, and as they leave, he clutches his chest in panic. Ellie reminds him that crossing the River of Death is the only way to find Tommy and the Fireflies.
As night approaches, Joel and Ellie make the decision to cross the river in the morning, setting up camp for the night. While Joel fixes his shoe with duct tape, they feast on a rabbit that they stole from the couple they encountered earlier. Joel also shares a drink from his flask with Ellie. Ellie then asks Joel what they will do after they find the Fireflies and create a cure, to which Joel suggests he might start a sheep ranch. Ellie shares her fascination with space and her favorite astronaut, Sally Ride. She also confesses to Joel that she tried to save Sam by rubbing her blood into his bite wound. Joel reassures her that they can make a cure if Marlene told them it was possible.
The next morning, Ellie takes the second watch, despite Joel's protests that he should be responsible for her safety. She proves herself capable of protecting herself and insists that she's a natural. Although Joel acknowledges her skills, he still insists that she wake him up if he falls asleep on watch again.
Joel and Ellie easily cross a bridge over the river, with Ellie practicing her whistling and asking Joel to teach her hunting skills. As they reach a dam and another river, Ellie wonders if they have reached the River of Death. Suddenly, a group of masked and armed individuals on horseback surround them, separating Joel and Ellie. They release a dog that sniffs for infected individuals and growls at Ellie, but then surprisingly licks her and plays with her. The group takes Joel and Ellie to their compound in Jackson, a thriving community that appears to be living normally despite the outbreak. Joel is ecstatic to finally reunite with his brother Tommy and explains that he's there to save him. The community includes shops, a giant Christmas tree, and children playing, reminding them that life can still continue after the outbreak.
Joel, Ellie, Tommy, and Maria sit together in a dining hall, hastily consuming their food while Maria and Tommy observe them. From a distance, Ellie spots a girl staring at her and yells at her, but Maria explains that the children are not used to seeing someone who looks and talks differently from them. When Ellie accuses Maria's people of trying to kill them, Tommy cautions them about being careful about who they allow into their community. Maria argues that having a bad reputation doesn't always mean a person is bad, and she looks at Joel meaningfully. Joel then requests some privacy with just his family, but Tommy reveals that Maria is part of his family as they are married.
Tommy and Maria give Joel and Ellie a tour of Jackson, a community that was settled by a handful of people about seven years ago. Despite the occasional presence of raiders and infected nearby, the people of Jackson have managed to stay quiet and avoid detection, partly by avoiding the use of radios. Jackson is an impressive community with all the comforts that one could hope for in this world, including a school, electricity, laundry, heat, sewers, and even sheep, which delights Joel. This version of Jackson is the one featured in The Last of Us Part II.
Maria explains that in Jackson, no one person is in charge as everyone shares things. Joel jokingly suggests it's communism, but Maria insists that it's more like a commune. She takes the group to see their horses at the stable, where Ellie is introduced to a foal named Shimmer. Maria offers Joel and Ellie a place to stay in a house across from theirs, and Tommy remarks that they could do worse. Ellie, still hurt from their previous conversation, sarcastically responds that they've been doing great on their own, to which Joel takes offense. Joel and Tommy then go off on their own, leaving Maria and Ellie alone.
Tommy and Joel head to a bar, and there Tommy raises a glass to Joel, thanking him for still caring about him. Tommy asks about Tess, and Joel lies and acts as if she's still alive. Joel then reveals to Tommy that Ellie is the daughter of a high-ranking Fireflies member, and that her family is somewhere in the area. Tommy questions Joel's motivations, and Joel admits that he expects payment for his services. Joel then asks Tommy if he knows where the Fireflies are, and Tommy tells him they have a base at the University of Eastern Colorado, but warns that the journey is difficult. Joel insists that it will be easy with Tommy's help, but Tommy says he can't go. Joel asks if Maria won't let him, and if she's the reason why he stopped contacting him on the radio. Tommy explains that Maria and her group found him after he left the Fireflies, and he agreed to follow their rules in exchange for safety. Tommy emphasizes the need for caution, saying that they have to be careful not to attract the wrong people. Joel counters by asking if he's one of those "wrong people." He claims that everything he did in the past was to protect and keep them alive, and Tommy admits that they both did questionable things to survive. However, he believes that they could have found other ways.
Tommy informs Joel that he's going to be a father and he expresses his fears and the need to be cautious. This news seems to weigh heavily on Joel, reminding him of his own loss. He pours himself more alcohol and cynically replies, “We'll see.” Tommy is taken aback by his brother's callous attitude and tells Joel that just because he's stuck in the past doesn't mean that everyone else has to be. Joel decides that they will leave in the morning and leaves Tommy alone at the bar. As he steps outside, Joel clutches his chest in pain and sees a girl from behind who looks like his daughter Sarah. The girl is hugging a child near a Christmas tree, but when she turns around, Joel realizes it's not her.
Moving on to Ellie, we see her taking a shower and finding fresh clothes, a DivaCup (which she finds gross), and a note from Maria saying that she's across the street. Ellie heads to Maria's house and sees a blackboard with the names, birth and death dates of Kevin and Sarah, along with two candles in front, a memorial for the lost children. Maria comes in and gives Ellie a jacket before giving her a haircut. As she works, they talk, and Maria reveals she was an attorney before everything happened, but she likes cutting hair, calling it a "mom thing." Maria mentions the memorial, and Ellie apologizes for the loss of the kids, but Maria corrects her, saying only Kevin was her child, and Sarah was Joel's daughter. Ellie is shocked and admits she didn't know about Sarah, which explains Joel a little.
Maria tells Ellie she won't ask about her and Joel's plans, but she has concerns. Ellie acknowledges that Joel used to kill people but not the innocent ones anymore, and she points out that Tommy used to do the same thing. Maria states that it's good that Ellie has secrets and that she should be careful about who she puts her faith in. She adds, "the only people who can betray us are the ones we trust."
Following their conversation, Maria takes Ellie to see The Goodbye Girl at the movies. During the film, Maria has a conversation with Tommy and the two part ways, leaving Ellie to notice their interaction. Meanwhile, Joel is attempting to repair his shoes in a nearby shop when Tommy arrives with a new pair of boots. Tommy apologizes for his earlier remarks and expresses sympathy for Joel's situation. Joel, however, cuts to the chase and asks if their trip to the college is a suicide mission. Tommy reassures him that it's difficult but not impossible and that many people who have gone that way have returned safely. When Joel reveals that Ellie is immune, Tommy is taken aback and asks him to recount the story from the beginning.
As Joel recounts their journey to Tommy, we see Ellie walking alone on the deserted streets of Jackson. Joel admits that the memory of having to kill the young boy in Kansas City still haunts him, feeling that he should be the one protecting Ellie, not the other way around. He also tells Tommy how he watched Henry kill Sam to safeguard Ellie, but he himself was too petrified to act when a dog sniffed Ellie earlier that day. Joel confesses to Tommy that he still has nightmares and wakes up feeling like he has lost something. He believes that he's failing even in his sleep and fears his heart will give out during the journey.
Joel feels that he must leave Ellie to save her, citing Tommy's own reason for leaving Joel, which was to make amends for their past actions. This is an opportunity for Tommy to give his child a chance in a better world. Tommy agrees and promises not to tell anyone, including Maria. Joel knows that if anyone sees Ellie's bites, they will kill her. Joel, crying, swears that this will be the last favor he'll ever ask. Tommy agrees to take Ellie at dawn, and the brothers part ways for the night. Joel heads to his lodging, while Tommy returns to the movie theater, where Maria notices that something is up with Tommy.
Upon arriving at the house, Joel notices that Ellie’s light is still on, so he checks on her. Upon entering her room, he finds Ellie reading an old journal and talking about how different life was before the outbreak. However, Ellie is hostile towards Joel and asks why he hasn't left yet, telling him to leave her if he's planning to do so. Ellie has overheard Joel talking about leaving her with Tommy and is hurt by his decision. She tells Joel that she stood up for him earlier, but he made the decision without consulting her. Joel tries to convince her that it's for her own good, but Ellie is not convinced and wants to know why Joel is afraid. She tells him that she is not Sarah, and when she mentions Sarah, Joel interrupts her and tells her not to say another word.
Ellie apologizes for Joel's loss, but she reminds him that she has lost people too. Joel thinks that Ellie has no idea what loss really means, but Ellie pushes back and tells him that she would be more scared if she were with someone else. She also points out that everyone she has ever cared for has either died or left her, except for Joel. Joel admits that Ellie is not his daughter, and he is not her father.
The following morning, Ellie is waiting in her room with her belongings ready when she hears a knock on the door. Tommy enters, and Ellie recognizes him as her new travel companion. They make their way to the stable, where Joel is preparing a horse. Ellie asks if Joel came to say goodbye, but he says no, he came to take a horse and leave. Joel tells Ellie that she deserves a choice, but before he can finish, she interrupts and says, "Let's go," making her decision. Joel agrees. As they exit the stable, Joel bids farewell to Tommy with a hug, and Tommy informs them that there is a place for them in Jackson. Joel expresses his gratitude and asks to borrow Tommy's sniper rifle, which he agrees to. Joel and Ellie set off towards the college.
Joel and Ellie continue their journey on horseback, with Joel taking the opportunity to teach Ellie how to use a sniper rifle. Ellie asks Joel if Jackson is similar to how things were before the outbreak, to which Joel explains that people used to be divided into two groups: those who wanted to own everything and those who didn't want anyone to own anything. As a contractor, Joel fell into neither group, but he tells Ellie that everyone loved contractors.
After five days of traveling, Joel and Ellie arrive at the abandoned college. Their bond has grown stronger, and they discuss what college was like before the outbreak. Joel reveals that he always wanted to be a singer, and Ellie insists that he sing for her, to which Joel reluctantly agrees. While exploring the campus, they come across a group of escaped monkeys, and a Fireflies logo on a street sign confirms they're on the right track.
Despite the apparent silence, Joel tells Ellie it's time to bring out the gun for safety. Upon entering the building, it becomes clear that the Fireflies have abandoned the place, evidenced by scattered medical supplies. While searching, they hear a noise and discover some monkeys, and later stumble upon a map with pins.
Suddenly, they hear voices and see four armed men, prompting them to escape out the back. One of the attackers stabs Joel in the gut, but they manage to flee on the horse, with Ellie shooting at the men. However, Joel's condition worsens, and he falls off the horse, bleeding heavily. Ellie pleads with him to get up, expressing her fear and desperation without him. As the scene ends, we hear an acoustic version of Depeche Mode's "Never Let Me Down Again," a callback to the first episode where '80s music was associated with danger.
