Best Friendships In The Last Of Us, Ranked

In both the HBO series and the games, The Last of Us stands as one of the medium’s landmark works, balancing action, adventure, and drama within a layered, complex narrative. Set in a world ravaged by the cordyceps virus, its characters must survive not only the infected but also fellow survivors who have lost their humanity, relying on allies to endure.

The best duos of The Last of Us derive not solely from effectiveness in combat or teamwork but from relationships forged under extreme circumstances, where humanity is tested and sacrifice becomes inevitable. These bonds deepen the characters, compelling them to confront their pasts or help resolve another’s struggle. By exploring these connections, the story reveals additional layers of each survivor’s identity and the fragile hopes they cling to.

10

Abby and Owen

More Than A Romance, They Become One Of The Best Friendships Of The Last Of Us Through Their Complex Relationship

Among the story’s most human arcs, Abby and Owen rank as one of the best friendships of The Last of Us. Sharing childhood memories and intimate moments, they grow side by side amid the hardships of a post‑apocalyptic world, crystallized in their heartfelt conversation inside the aquarium. Lingering feelings surface, exposing a romance neither fully resolved nor forgotten.

Owen’s optimism contrasts sharply with Abby’s driven nature, offering her a refuge during her quest for vengeance and even promising a new life far from violence. When Ellie kills Owen and Mel, Abby discovers their bodies, a loss that devastates her and underscores how vital he was to her past and remaining humanity. The tragedy cements their storyline as one of the series’ most poignant commentaries on love and cost.

9

Ellie and Sam

In Spite Of Their Youth, They Form One Of The Best Friendships Of The Last Of Us

Symbolizing innocence within a ruined world, Ellie and Sam quickly become one of the best friendships of The Last of Us, forging a friendship rooted in similar age and outlook. Their shared humor and childlike curiosity clash wonderfully with the violence surrounding them, deepening empathy and connection in every scene. Together they remind viewers what childhood could have been had the outbreak never happened.

In a sweet gesture, Ellie gives Sam a toy robot, displaying kindness and genuine concern for his happiness. Later, beneath starless skies, the pair confess their fears before sleeping, opening windows into their inner lives. Sam’s subsequent bite, transformation, and death deliver one of the narrative’s most haunting blows, forever coloring Ellie’s outlook on trust and survival.

8

Joel and Tess

The Pair Share Chemistry That Makes Them One Of The Best Duos Of The Last Of Us

Overflowing with chemistry in both game and series, Joel and Tess undeniably rank among the best friendships of The Last of Us. Introduced in a tense scene where Tess is wounded during a skirmish with Robert, Joel’s immediate concern reveals a friendship and working partnership built on mutual trust. Their bond blends practicality with unmistakable affection.

At Tess’s request, Joel agrees to escort Ellie to the Fireflies, demonstrating just how deeply he values his partner despite initial reluctance. Her heartbreaking death convinces Joel to protect Ellie, a poignant moment that underscores the depth of their relationship and sets the story’s emotional trajectory for both characters and audience alike through every subsequent chapter.

7

Henry and Sam

Brothers Create One Of The Best Friendships Of The Last Of Us With A Tragic End

Central to a storyline that leaves lasting scars, Henry and Sam stand among the best friendship of The Last of Us, fighting to stay alive no matter the price. The HBO series intensifies Sam’s vulnerability by depicting him as deaf, allowing viewers to witness how hardship strengthens their brotherly bond amid relentless pursuit. Every encounter showcases their unwavering love and the peril it invites.

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Determined to protect his little brother, Henry makes a fraught deal with FEDRA, a choice that sets hunters on their trail and seals their fate. Their tragic demise mirrors Joel’s internal struggle over Ellie, highlighting innocence, family bonds, and the brutal costs of survival. The brothers’ narrative remains one of the series’ heaviest and most unforgettable moments.

6

Abby and Lev

Despite Their Differences, They Become One Of The Best Duos Of The Last Of Us, Finding Family In One Another

The friendship between Abby and Lev begins under harrowing circumstances yet blossoms into one of the best duos of The Last of Us. After Yara and Lev rescue Abby from Seraphites, members of their own faction, the trio’s escape places Abby at odds with the WLF she once served. Shared danger forges an emotional alliance that transcends loyalties.

Abby’s path to redemption crystallizes when she turns against the WLF to shield Lev, a choice culminating in the death of their leader, Isaac. Facing relentless pursuit, each protects the other, drawing strength from newfound kinship during an unrelenting journey. Their bond, explored with care and depth, provides one of the game’s most moving portraits of hope within chaos.

5

Ellie and Riley

The Duo Delivers Some Of The Best Moments Of The Last Of Us

Bound by innocent romance, Ellie and Riley navigate a brutal world on trust and curiosity, starring in some of the best moments of The Last of Us. One of the series’ most emotional episodes, and a pivotal sequence in the game, follows their clandestine adventure through an abandoned mall. The excursion shows how joy can briefly eclipse fear.

Inside the dim mall, they laugh on rides, browse deserted shops, and momentarily reclaim youthful wonder, revealing the profound emotional support they offer each other. Their magical pause ends in tragedy when both are bitten; Riley dies, and Ellie is left forever changed, carrying sorrow and newfound mistrust that shapes her future interactions and fuels later choices.

4

Joel and Tommy

Brothers Share A Multilayered Bond That Makes Them One Of The Best Friendship Of The Last Of Us

Having lived through the outbreak together, brothers Joel and Tommy possess a history that crowns them among the best duos of The Last of Us. After joining the Fireflies and later separating for years, they reunite in Jackson, confronting past sins and their lingering impact on brotherhood. Despite tension, concern for each other remains constant.

Living in Jackson once more, they rebuild their relationship, but Joel’s murder devastates Tommy, driving him on a vengeful quest that fractures his marriage and erodes his spirit. The deteriorating bond ends in one of the story’s saddest conclusions, weighted by love, guilt, and unhealed trauma. Their arc lays bare how loss can consume what few glimmers of peace survivors manage to grasp.

3

Ellie and Dina

Facing Highs And Lows, They Form One Of The Best Duos Of The Last Of Us

Dina becomes a safe harbor for an Ellie consumed by vengeance, establishing a partnership that stands among the best friendships of The Last of Us. In a cruel world, Dina’s lighter outlook offers Ellie space to reveal trauma and find fleeting normality, though their romantic bond is soon tested. Its viability is pushed to the brink.

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Their chemistry emerges gradually, evolving from friendship to romance after a New Year’s kiss at a dance. Older than Ellie, Dina still vows to accompany her on a bloody quest, risking not only her own life but that of the unborn child she carries. This devotion, and its heartbreaking fallout, confirms their place among the narrative’s most resonant partnerships.

2

Bill and Frank

An Unlikely Romance That Becomes One Of The Best Friendships Of The Last Of Us

In one of the series’ most memorable episodes, Bill and Frank discover love amid ruin, forming an unlikely partnership that ranks among the best duos of The Last of Us. Though their relationship begins tensely, Frank stumbles onto Bill’s heavily guarded turf, the pair gradually accept each other despite deep mistrust. Together they find purpose in optimism and shared discovery.

The television adaptation explores their romance in greater depth, with nuanced performances revealing buried tenderness beneath hardened exteriors. Their tragic end underscores how the journey, and the people one chooses to love, can supply meaning in an otherwise violent, hopeless reality. As such, their story remains a standout testament to humanity within the franchise and to the power of companionship.

1

Ellie and Joel

Heart Of The Series, Together They Form The Best Duo Of The Last Of Us

Marked by trauma, love, and sacrifice, Joel and Ellie find solace in each other as they traverse a world undone, their partnership defining the franchise’s dramatic core. Though seemingly mismatched, they learn to confront pain and rediscover humanity, whether by reflecting on the past or clinging to fragile dreams of the future. Their evolving trust captivates audiences.

Their journey begins when Joel is tasked with escorting Ellie to the Fireflies, a mission he accepts reluctantly yet sees through with unwavering resolve. The perilous trek forces both to confront loss and violence, ultimately forging an incomparable bond that stands as the narrative’s emotional pinnacle. Together, Joel and Ellie embody the best friendship of The Last of Us, a relationship as beautiful as it is complex.

The Last Of Us

Release Date

January 15, 2023

Network

HBO

Showrunner

Craig Mazin

Directors

Craig Mazin, Peter Hoar, Jeremy Webb, Ali Abbasi, Mark Mylod, Stephen Williams, Jasmila Žbanić, Liza Johnson, Nina Lopez-Corrado

Writers

Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin

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  Bella Ramsey

  Ellie Williams