HBO released the sixth episode of The Last of Us, and the segment adds new depth to Joel, showing a growing protectiveness for Ellie that weighs on him enough to trigger sudden panic attacks. The moment shifts from a simple narrative beat to a window into his anxiety, a crucial layer in understanding his choices and the emotional toll of their dangerous journey.
Shortly after the episode went live, fans launched a wave of memes and playful riffs, turning intense scenes into lighthearted references. The online chatter recalls other popular gaming moments, including nods to Eleanor from Atomic Heart and Triss from The Witcher 3, underscoring how streaming series increasingly intersect with gaming culture. Even large Twitter accounts associated with gaming brands joined the playful grain, amplifying the moment across platforms.
“I’m at the Top of the Stairs”“I’m at the Top of the Stairs”
“If someone tells you they chose Triss over Yennefer”“If someone tells you they chose Triss over Yennefer”
“Me, when I said, ‘It’s okay if not’”“Me, when I said, ‘It’s okay if not’”
“me after sending one (1) email”“me after sending one (1) email”
“When I woke up from a dream that one day people would play games on Twitter just for fun”“When I woke up from a dream that one day people would play games on Twitter just for fun”
“My game backlog when I buy a new game”“My game backlog when I buy a new game”
“If you try to keep track of all those 2023 games”“If you try to keep track of all those 2023 games”
“If your PS5 beeps aggressively because you turned it off incorrectly”“If your PS5 beeps aggressively because you turned it off incorrectly”
“I’m playing PSVR2 and trying to control my nausea”“I’m playing PSVR2 and trying to control my nausea”
“How do I feel when this Joel meme was in my feed about 400 times this morning”“How do I feel when this Joel meme was in my feed about 400 times this morning”
A curated selection of the most memorable memes from 2022 is accessible, with playful daran references and a cheeky nod to the Loki figure that appeared in a cosplay context.
Source: VG Times