Maria wasn't letting Tommy go. Yeah I'm sure he was able to convince her IF she was being dumped on him, but if Joel was in the picture Maria wouldn't be happy if Tommy went when there was no reason for him to.
That seems weak considering Tommy was going to go anyway and Joel was just going to go…somewhere else. Seems like a really arbitrary line to draw if one is going to be drawn.
I mean, of course that was an option. But it’s not so simple. Joel didn’t want to go because Ellie is a constant reminder of Sarah and his failure to protect her. He’s been haunted by his failure for 20 years. He is broken in many ways. So he pours this in to Tommy, who is months away from being a father himself. He suddenly sees how much he has to lose by such trips. If he doesn’t make it back, his child grows up without a dad. He has so much on the line, but he ultimately agrees to go in Joel’s place because he also still loves his brother. He honors Joel’s request and goes to the theater and doesn’t tell Maria anything. He wakes up, maybe without telling her, and goes for Ellie. He is set to go despite having huge valid reasons for not wanting to. But he loves his brother, so he is willing to take the risk. So when Joel changes his mind and gives Ellie the option, it lets Tommy off the hook. Joel still knows that Tommy would have done it, but he now gets to stay home and be safe so he can be there for his child. This allows Joel to embrace Ellie as a daughter figure for him and give him a chance to redeem himself by getting her where she needs to go. So yes, Tommy could have gone, too. But his place was with his family there. Joel’s was with his new found family.
I don’t think Tommy told her. They intentionally show him walk into the theater and not stand by her. He literally turns his back to her.
That does make more sense. Imagine the relief of Tommy! I feel relieved when I have a work meeting get cancelled last minute. Imagine thinking you’re leaving your comfortable bed and home to go into a hell scape for weeks and then at the last minute someone else does it lol Still the counter would be that what Joel described was extremely important and having two of them over one is a no brainer. Would have liked some back and forth on it but no big deal
I mean this could be the case, but there was the rest of the evening up until the morning after where they could have had the conversation off screen. But like you said, both of them not going let's Tommy off the hook with her because she would have definitely been pissed.
while their goal is important, neither of them know it’s going to work for sure. Joel doesn’t want to risk Tommy’s life. Tommy would risk his life and chance to be a father for Joel. It may be left unspoken in their goodbye, but I think there is a lot under the surface of the love and respect between the brothers. Sometimes less is more. it certainly could have happened of screen. No doubt. But his initial act of keeping it to himself makes me think he didn’t tell her. But even if he had, it doesn’t really change anything as she was going to let him go then.
I’ll do my best to fill in for you next week, but those are some big shoes to fill. I know the DLC pretty well though.