Sign in to your MovieWeb account

Picture the following scenario: "A small but brave army tries to protect its enclosed community from an invading army of overwhelming proportions while being pelted with heavy precipitation." For most people, that description probably evokes the image of one of the most iconic battle scenes in cinema history: Helm's Deep from , the second entry in Peter Jackson's acclaimed three-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic novel. However, this scenario might also resonate with viewers of HBO's adaptation of the critically acclaimed video game franchise .

In Season 2, Episode 2, "Through the Valley," something occurs that does not happen in The Last of Us: Part II (2020), the game's sequel from which the second season is adapted: , after a young woman named Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) accidentally awakens them. The ensuing battle, led by Tommy Miller (Gabriel Luna), the brother of the first season's protagonist, Joel (Pedro Pascal), shares many similarities, both general and specific, with the Battle of Helm's Deep — to the point that one can reasonably assume the series' filmmakers took some inspiration from it in writing and shooting the episode.

. Despite the good guys in both The Last of Us and The Two Towers having the high ground, the seemingly never-ending numbers of the Infected and Uruk-hai threaten to overwhelm their defenses.

. The Battle of Helm's Deep occurs amidst a backdrop of torrential rainfall, while the Infected horde sieges Jackson at the same time as a massive blizzard hits the commune. While it's hard to quantify exactly whether the weather conditions benefit or hinder the good guys in either The Last of Us or The Two Towers, they do make both battle scenes feel far more viscerally intense and gripping for the audience. Furthermore, the presence of such heavy rain, snow, and wind creates the impression that even the elements themselves are working against the people of Rohan and Jackson, making both groups' ultimate victory feel all the more cathartic.

. In The Two Towers, the Uruk-hai's ace in the hole is the Berserker, an orc who carries a torch intended to light the fuse of a bomb that the Uruk-hai place in a vulnerable spot in the Helm's Deep wall and is seemingly impervious to arrows. Similarly, in The Last of Us, the walls of Jackson are breached by a Bloater, a massive species of Infected with seemingly bulletproof skin. Instead of explosives, the Bloater's brute strength allows it to smash through the wooden gate of Jackson with ease, placing Tommy and Jackson's other defenders in an even more precarious position.

Even with all these similarities, . For instance, the tones of the two battle scenes are drastically different. Helm's Deep features some comic relief, thanks largely to the competitive banter between Legolas and the dwarf Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) over who has killed more Orcs. The Last of Us, on the other hand, offers no such relief during the battle of Jackson, with all the characters remaining dead serious the whole time.

Moreover, in contrast to the unanimous bravery of the defenders of Helm's Deep, some of the fighters in Jackson are more fearful, with a few fleeing when they see how big the Infected horde truly is. This is a slightly more realistic representation of battle, as it would be quite difficult, if not impossible, to maintain an upbeat mood and not run away under such bleak circumstances.

. Helm's Deep ends with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) arriving with Rohan general Eomer (Karl Urban) and a massive battalion of horse-riding soldiers, who successfully fight off the Uruk-hai and save Helm's Deep. But, although Tommy and the people of Jackson ultimately defeat the Infected horde, it is more of a Pyrrhic victory. This is how most real-life wars end, with each side fighting until one becomes too worn out or runs out of resources. They rarely end in such an unambiguously triumphant and bloodless fashion as Helm's Deep does.

The purpose of the battles of Helm's Deep and Jackson is far greater than creating a spectacle for viewers. They also serve as vehicles for important character development, particularly for the leaders of the two communities, King Théoden and Tommy. For Théoden, the Battle of Helm's Deep serves as a crucial wake-up call to the threat that Sauron and Saruman pose to him and his people. Before Helm's Deep, Théoden was afraid to go to war and potentially sacrifice more of his people. After Helm's Deep, however, he realizes that war with Mordor and Isengard is unavoidable, and that Rohan will need to join the fight, no matter the cost.

For Tommy, the Battle of Jackson informs his decision not to pursue the people who murdered his brother, Joel (Pedro Pascal), during the battle. Despite his desire to avenge his brother, he decides to remain in Jackson to oversee the commune's recovery and reconstruction. In this regard, , as Théoden eventually does. However, like Théoden, the battle helps Tommy realize that, as a leader, he must set aside his own selfish feelings and wishes for the sake of his people's welfare. .