Following the explosive events from the previous episode, we probably all needed time to decompress and let everything sink in. Tonight’s The Last of Us dives into the aftermath and begins the journey for justice.
The episode delivers touching moments of mourning as Tommy and Ellie deal with their loss. Ellie in particular stands out because she doesn’t have the maturity level and experience as Tommy does. Actress Bella Ramsey is able to tap into a deep vulnerability in the solitary moments, especially for a character that is so guarded and has such a tough exterior. Despite the recent estrangement, you gain the sense of how painful the death is for her as well as the regret of not reconciling.
The levity The Last of Us employs helps make the themes of death and loss more palatable. Although the town hall meeting brings up several convincing arguments, it still demonstrates that even in a post apocalyptic world, there will be citizens babbling about pedantic and trivial concerns. Even Ellie’s pleas lean towards a more positive light. There is a fine line between revenge and justice, and It’s a testament to how much she wants the latter watching her play nice and say the right things in public.
One of the main reasons the episode isn’t a total and complete downer is the evolving bond between Ellie and Dina. Their youthful energy and playful flirting is a rare bright spot in this world. Their connection is so organic and pleasant, you forget they are on a mission to murder people. The relationship is best summed up in the baked cookie scene. They’re willing to keep secrets from one another if it’s for the better good, but there is no denying their loyalty. The passing of cookies is a gesture of acceptance and concession, and it doesn’t seem these two can stay mad at each other for long.
It’s small scenes like this that can have a greater impact on The Last of Us. A similar moment is when Ellie and Dina finally depart Jackson. They find an unlikely ally to bring them provisions, but more importantly is the handshake. It might feel like Ellie is happy with finally getting her way, but even that small gesture shows that she can change and is willing to let things go. It might not be forgiveness, but she’s not letting her past feelings cloud the present.
Finally, The Last of Us also helps sets the stage for the upcoming threat that our heroes are up against. The series makes it a habit to refer to the next antagonists as a small group. We see they are more than formidable, but also suffer from the stereotypical bad guys in the zombie apocalypse. If Ellie’s looking for justice, it’s going to be a difficult mission.
Season two’s third episode delivers significant emotional impact with the recent loss, but the levity keeps things light hearted and not a complete depression filled downer.
New episodes of The Last of Us release Sundays on HBO.
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