‘The Last Of Us’ Episode 4 Spoiler-Free Review
Image Source: IMDb
After the action-packed first and second episodes and the heart-wrenching third episode, it was a nice surprise for a slower pace in HBO’s The Last of Us this week.
WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE LAST OF US EPISODES 1- 3 AND POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THE GAME
The majority of Episode 3 focused on the love story between Bill and Frank rather than on Ellie and Joel. The first two episodes had been hard-hitting and adrenaline-fueled, leaving little room for the audience to catch their breath. The episode followed how Bill avoided being picked up by the military when the infection first started and lived on his own for years, only leaving his small town for necessities. Then he met Frank when he fell into one of his traps. The two quickly fell in love and began a beautiful life together within their small town that they effectively turned into a fortress.
Joel and Tess became close friends with the couple, and we learn that Tess and Joel had decided to take Ellie here after they discover the dead Firefly members in the previous episode. Unfortunately, Bill and Frank decided to kill themselves only a few days before Joel and Ellie made it to their compound. Bill had left all the supplies for Joel, allowing the two to get the truck and provisions that would make their trip to Wyoming drastically easier.
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Episode 4 picks up right where the previous episode left off. Joel and Ellie are quickly making their way across the United States, only making stops for sleep and gas. Since the first half of this episode is mostly Joel and Ellie alone in a truck together, it allows us to get a better feel for their relationship. It is clear that Ellie reminds Joel of Sarah, which is why he is keeping her at arm's length. When she pulls out a book of puns and begins reading them to Joel, you can see the hurt on his face as it finally registers that she is just a child, and she has been entrusted into his care. Ellie also begins to make an effort to get to know Joel, and we finally see him open up to her about Tommy as we learn why he is in Wyoming and how the two got separated.
Things seem to be going well for the pair until they enter what looks to be a QZ in Kansas City, and they run into an ambush. Although the pair make it out mostly unharmed, it forces them to bond even more after Ellie has to make an unthinkable decision that leaves her and Joel shaken. As they hide from an unseen enemy, fans get their first glimpse of a new and incredibly dangerous group of characters whose motives are not entirely clear. We also see something that foreshadows an ominous new enemy that is going to be making itself known very soon.
Image Source: IMDb
One of the biggest changes we see in this episode is the warmth that Joel begins to show Ellie. In the previous episodes, he is very standoffish and cold toward her, but that changes significantly in this episode. The best moment is towards the end when the pair are getting settled in for the night, and Ellie tells Joel one last pun. It leads to a heartwarming moment that seems to be a breakthrough for Joel’s character, and I believe will play a large role moving forward.
The slower pace this week allowed fans a chance to get to know our main characters in a way that we hadn’t yet. It also acted as foreshadowing for the horrors that await the pair in both human and infected forms. The show is ramping up to something huge and I can’t wait to see what the next episode has in store!
All-new episodes of The Last of Us air on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and stream on the same day on HBO Max. However, Episode 5 will air on Friday, February 10 at 9 p. m. ET due to Super Bowl being on Sunday.
Rating: 9/10
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