By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
After last week’s phenomenal achievement, this episode always needed to be another quality affair to keep the show’s momentum going. While we’ve lost our cold open, with all of the episodes taking place in the present, we did start to see the development of Joel and Ellie’s relationship and introduce a new threat into the mix.
First of all, Episode Four of The Last of Us is definitely the episode, so far, that features the most references, dialogues and scenes pulled straight from the first video game. From the ‘sticky pages’ of the magazine to the smell of coffee, there were plenty of subtle and not-so-subtle easter eggs and moments for fans of the games to enjoy!
The thing I enjoyed most about this episode was watching Ellie slowly breaking down Joel’s defences. By using humour and shared trauma, those barriers, that were up in Episode One, were slowly lowered and we got to see Joel express moments of genuine warmth towards Ellie. These wonderful moments displayed a taste of Joel’s lighter side; however, we are also reminded first-hand how dangerous he can be and that his past is something that still haunts him. This extra dimension was a welcome addition and I expect Ellie to get some of this as well, most probably in her flashback episode.
As well as exploring the blossoming relationship of Joel and Ellie, we are introduced to a completely new character, Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey). Kathleen is an original character created for the show, so that in itself is exciting as we don’t have a video game counterpart to pull from, nor do we have an indication of what her impact will be on the wider story. Lynskey’s performance was fantastic, as she appeared both conflicted and assertive. She has her drive and motives, but there is a hint of reluctance, and these elements add that little shade of grey that makes for a more compelling character. Adding original characters like this helps keep things interesting, especially when the story you are telling is so widely known. We are also briefly introduced to Henry and Sam, who have a significant role in Ellie and Joel’s journey. Will it play out the same way as in the video game? We’ll see! But personally, I hope that changes things up a little. And finally, and in a nice touch, Jeffrey Pierce plays Kathleen’s second in command, Perry. Pierce actually voices Tommy in both video games.
This episode suggests that Kathleen’s group could be Hunters, although there has been nothing to confirm this at the time of writing. Regardless, my favourite element of their inclusion was the initial contact and subsequent follow-up scene. This very much felt like a video game, with the camera focusing on Joel while there was shouting off in the distance – like how the AI human enemies acted in The Last of Us II. This felt like a video game sequence, but one that was done in a realistic and well-executed way.
While there was a big shift from last week, in terms of story and tone, this follow on episode felt very much connected and shows that you can tell these one-off stories amidst the main narrative. Something we’ll likely see again in the future when Ellie takes us back into her past.
What did you think of the latest episode of The Last of Us? Let us know in the comments or find us on social media.
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