The Last of Us – Infected

The second episode of The Last of Us opens with a flashback to a health care provider investigating one of many first recognized circumstances of the cordyceps virus. It offers background into the origins of the virus and how briskly it takes maintain however on the subject of post-apocalyptic media, my curiosity has by no means actually laid within the origins of how the world ended or modified. I’m far more within the exploration of a post-apocalyptic world and the way characters dwell after such a life-changing occasion. 

We choose up again with Joel, Ellie and Tess as they start their journey. One of the perfect issues up to now is how they stability little adjustments to the story to make it extra appropriate for the tv medium with little callbacks to the sport with equivalent dialogue that proves each a loyalty to and a love for the supply materials which is refreshing to say the least. 

They’ve additionally modified the best way the cordyceps an infection acts. In the sport, there are areas coated in spores that may transmit the virus however within the present they’ve modified it to fungal tendrils that join the contaminated like a hive thoughts. It’s a cool idea – step on a vein and contaminated someplace else will wake and know the place you’re. It permits for a extra visible interpretation on the virus that does not require the actors to be carrying fuel masks in half their scenes. 

We additionally get out first Clicker encounter within the present. They by no means actually scared me within the video games – I personally hate the Stalkers extra – however right here, there’s a actual Quiet Place vibe in that they must be as silent as doable and it actually amps up the horror facet. The Clickers have an amazing design too, each in audio and visuals and what within the video games is an easy stealth space the place you possibly can fairly sneak by utterly superb turns into an entire lot extra tense and terrifying. 

Tess’ demise scene was simply as impactful and pivotal to Joel’s character because it was within the recreation solely this time the menace is a horde of contaminated as a substitute of FEDRA troopers. Before Joel and Ellie run, she tells him to save lots of who he can save, a parting line that’s positive to affect a few of his selections later within the present. 

There had been a number of little moments all through the episode the place Joel protected Ellie and bonded along with her, together with the well-known scene from the sport after they’re standing on the rooftop looking on the Capitol Building. Pascal and Ramsey are doing an amazing job of embellishing on and deepening the character dynamic and chemistry and I’m wanting ahead to seeing the way it develops as their bond begins to develop and develop past the preliminary matter of being compelled into one another’s lives.

What did you consider the second episode? Sad to lose Tess so quickly? Sound off within the feedback beneath!