The Last of Us – Please Hold to My Hand & Endure and Survive

These two episodes of The Last of Us group collectively the Pittsburgh arc of the online game although it is now set in Kansas City and a number of effort is put into humanising the hunters residing within the metropolis with some nice performing by Melanie Lynskey over the course of the 2 episodes as she leads the hunters of Kansas City on a hunt for Henry who performed a component within the demise of her brother. 

Another two large modifications to this arc embody making Sam a deaf character and including an additional layer of range and illustration to the present and introducing a very horrifying pit of zombies. If the zombie pit had been a characteristic of the sport, I feel I in all probability would have been scared out of my thoughts. That’s not one thing I’d ever wish to face if I used to be taking part in Joel and Ellie and props should be given to the present for growing the horror of the contaminated’s physicality. They’re like some form of nightmare circus act and if I’d seen a type of contaminated leaping out at me from the darkish, I in all probability would have had a coronary heart assault. 

It was a good way to up the worry issue, particularly in an arc that handled extra of the darker facet of humanity and the trauma this world can inflict. Ellie particularly goes via rather a lot over the course of the 2 episodes from taking pictures a person to save lots of Joel to watching a newfound pal succumb to the virus and witnessing a suicide. 

Sam’s demise is a pivotal turning level in Ellie’s arc. They have a touching heart-to-heart about worry in a scene that juxtaposes the trauma of the world they’re residing in with the obtrusive indisputable fact that they’re nonetheless kids. Ellie’s biggest worry is ending up alone and Sam’s demise exacerbates this worry. 

It was painful to look at Ellie inform Sam her blood was drugs after which smear it on his leg. I do not suppose she truly believed it might work however it was a good way to indicate how scared she is of dropping individuals and the way determined she is to save lots of them. This is barely going to make her extra decided to seek out the Firefly lab and guarantee that Sam’s demise – and Tess’ earlier than him – wasn’t in useless. 

Luckily, it wasn’t all trauma and heartbreak in these episodes. The fourth episode has an extended, relaxed sequence displaying Ellie and Joel’s journey throughout the nation, full with puns and a few backstory into Tommy being somebody all the time on the lookout for one thing to struggle for. It’s good to get some extra exposition on the brotherly relationship and because the sixth episode revolves round their reunion, it should be attention-grabbing to see how that dynamic has modified contemplating we have not seen Tommy for the reason that pilot. 

The fifth episode additionally allowed the characters to have some downtime to breathe, with Ellie and Sam studying comics and kicking a ball round whereas Henry all however marvels on the sight of Sam smiling and being completely satisfied. Henry and Sam are an awesome juxtaposition to Joel and Ellie, displaying what can occur if you attempt to defend somebody however you fail. Henry’s horror and ache at being pressured to shoot Sam was palpable and Joel is plainly fascinated about Sarah when he is standing over their graves on the finish. 

What did you consider the episodes? Were you simply as horrifed on the contaminated surging out of the pit? Sound off within the feedback beneath!