The Last of Us – “Endure and Survive” Review
The Last of Us, “Endure and Survive” aired on February 10th on HBO. Based on the 2013 video game developed by Naughty Dog, the series follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), a smuggler tasked with escorting the teenage Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across the post-apocalyptic United States. In “Endure and Survive”; while attempting to evade the rebels, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) cross paths with the most wanted man in Kansas City. Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey) continues her hunt.
The next episode will be on Sunday, February 19th. Below you will find our review of The Last of Us, “Endure and Survive”.
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Warning: This article contains spoilers from The Last of Us “Endure and Survive”. Read at your own risk!
A liberated QZ is in disarray as the citizens kill members of FEDRA and their supporters. Henry and Sam (Keivonn Woodard) escape as Kathleen hunts them for turning in her brother to FEDRA and causing his death. The brothers found a place to hide out with a friend, but as time went on, they ran out of food and their friend never returned, having been captured and killed by Kathleen. As the brothers ventured out, they got caught up in Joel’s shootout with the bandits. Following Joel and Ellie, they found them asleep in the high rise, in a standoff.
Henry told Joel that they didn’t want to hurt them but to help them. The two groups discuss a plan for how to get out of the city, which is to go through the tunnels under the city. The problem is that FEDRA would put the infected in the tunnels, but they would clean them out every so often. Henry admits to Joel that he is a collaborator and he was responsible for the capture of Kathleen’s brother in exchange for leukemia medicine for Sam.
“I’m the most wanted man in Kansas City. ” – Henry (Lamar Johnson)
After leaving the tunnels after nightfall they are attacked by a sniper. When Joel finds him, he kills him but finds out that he worked with Kathleen. Who arrives at their location with a small militia. Henry offers to turn himself in if she lets the kids go, but Kathleen refuses, saying they all have to die. As Kathleen prepares to kill Henry, a massive crowd of infected emerge from the ground; including a massive bloater.
The group managed to escape as more infected stormed the small militia, killing Kathleen and her second in command. Sam shows Ellie he’s been bitten, and she tries to heal him with her blood. In the morning a now-infected Sam attacks Ellie causing Henry to kill him. Realizing what he did Henry takes his own life. After Ellie and Joel buried them, they continued with their journey to Wyoming.
My Overall Thoughts
This episode captured the battle against not just the infected, but other people too. Melanie Lynskey did an amazing job of capturing her inner villain, even though we know Kathleen’s end goal she gave a great feeling of being almost unpredictable. Everything Kathleen has done was to revenge her brother’s death. I’m really enjoying Joel and Ellie’s relationship; they have a great dynamic and their banter is wonderful.
My jaw dropped at the massive bloater, it looks so much better than any game or anything. The effects team really what they were doing. Not going to lie, my heart broke a little when Sam turned but broke more how Ellie blames herself. Overall, this was an amazing episode and I have yet to be disappointed.
When you’re lost in the darkness, look for the light.
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