The Last of Us episode 5: Endure and Survive!

The Last of us episode 5: endure and survive.

Subtitles are the bane of a casual viewer. We have often seen transition or babel fish implemented as fast as possible. Yet here, Henry and Same communicate nonverbally and often with sign language. It’s incredible how everyone speaks English in the 30th century, and a young child is given signs gift of received pronunciation.

The Last of Us continues to know it’s not in the plot; it’s in the character that decisions must be made. Ellie and Joel continue their trip through the states, becoming more like citizen Z with a highway-to-heaven motif. There is hardly that moral to call on Sam becket. In fact, from the outset of Joel’s intro, we know his catchphrase would be more ‘fuck this’ than ‘Oh boy’, and that’s what made him great.

But I get ahead of myself. While one of the shooter episodes manages to cram so much in without seeming bloated, I cannot help but feel the streaming model has now been fully embraced. Indeed, I thought this episode would be up tomorrow. So far, each episode is ‘the length it had to be’, and nothing is laborious or short-changed on either side of it. On a mechanical level, this is the densest episode yet, and the richest in scale.

But the core is Henry and Sam. The drive to keep Sam alive for Henry and the Faith Sam has in Henry create a perfect dynamic of codependency. You know they would do anything for each other. It also shows how adult the show is. It’s hard not to think of the Walking dead and the world they are in. as Sam dons the persona of ‘super Sam’ to create bravery the way Karl would put on his father’s hat, you understand the views of a child. However, Henry is not Rik, and this is not the comic book world often quoted in this episode or the heart of Robert Kirkman. Henry makes choices and has, and none of them is anything others would not make. His arguments with Joel show that. And elevate this meeting beyond just another reflection of him and Ellie.

Joel and Ellie are in the back seats in this one. Although time is spent to show how they have come to strengthen their bond from the examples they meet along the way. Not leash is in the face of the enemy in this episode. Kathleen is at first the ultimate ‘Karen’ brimming with confidence and swift republican decisions, but she has loyalty across the board. As her story is shared, we can see how everyone has a reason, and sometimes chaos is all that can come.

As we reach the end there is a specific crank in the deus ex machina that is the infected and their sudden appearance. In many ways, it knows it’s taken a punt, so it doubles down on some frantic set pieces now. You forgive it. It’s trespass. It’s too much providence to swallow in a show that has been so low-key. But to see them at this stage and rage is a true sight. In many ways, it knows it’s taken a punt, so it doubles down on some frantic set pieces. At this moment, you forgive its trespass.

This is not the walking dead. We don’t get to make friends. But As Bill said in the earlier episode, we can enjoy the company of strangers for a brief time. Another high bar easily leapt.

I’m locked in.