Who would have predicted that about half-way through a season of a TV show based on a video game, we would be as invested and enthralled in the story as we are with The Last of Us. HBO bringing in Craig Maizen along with Neil Druckman nursing his baby has been nothing short of a master stroke. It is safe to say at this part of the season we have the best video game-to-screen adaptation on our hands since Mario Bros graced our screens for the first time..
This week’s episode airs a little earlier than expected thanks to the Super Bowl in the US but that just means episode 5 gets into our minds and under our skins a little earlier than usual.
Episode 5 titled “Endure and Survive” focuses on Joel and Ellie trying to make their way through Kansas City all the while Kathleen and her goons are after them and their new companions Henry (Lamar Johnson) and his younger brother Sam (Keivonn Woodard). Henry has devised a plan to get the quartet out of the city but needs help from Joel as it takes them through some less than desirable areas underneath the city. Episode 4 gave us a bit of a tease into what is going on down there and without spoiling it is safe to say that episode 5 steps the action and creep factor up a notch.
Hot on their heels is the broken and ever-vengeful Kathleen whose hatred for Henry is beginning to cloud her judgment and put her and her followers into harm’s way. We get a bit of further insight into Kathleen’s motives and her push to unify those around her to her will and yet we see her need for revenge starting to do more harm than she would have thought.
We watch as the ever-cautious Joel loosens up a little and allows himself to open up to having Henry and Sam along for the journey. Sam is great for Ellie as they are roughly the same age and we get to see Ellie be the kid she is for a little while cracking jokes and laughing all the while learning from each other.
This episode has some of the best action scenes in the series so far along with a few that may pull at the heart strings. If you know, you know….
Episode 5 is the first time I have genuinely been shocked in the series. To the point where I yelled at my screen. Definitely an episode we will all be talking about for some time to come.
The Last of Us is available to stream now on BINGE, new episodes drop every Monday.
