HBO’s The Last of Us continues its quest for revenge with the latest episode “Feel Her Love”. We’ve had some highs and lows with the show and this was a high for the most part, efficiently hitting some key moments, and smartly linking its lore back to the game.
There will be story spoilers in this review.
Having survived their first day in Seattle by the skin of their teeth, things aren’t getting any easier for Ellie and Dina. Now a firm couple, the duo are aiming their sights on a nearby hospital, in the hope of tracking down a member of Abby’s gang.
Isabella Merced is once again proving to be the standout of this series, delivering some impactful scenes and a much more driven take on the character. But this is a big episode for Bella Ramsey, who’s got some meaty scenes ahead of them in the coming episodes.
However, for us Ramsey is lacking that punch. This portion of the story is when the real flaws in the character come to the forefront, showcasing recklessness, hatred, rage, and cruel sadistic streak. None of it comes across as poignantly as Ashley Johnson’s portrayal in the game.
While inevitable, we do try to avoid comparing every facet of the show to the game — they are of their own existence after all. However, whether it be through writing or performance, Ellie has been lacking the depth in this rendition of the story, and it shows in some of the key moments in this episode.
That’s not to say they are bad, because they are actually quite entertaining. It’s just a shame that what we got in the game was (in our opinion) a bona fide masterpiece, yet television audiences are experiencing something that’s great at best.
However, while the big emotional scenes are our concern going forward, this latest episode is yet another showcase of the brilliant tension the show is able to conjure up. Flowing from run-ins with the infected to a rather gutsy second impression of the Seraphites, this latest episode is always tightening and loosening its grip.
It all culminates in a chilling scene which sees the introduction of spores. With spores being the main way of infection in the game, it was an intriguing change with the show to opt for its tendril connections, although ultimately one that we really enjoyed.
However, we were giddy at the prospect of spores being brought back into the show, and done so in a way that also teases a huge moment in the game (albeit one presumably being saved for season three). It’s an effective twist for new viewers, and a great full circle moment for fans of the games.
We’ve had a pretty action packed couple of episodes, which always showcases the strengths of this adaptation. However, as we move into some pretty hefty emotional moments, this is when the show will really prove its worth. With just two episodes to go, we’ve got our fingers crossed that Mazin and co are able to pull it off.
What did you think of the latest episode of The Last of Us Season 2? Stick on your gas mask and head down to the comments below.
Comments 17
The hospital scene at the end was really good, but man some of the dialogue at the beginning of the episode was so cringe.
Ramsey is a fine actress but she lacks the emotional reach needed for this role. This also proved how amazing the performance of the game is. They should have looked ahead during the castings for this. She was great during season one but the Ellie for part 2 is on a different level.
With Tati Gabrielle playing Nora, her scene with Ellie is a neat link between Naughty Dog's past and future.
@AdamNovice Wait, it IS her! I was thinking the whole time, man, she resembles the Intergalactic lead so much it's uncanny.
@JB_Whiting Lol, yeah it's the same actress.
The show is terrible. They changed way too much and most of the characters are unrecognizable (and im not only talking about their physical appearances). Neil is a sellout. He shouldve sticked to the story we had in the games. The ladt of us part 2 is perfect. This show isnt
I was disappointed by this episode. It was good, but there were too many moments where the writing fell apart by contrivances. The main area was when Ellie got to the hospital, crawled away from the dog into the hiding hole, and then magically appeared behind Nora in the room. Really? She managed to slip by everyone patrolling and knew exactly what room Nora would be in? It felt so forced and didn’t make any sense, and lost the emotional impact because, in the game you’re sneaking and fighting your way inside, and find Nora by logical reasoning, albeit video gamey. I don’t know - as much as I like the show and can separate it from the game, it really isn’t reaching any of the high points that the game did. At all.
"What does the hallway look like?"
"Empty and haunted."
"Oh, just like us!"
The "tense" atmosphere this episodes was going for got demolished for me when this kind of crap writing was barfed out. Also, just a thought: maybe don't talk out loud while walking through an eerie hallway that may or may not have humans and/or infected in it. Hand signals exist for a reason.
@Kraven Completely agree. I remember Ellie trying to get into the hospital as a long stretch in the game, especially if you want to avoid direct combat as much as possible. In the show, it seems like she just magically pops into the laundry room that Nora just so happens to be in, and she only attracts the attention of one guard and a dog to get there.
Still entertaining, but I feel like the show suffers most when it shifts from slow dialogue sequences to speedrunning through key chunks of the game. I get it; they're different types of media, and you can't make the show devote 10 hours to stealthily navigating streets, buildings, and hospital floors. But the pacing inevitably feels off when they do this, and this was what completely ruined the winter sequence in S1, which was literally the best part of the game. I think my biggest issue with the show is that the best deviations from the game tend to involve expanding on the story, literally making it bigger and longer than it was originally; but this always comes at the cost of rushing something important down the line. The good bits often feel great in the moment, but then the show has to contort itself to hit the key plot points, and the pacing and emotional beats feel off as a result. Still an incredible creation, and the production design in particular is unbelievable for TV, but I couldn't help but be disappointed with the rushing.
I am thoroughly enjoying this season of the Last of Us! The TV adaptation has been excellent and the actors are superb. Looking forward to the next two episodes and for season 3!
Yeah not feeling it. The pacing is all off and the whole thing is really falling apart, plot wise; beginning to feel like a pretty poor adaptation. Especially disappointed with the Serephite scene; over all too quickly, especially given the title of the episode. Meh.
I never understand why, in these series where getting bit = death, people are walking around in T-shirts.
This weeks episode was fantastic in my opinion. We've diverted a little from the format of the games to fit the medium that will tie it all up nicely for new audiences and fans willing to look past a few niggles and re-jigs
Ellie in the hallway at the end had me SCREAMING at my TV. Bella Killed It. Although I would of liked the whole 'I could leave you here to turn or kill you now thing' but get that the shows trying to convey just how focused Ellie is on revenge.
Can't wait for next week which looks like a mostly flashback episode which if you ask me makes more sense for the context of the show to do it this way, than pepper Daddy Pedro through the season like the games
Really enjoyed this weeks episode. For me it ranks number 2, behind episode 2
I think its at its best when its a video game, the exploration, the combat, the escapes and especially the infected...... and really quite poor when it slows down and does the people stuff. But tbh if there wasn't some people stuff you wouldn't appreciate the good stuff quite as much .
I have this weird feeling that Ramsey is dead inside. I do not know why
@JB_Whiting @AdamNovice She was in the Uncharted Movie too. Naughty Dog has their favourites!
I thought Ellie/Bella was terrifying at the end. While the scene wasn't quite as harrowing as the game because we've seen it before and WE are not having to press the button, it was still powerful. I'd be more interested to see how people who didn't play the game felt about these scenes, as the moments when I thought the show didn't quite nail it, often non-gamers with no bar for comparison really enjoyed.
Either way Dina continues to be the star of the show, though I can't unsee her as Dora the Explorer which doesn't fit the tone!
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