The second episode of The Last of Us” continues the pace of the first. Titled Infected, it dives deeper into the dangers of the world post-apocalypse and the burgeoning bond among Joel, Ellie, and Tess. Directed by Neil Druckmann himself, co-creator of the original game, the episode spells a continuity that is absolutely faithful and immersive. Tense action sequences jostle with introspection and character development, opening more doors in the storyline and the complications of just trying to live in a world packed to the gills with infected.
The Last of Us Episode 2 Summary
Boston Quarantine Zone: The show begins with Joel, Ellie, and Tess walking through the Boston ruins of what falls beyond the quarantine zone. It’s a dreary ground, like this world is trying to have an effect on its people. This sets the tone of drabness, effectively demonstrating how lonely the world could be and the danger it poses for the people who exist in it. It is from the very first scene that almost palpable tension is created, as the group makes a slow, furtive movement, and an eerie silence fosters and shapes the impending events of the episode.
Meeting the Infected: This museum is an important key location that the Trinity will stumble upon, and it will bring them face-to-face for the first time with the infected. The scene is masterfully done, full of suspenseful, heart-pounding action, but the infected especially the Clickers, look terribly real and disgusting with the sounds they are emitting. This museum scene, with a more direct nod to the game, is a direct scene right down to every last detail. They struggle to get out and fight the infected, which reveals their resourcefulness and desperation and points to the very high stakes of their mission.
Ellie’s Immunity: Ellie’s immunity to the infection is a crucial revelation for a significant portion of the episode. This is first hinted at when she is bitten again and remains unaffected. Joel’s disbelief at learning this and finally coming to terms with this fact speaks volumes about how important this piece of information is regarding Ellie’s condition. This revelation does bring a new level of complexity to their journey, with Ellie representing a potential hope for the future of humanity.
Tess’s Sacrifice: The climax of emotions in the episode is staged when Tess makes a tragic sacrifice. After being bitten by an infected person during the museum encounter, Tess decides to stay and let a horde of infected people take her down to let Joel and Ellie get away. Her selfless act becomes one of those poignantly dour moments that firmly reinforce the audience’s weight in the world they’re in. Tess’s death is the key that unlocks Joel’s devotion to Ellie, a new dynamic in the way he relates to the world. Anna Torv’s performance as Tess is full of power and emotion, deepening her character and making the audience feel the depth of her loss.
The episode concludes with Joel and Ellie continuing their journey, except that now they are alone and very fully aware of the kind of danger that would yet confront them. The last shot of the destroyed cityscape again impresses upon the audience the darkness of this world and the magnitude of the task lying in front of them. This ending sets the stage for the challenges yet to come and the evolving nature of the relationship between Joel and Ellie.
Key People
Joel Pedro Pascal never disappoints in his acting as Joel. More of Joel’s protective instincts toward Ellie are shown, as are the character’s own struggles to let others in emotionally. His hesitation to trust Ellie becomes a sense of responsibility and will. Through his performance, Pascal makes Joel’s inner conflict and his changing emotions toward Ellie dramatically realistic.
Ellie Bella Ramsey is a revelation on the part of Ellie. A character who, with vulnerability and great strength, wields an intense sense of humor has been realized in ways that only enhance the storytelling. Her response to Tess’s death, her presence around Joel, and the way she acts are truly gritty and reveal the dawning sense of just how serious things are. Ramsey’s performance is alive and makes Ellie a character who is easy to care about and easy to relate to.
Tess Anna Torv’s Tess is given a heroic but tragic goodbye in this episode. Tess’s drive to protect Ellie and make the mission succeed is pushed with intensity and emotional conviction. Her death, in effect, is the point that sets up the whole story. But Torv gives dimension to Tess as a character, showing her to be more than one note in strength and vulnerability.
The infected, and the clickers most of all, are a relevant point of focus in this episode. It only underlines the danger of the course Joel and Ellie navigate. The design of the Clickers and their crawling movements looks really authentic and further horrifying within the series. The attention to their design in the series remains incredibly faithful to the game.
Heroes and Villains
Heroes Joel and Ellie are clearly the heroic leads of the series. The core of the story is built on their building relationship. Joel’s overprotective nature, along with Ellie’s resilience, makes them an enigmatic duo, and theirs is a journey of physical as well as emotional discovery. Tess becomes a superhero through her very act of sacrifice. Her refusal to give up on Ellie and the mission endows Tess with valor and strength. Her death is a critical moment in the story, urging in the minds how brutalistic reality is and how you can survive, but not without losing something essential.
Villains
The major villain of the episode is the infected, more specifically the Clickers. The threat they pose and their relentless pursuit create immense danger at the heart of the story. The infected are not merely physical dangers but are symbolic of the ruined world and the ever-present danger of survivors.
Ambiguous Figures
The military regime is a threat to the people, but not directly to the player’s figures, as they do not appear in this episode. Their repression and harsh practices, coupled with harsh rule and cruelty from the military regime, make the game tenser, as this is an authoritarian model, totally opposite to the Fireflies.
Funny/Interesting Moments
Ellie’s curiosity about the pre-outbreak world makes for a lot of funny moments. Her questions about life before the collapse and the way she is impressed with some simple objects show people that, despite the way the world has changed, she is just a young girl. Her curiosity about objects common to people before the outbreak of the infection juxtaposes their gloomy surroundings with a sense of the world before.
Narrative
Joel’s Droll Humor Joel’s deadpan humor and unwillingness to interact with Ellie continue to fill the series with dark comedy. His exhaustion at her questions and his gruff demeanor with her serve as a counterbalance to the brutal action and emotional drama. These interactions are central to building their relationship and adding layers to their characters.
The World-Building Details This episode is awash with interesting world-building details. The museum, the overgrown cityscape, and the remnants of civilization paint a vivid setting. The little details in the production design do a lot to add dimension to the narrative and improve the viewing experience.
Discussion Points
Impact of Tess’s Death Her sacrifice comes as a core turning point within the series, thus leading to discussions about how impactful her death was. The fact that she chose to stay and fight the infected adds layers of tragedy to the show, underscoring the cruelty of the world they live in. Many of the discussions include how emotional it is and the effects the viewers will have concerning Joel and Ellie.
Infected The way in which the infected, especially the Clickers, are portrayed is up for discussion. The series’ ability to mirror the horror and danger of these creatures proves its faithfulness to the source material. Many comparisons have been made by fans of the game to the way such infected were brought out in the series and the game, and more so, the effectiveness of the visual and auditory design.
A Dynamic Relationship Between Joel and Ellie Their relationship is always in great flux. Most of the show will focus on the development of the two characters. The gradual acceptance of Ellie by Joel and the growing sense of responsibility Joel feels towards Ellie. The eager audience is waiting to see how this relationship will develop and how they will confront future trials.
The Themes Surrounding Sacrifice and Survival Reoccurring throughout is the theme of sacrifice, and Tess’s in particular from the beginning is a great highlight of the hard moral decisions that have to be made. Often, discussions get to the moral dilemmas and the greater implications of the decisions that will have to be made once in the shoes of the characters in a post-apocalyptic world.
Allegiance to the Source Material: Another thing discussed over and over again remains the show’s allegiance to the original material. Attention to key scenes and close details paid while animating the infected have been discussed time and again. It is a factor that fans of the game have appreciated over and over for the show’s ability to keep and uphold the very essence of the original while, at the same time, developing and making the story more intense.
The Role Played by Fireflies: Although the fireflies do not appear in this episode, they are discussed throughout. Their ideological conflict with the military regime and belief that Ellie has a chance of becoming a savior to humanity will add depth to the story. There is always further discussion about what motivates the Fireflies and if it is at all ethical.
What to Expect: Speculations on Volume 2 The show leaves the future of Joel and Ellie uncertain, and this has the fans speculating on what happens next. The fact that the audience is seeing how the series continues to build in-game narrative and unfolds new dimensions of the characters and the world created increases the anticipation. The most important point of anticipation is what kind of challenges and growth Joel and Ellie will go through.
The second episode of The Last of Us TV series went on to continue what the premiere had started with a firm footing. The play of intense action with deep emotion and the elaboration of world-building went on to establish a compelling narrative to sustain viewer interest. The journey of Joel and Ellie continues to be all the more compelling with the evolving relationship, the portrayal of the infected, and now with the themes of sacrifice and survival. It’s through this evolving tale of Ellie and Joel that the show continues to capture and engage the audience, plunging even deeper into the post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us.
