The Last of Us Episode 5 Review: Can HBO calm down with fungi and heartbreaks?

The latest episode of HBO’s The Last of Us carries forward Joel and Ellie’s journey, still holding on to the series’ emotionally-charged narrative and exceptional performances - this time, accentuated through a series of supporting characters and a terrifying third act.

The overarching post-apocalyptic storyline is punctuated by the relationship between the two main characters - Ellie and Joel - whose bond is further strengthened through their episodic tribulations. The fifth installment to the series is replete with instances of tension, as well as moments of reflection and introspection.

Taking off from the previous episode’s cliffhanger, Joel and Ellie join forces with another duo on the run - a pair of brothers, the younger of whom is deaf.

As the older sibling and former FEDRA informant, Henry (Lamar Johnson) is tasked with making a difficult choice to save his younger brother Sam (Keivonn Woodard), as a result of which, the two are being hunted down by the marauders in Kansas City. With a shared fate and circumstances, the two invite Joel and Ellie to work together in order to escape the city.

As will be the case for most episodes here on out, the heart of this episode pivots on the relationship between Joel and Ellie. Despite their differences, the two have formed the most curious bond over the course of their journey, especially evident in the way they supported each other through the trials and tribulations that they faced in the previous episode. 

Whether it was Joel comforting Ellie as she struggled with her feelings of guilt and resentment over the death of a mysterious close someone, or Ellie providing encouragement and support to Joel as he grappled with the weight of the world on his shoulders, the two characters embodied the resilience and strength that has come to define the series.

In addition to the central relationship, the episode makes us privy to an interesting study of the two fresh faces on the series. While Ellie hits it off and bonds with the young Sam, Joel naturally has his guard up for the better part of the episode.

A short interlude gives us a bit of context to Henry and Sam’s circumstances and relationship. Save for their familial blood relation, the dynamic between the two brothers finds frightening similarities with Joel and Ellie’s.

With some cool callbacks to the game, the four make it to the maintenance tunnels. There is an old settlement in the region that appears to have relocated underground following Outbreak Day. The production design and attention to detail in the episode are truly remarkable. The environments are richly detailed, providing a vivid and immersive world for wandering eyeballs to be rewarded with.

As Ellie and Sam have a laugh and casually drop a major game easter egg with the titular “Endure and Survive” motto, Joel and Henry sit down for a bit of a one on one.

Their ensuing conversation highlights the uncanny parallels between the two even further. For Joel, Henry’s example serves as a cautionary tale, however hits a little too close to home as he slowly realises that he’s practically being faced with his own reflection.

It is at this point in the series that Joel understands that there is no looking back. As the two deliver a series of ominous dialogue with astonishing gravitas and authenticity, both are forced to confront their own limitations and confront their fears.

Meanwhile, Melanie Lysnkey’s bloodthirsty Kathleen resolves to pursue justice and vengeance, against the wishes of her late brother. In a slightly forced moment of revisited trauma, Kathleen’s motivations rather unfortunately fall short of the more compelling back stories the series had thus far granted its many supporting characters.

Following yet another memorable play-by-play from the game, Joel is forced to outmaneuver a sniper, perched atop a tower, momentarily separating him from the gang. 

Kathleen does not balk at the prospect of murdering juveniles and brazenly admits to it before her associates. Realizing the futility of persuasion, Henry confronts her to put an end to the cycle of violence while Joel prepares to execute his sniping maneuver; only to be interrupted by  a violent horde of infected, surging forward towards Kathleen's party. 

Although some of the infected are neutralized, a gargantuan ‘Bloater’ emerges from the fiery carnage, making swift work of Kathleen’s gang and ripping the skull right off the shoulders of her right-hand man - a terrifying outburst of violence and a series first.

As Ellie desperately escapes the clutches of a creepy, contorting Clicker child, Kathleen meets a rather anticlimactic end as she is slain in the ensuing fracas. From the brutal encounters with the marauders, to the horrifying confrontations with the Infected, each scene of the third act was crafted with a sense of urgency and tension that kept the audience on the edge of their seats. 

Before the episode comes to a close, Joel extends an invitation to Sam and Henry to accompany them to Wyoming while Sam spends the night talking to Ellie. Those familiar with the game are cursed with the knowledge of what’s to come shortly, however, the touching moment of solidarity and courage between the two kids does its share to make reparations for the approaching trauma.

Bound to his predestined fate from the game, Sam turns overnight and attacks Ellie at the crack of dawn. Though Joel reaches for the gun, he is stopped in his tracks by Henry, who’s unable to fathom what had just transpired.

In an anxiety-inducing couple seconds, Henry is inevitably overcome by anguish and shock and shoots his brother dead before turning the gun on himself. A devastating welp from Bella Ramsey marked the appalling climax to yet another set of characters in Joel and Ellie’s story.

The Last of Us continues to captivate audiences with its sophisticated writing, powerful performances, and outstanding technical prowess. The fifth episode is a testament to the talent and vision to realise the rich environs of a zombie apocalypse, and is a must-watch for fans of the genre.

The episode's stunning visuals, paired with its heart-pumping action and pulse-pounding score, make for an unforgettable experience. As always, the character development and story progression in The Last of Us continues to captivate viewers, leaving us in eager for the next episode.

Whether it was through the haunting imagery of the abandoned cityscapes, or the emotionally charged dialogue between the characters, ‘Endure and Survive’ was a triumph of both visual and narrative storytelling, and proved to be an unforgettable installment in the series.

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