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Episode 8 of The Last of Us is the penultimate episode of the first season but it doesn't feel like it at all. Usually, the second to last entry in a series is bogged down by setup with the audience waiting impatiently for the finale. However, this episode doesn't seem concerned with that at all. There was no tease as to where things go from here. It felt like just another episode of the show which is its greatest strength. When a show uses the penultimate episode to set up the finale, it feels like that episode loses its voice and it becomes a slog for the audience to get through as the writers position the characters for the final moments. We avoid that issue here because this is treated as a solo adventure within a story with no end in sight, making the finale hit sensationally hard, feeling as if it comes out of nowhere.
As a fan of the source material, I've been anticipating this section of the story. It has always been my favourite section because this is where we finally see Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in her truest form. She becomes vulnerable and desperate, but most importantly, a survivalist. No matter her situation and how much it worsens, she navigates it with confidence, even if it's counterfeit. She doesn't rely on Joel to get her out of trouble, assessing her surroundings and calculating her next move. This doesn't always work out and she fumbles because this is the first time she's had to be concerned with somebody beside herself. Lack of complete focus is where many of her weak moments lie. However, the events of this episode, stumbles and all, show promise for Ellie's survival in the broader story. We see the seeds of intellect that burrow into her every plan and Ramsey perfectly hits every beat. It's a performance that is not yet concluded but conclusively brilliant.
We also get more Joel (Pedro Pascal) in this episode. Pascal understands this character so well that it's often hard to distinguish what's written for him and what he improvises. With a show as high budget as this, I doubt much of it is improvised but that's how great Pascal is. He sets in motion this constant doubt that his lines are written because they feel so natural for him to say. He has brilliant one liners and acts with the energy of a bear trying to find its cubs by any means necessary. The flaw here is that Ellie's story is just more compelling and interesting, so every time we follow Joel it feels like just biding time to get back to Ellie. The stakes are much lower in Joel's story that the only thing keeping it even slightly interesting is Pascal's performance.
This episode encapsulates everything beautiful and dark about this show and in doing so it feels like a finale in itself. There's a real antagonist and the show attempts to endear him towards the audience and only succeeds halfway. Once he's revealed to be the villain, we sink deeper into his psyche to the most uncomfortable places. I'm surprised the show attempted going to these lengths because some of the subject matter is sensitive and if handled incorrectly, could be a severe miscalculation. However, they play everything very well and give this terrifying and vile villain the fitting end he deserved.
It's been exhausting to talk about this show every week because every week I deliver the same praise. The writing is fantastic, the performances are natural and emotionally complicated, the direction is sincere, and at times so intense it makes you choke. Everything is so illustrious that a review of every episode may feel redundant, but I continue to write them because the show is remarkable and it's so huge that not having a voice in the discussion seems even more redundant. I enjoy every single episode so the anticipation for the finale is much higher than a typical show. Expectations are unruly and that may be unfair, but the show has demonstrated that it's capable of literal perfection. This episode may not be that but it is exhilarating reminding me why I write these reviews each week. Though the praise may be similar every time, there is always something unique to that episode and in this episode it was David. Incredible performance and I may never trust Scott Shepherd again.
So to bring us to a close, I'm going to give this episode of The Last of Us a... 8 out of 10 AuthorKritPick has been writing reviews for The Oscar Project since 2022. Check out all his reviews on his main review page. Follow him on YouTube (KritPick Productions) and Twitter (@Kr1tical).
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