The Last of Us
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For Joel and Ellie, all that was miles ago, back in Kansas City.
Its not an entirely uninhabited nowhere, however.
Its notthattense a hostage situation, however.
Florence is quick to tell Marlon that their visitors havent hurt her.
Whats more, shes made soup.
Joel describes himself as just someone passin through.
We came here before you were born, sonny!
Its possible that the cordyceps apocalypse hasnt changed Florence and Marlons lifestyle much at all.
They probably werent huntingallof their own food before, but they were likely hunting some.
Theyre certainly cut off from the world to the point theyve never even heard of the Fireflies.
(There are firefly people?)
Youre not gonna scare us, Ellie says.
Scared him, Florence replies.
Shes right, too.
As they exit the cabin, Joel has a panic attack, and it wont be the last.
But Ellies letting her guard down more now, and so is Joel.
Over the campfire, they trade thoughts about what theyd do in a post-cure world.
Joel wants a sheep farm.
And do what theyre told.)
Spurred in part by her admiration for Sally Ride, Ellie talks about wanting to go to the moon.
Joel ends the night telling her to dream of sheep ranches on the moon.
This is more than just a fanciful sentiment.
Its something like a promise.
Ellie previously asked him What do we do?
Joel reflexively responds, We?
But its almost like a defense mechanism.
Theyarea we now, even if they havent admitted it out loud.
But by the episodes end, it will be tough to deny.
This is, in some respects, the least eventful episode of the season so far.
But it also feels like the heart of the series.
That both makes them stronger and more vulnerable.
When a dog capable of sniffing out Infected approaches Ellie, he freezes in fear and cant look.
Only the sound of Ellies giggles lets him know everything is all right.
Maria knows who Joel is.
Theres a good reason for this, Joel soon learns.
Jacksons where Tommy has taken up residence.
A warm family reunion doesnt bury the tensions raised by their recent confrontation.
Still, Maria and Tommy are clearly growing further.
Jacksons a place of bustling streets (decorated for Christmas at the moment) and welcoming shops.
This place actually fucking works, Ellie says, and shes right.
But the Boston QZworked, at least in the literal sense of the term.
What sets Jackson apart?
Theres a democratically elected council.
Everyone does their share.
Maria doesnt mince words: Were communists.
Tommy knows he has it good, too.
Over drinks, he talks about raising hogs because once weve got bacon, whats even left?
But theres trouble in this L.L.
Beancatalogue communist paradise: Joel isnt ready to tell Tommy the truth about Tess or about Ellie.
To Joel, this seems to be a part of Tommys habit of joining others groups.
And they werent things.
And I dont judge you for it.
We survived the only way we knew how.
But there were other ways.
We just werent any good at em.
Then he plays his trump card: Hes going to be a dad.
Joel understands this, maybe twice over.
(Weirdest gift ever.)
She might have a point, though.
Like Joel, she sees him as a born follower.
Sensing shes getting nowhere, Maria offers some advice: Be careful who you put your faith in.
The only people who can betray us are the ones we trust.
The two brothers have a heart-to-heart.
Joel tells Tommy about Tess and about Ellies immunity.
He also confesses hes not sure he can go on.
Hes not as sharp as he used to be.
He has horrible dreams.
Heknowshes going to let Ellie down.
Visiting her room, Joel finds Ellie baffled by the lives of pre-Infected teens.
Is this really all they had to worry about, she asks.
Deciding which shirt goes with which skirt.
But shes more focused on having overheard Joel trying to leave her with Tommy.
Do you give a shit about me or not?
Youre not my daughter, he calmly replies, and I sure as hell aint your dad.
Come dawn, were goin our separate ways.
Its a lie, though, even if neither of them realizes it at the time.
Instead, hes waiting to take Ellie to Colorado.
Her response: Lets go.
But Kin doesnt rush them to their next destination.
Instead, we get a long, lovely sequence of Joel and Ellie traveling together.
Ellie learns to shoot and the rules of football and asks whether Jackson is how it was pre-apocalypse.
(Joels answer: The countrys too big for that.
The question of whether or not theyre a we has been settled for good.
(Its in sequences like these that it feels most like the game that inspired it.)
They encounter some apes and learn the Fireflies have moved on.
(And Joel kind of promises to sing for Ellie.)
Then, in a rush, some hooligans show up.
They escape to the wilderness, but only after Joel is stabbed and seriously wounded.
Have his nightmares of failure come true?
This is going to be a problem, and one only Ellie can solve.
Infectious Bites
A bit more about Marlon and Florence: Graham Greene should need no introduction.
The venerable character actor is familiar from his work in everything fromDances With WolvestoThe Twilight Saga: New Moon.
Its not exactlyIron Man, but that might be part of the point.
