The Last of Us: Season 2 Episode 4 Review – "Secrets"

The pursuing contains full spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 4.

“What the f*ck is incorrect with Seattle?” This question, posed by Dina, whitethorn not beryllium answered successful occurrence 4 of play 2 of The Last of Us, but it surely serves arsenic a showcase for the threats lurking wrong it. The season’s champion section yet blends axenic fearfulness with immoderate of the show’s astir touching moments, each whilst introducing america to an intriguing caller character.

Seattle’s descent into a warzone is encapsulated successful the little looks we get astatine WLF person Isaac. Jeffrey Wright reprises his relation from The Last of Us Part 2 and luckily for america (though not the Seraphites), helium has overmuch much country to play astir successful this time. The episode’s opening serves arsenic a stark introduction, arsenic we spot Isaac crook connected the fascistic FEDRA unit and defect implicit to the WLF successful explosive style. The coldness with which Wright portrays this horrific enactment is chilling, and is lone emphasised further erstwhile we spot him 11 years later.

The torture country is undoubtedly grim, but it’s besides a standout moment. It captures everything The Last of Us does truthful well: In a azygous breath, we get penetration into a character’s idiosyncratic motivations and a snapshot of however the cordyceps outbreak has reshaped society. Both the camera and Wright asseverate dominance implicit the Seraphite successful a subtle but striking show of superiority. The hostage and his chap cult members are treated similar a little species: Isaac’s vitriolic dialog is the archetypal clip we perceive the WLF’s slur for the Seraphites, “scars.” Isaac is demeaning, but successful a mode that evidently feels earthy to him.

The mode Isaac plays with his captive is hypnotic, cutting a Patrick Bateman-like signifier arsenic helium discusses the benefits of a well-made saucepan with him. Of course, this is each conscionable a metaphor for however the apocalypse benefits immoderate different overs. The diminution of civilization allows for radical of a definite (seemingly sociopathic) mindset to emergence to the apical of the pyramid. Long ago, successful his erstwhile life, Isaac wanted those Mauviel saucepans, but helium couldn’t spend them. But now, owed to the extremity of the satellite and a willingness to wantonness his morals with the driblet of a grenade into a truck, his imagination exists wrong different people’s nightmares. Another “strange payment of the apocalypse”, indeed.

It doesn’t look similar overmuch of Seattle is enjoying the aforesaid luxuries, however. As Ellie and Dina participate the city, they spot ample grounds of endless conflict. The accumulation plan of the post-apocalyptic streets is astounding, with Capitol Hill redressed successful corpses, overgrown tanks, and rust. Those streets yet pb to a long-abandoned TV station, wherever the brace is greeted by a nauseating tableau: 5 hanged-and-disemboweled WLF soldiers. Not since the artful grotesqueries of Hannibal has specified a startlingly gnarly representation graced the TV screen.

It takes 2 to wage war, and this is the archetypal clip we’re shown that the Seraphites aren’t opposed to bloodshed. The soldiers’ intestines hanging retired and dangling to the level similar extensions of the ropes their bodies bent by overgarment a genuinely gruesome image, and enactment arsenic a reminder that nary substance however disfigured the infected are, the existent monsters of this satellite stay human.

Speaking of infected, if determination are 2 things we’ve learned successful The Last of Us (or indeed, immoderate scary story, show, movie, oregon game), it’s that going underground is ne'er a bully idea, and that reddish ever equals danger. The episode’s dependable descent into fearfulness reaches its crescendo with the abrupt accomplishment of runners and clickers onto the scene, arsenic a corpse-filled carriage turns into a claustrophobic decease trap. There is peril astatine each turn, and some Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced bash a large occupation astatine selling these louder moments done carnal performance, whether they’re moving frantically oregon lasting and fighting. It’s thing compared to the panic of witnessing Dina searching done drawers for symptom meds, though – a haunting flashback for immoderate subordinate of the crippled who scrambled done desks dozens of times an hour.

But overmuch similar galore of my favourite sections of The Last of Us truthful acold successful its 2 seasons, it's the quieter pockets that permission the astir interaction connected me. Ellie’s rendition of “Take On Me” turns an optional quality infinitesimal successful the crippled into 1 that feels truthful important to the show. It truly strikes a chord (pun intended) and cements Ellie and Dina’s presumption arsenic a blossoming couple. It’s besides beautifully lit with the blown-out spread successful the partition creating a leafy framework wrong a framework that lets america soak successful the shared looks betwixt the two. It’s an embodiment of anticipation increasing retired of each of this devastation.

The occurrence arsenic a full is precise good directed by Loki’s Kate Herron, who manages to smoothly navigate the shifts successful code implicit the people of the occurrence to large effect. This dependable steering of the vessel helps navigate a barrage of antithetic emotions felt by the mates implicit the people of the episode’s last 10 minutes. The subway flight ending with Ellie taking a wound for Dina is simply a large illustration of adaptation for the better, further cementing their dedication to 1 another. Earlier we perceive them picture the show of murdered bodies arsenic “assholes sidesplitting assholes”, but this is an illustration that those afloat of bosom volition prevention those they emotion – adjacent if it means taking a mushroom rima to the wrist. Reluctantly pointing a weapon astatine her, this is present the 2nd clip Dina has looked astatine Ellie with tears successful her eyes. Both times with love, but present with the fearfulness of losing it. It’s an affectional rollercoaster of a fewer minutes that some actors merchantability wonderfully, ending successful the merchandise of hostility arsenic each reveals their deepest secrets to 1 different and confirms their feelings.

I besides enjoyed the poetic last moments of the occurrence greatly. It’s reminiscent of play one’s extremity arsenic Gustavo Santaolalla's strings swell, but a muttering of “OK” has been replaced with “together”. It’s symbolic of a infinitesimal erstwhile Ellie and Joel walked abstracted ways, but here, Ellie and Dina basal hand-in-hand, acceptable to look what’s up together.