Skip to main content

These are the 2 biggest highlights in ‘The Last of Us’ Episode 2

This is what you missed in The Last Of Us Episode 2

There are very few major plot points in the second episode of HBO’s new mega-hit “The Last of Us.” The beauty of the scenes in this week’s show is in the simplicity and execution of their production design. The apocalypse is supposed to be scary, right? Well, make sure you have the lights on when you’re watching “Infected.” We left off in the premiere with the revelation that Ellie (Bella Ramsey) is somehow immune to the cordyceps fungus that has wiped out the majority of the human race. Joel and Tess (Pedro Pascal and Anna Torv) are tasked with bringing Ellie to the Fireflies, a militia who are supposed to know how to capitalize on Ellie’s immunity and potentially end the two-decade-long misery on Earth.

Tess and Joel converse while Ellie listens in Liane Hentscher / HBO

The cinematography shines in the second episode

The cinematography and set design in the next 30 minutes or so of the episode are next-level stuff, and it’s sure to bring some goosebumps to the arms of gamers who are familiar with the setting. The trio amble through the architectural scraps of Boston, observing half-eaten buildings and gaping holes in the ground. These are call-backs to the ominous cold open of the episode, in which it was revealed that the city of Jakarta, Indonesia, was bombed by their government after becoming the first city to have an outbreak of the world-ending disease. It’s obvious that American cities followed suit, and Tess even confirms these suspicions with Ellie during a conversation.

Recommended Videos

Building this zombified world is the key to fostering a realistic and haunting atmosphere. The fact that there are so many other examples of apocalypse fiction for viewers to compare this show to, and yet the deadly sprawling landscape of New England we see here is still absorbing, is a massive sign of success for the producers of this series. Joel and the group take a detour through an abandoned museum to get to the western side of the city, and this is where the horror elements get kicked up about ten notches.

For familiar viewers of this universe, it will become instantly recognizable that the group is being attacked by an infected monster coined a “clicker” once inside the building. These individuals have been festering for over a year with the cordyceps infection, and it’s also a reference to a conversation Ellie and Joel had earlier in the episode about how long people last once they have been bitten. Clickers have developed massive spores, morphing their faces into unrecognizable mish-mashes of flowering flesh and excess skin. We find out that our protagonists didn’t escape the encounter unscathed, as Tess has an oozing bite mark on her collarbone that is revealed in due time.

Anna Torv delivers an excellent performance

Anna Torv then displays an incredible five minutes of acting after her imminent demise is foretold. She is able to make us empathize for a character we’ve only known for about an episode and a half. Tess is clearly Joel’s moral aid, a woman who so desperately hopes her misdoings during the apocalypse won’t go to waste. She is able to serve as a distraction for a group of infected as Joel flees the scene with Ellie, setting up the lonely duo-ship that will propel the emotional heartbeat of the series forward for the remaining seven episodes. Buckle up, take a deep breath, and prepare for some daddy-daughter issues, end-of-the-world style!

Shawn Laib
Shawn Laib is a freelance writer with publications such as Den of Geek, Quote.com, Edge Media Network, diaTribe, SUPERJUMP…
The Last of Us season 2: Everything we know so far
What's next for The Last of Us?
Joel and Ellie drive the narrative of The Last of Us

The Last of Us bombarded television screens like a post-apocalyptic virus in January 2023. The thrilling adaptation of the PlayStation classic resoundingly recaptured the dark, foreboding storytelling of the video games while giving star performers Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey a platform to show off their fantastic acting skills. The first season didn't sway far from the source material, neatly ending the ninth episode right where the maiden game concluded.

Joel and Ellie escape from the hospital where Ellie's brain is going to be harvested in an effort to end the undead pandemic worldwide. Joel's loyalty and selfishness propelled him to slaughter the doctors who were going to attempt the surgery, and his lies and deceit seemed to raise Ellie's eyebrows at least a little bit.

Read more
‘Squid Game’ season 2 is Netflix’s most-watched premiere of all time
The show is already one of the biggest foreign language series in history.
An early look at Squid Game season 2.

If people are tired of Squid Game, the numbers definitely don't reflect that. The show's second season debuted with 68 million views over the first four days after its release on Dec. 26. That smashes the record that Wednesday set back in 2022 when it debuted to 50.1 million views.

The show has also made an appearance on the most-watched foreign language series in the history of Netflix after just a week. The show's first season currently sits at the top of that list with more than 250 million views, but season 2 has plenty of time to catch up and perhaps even surpass the first season.

Read more
‘Squid Game’ debuts a new Google-based game ahead of season 2
The game replicates the 'red light, green light' game from the first season
Squid Game Season 2 Teaser

The second season of Netflix's Squid Game, which was a massive phenomenon following its first season, is finally almost here. Now, ahead of the second season's release on Dec. 26, Googling Squid Game will get you a fun way to pass a few minutes.

Netflix partnered with Google on the game, which will appear if you tap the brown envelope that appears on the bottom of the screen. The game is a replication of the "red light, green light" came from the show's first season. By pressing the blue circles, you advance six players in pink suits while Young-Hee's head is turned. Your players must stop before she turns around, and if they don't one of them will be eliminated. Thankfully, they don't get brutally shot down and left to lay there like they do on the show.

Read more