Ryan Shoots First: The Last of Us (S1 Ep5) “Endure and Survive”

Well because this little event called the Bowl of Supers we get to wander the countryside a little earlier this week as The Last of Us debuted on a Friday. This week marks one of the heaviest yet as we meet Sam and Henry. We got a peek last week that we would see more added to their backstory but this week stuck pretty close to the game in the most devastating ways. 

Last week our adversarial focus was the human resistance and we saw no infected. And while that is a hallmark of the game this week we got the best mix of the two yet. The two largest threats to survivors clashed in what was easily the most exciting, large-scale set pieces so far in the show. 

The stars this week are Henry and Sam and they were handled masterfully. Lamar Johnson played Henry and brought the protective brother energy Henry requires but also the naivety of what it takes to survive. He lacks what Joel has and that’s what instantly draws him to him. Where Joel is grizzled and very much has the Stone Cole DTA mentality. But I was very impressed with Keivonn Woodard who played Sam. They made a choice in the series to make Sam deaf, a decision creator Neil Druckman loved so much he was made he didn’t think of it. It added another layer to Sam and Henry’s relationship but also the bond Sam develops quickly with Ellie. Keivonn the child actor playing Sam is deaf himself and it was cool watching the behind the scenes short after the episode to see how he interacted with the cast on set. Many actors including Bella Ramsey learned ASL so they could communicate with him and his director. It was impressive all around. 

For fans of the game there are a few key moments in the game that are essential. Those are moments that hit you and the show really needed to nail as well. Sam and Henry were one of them and if you combine Bill and Frank they are 2/2. Things bode well for the series and I can’t wait to continue the journey as next week we head out west as winter hits and another big moment looms on the horizon. 

Observations 

• This may be what Ks looks like if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl this weekend. Hayooooo!
• A lot of people said last week Katheene didn’t seem threatening but I think that’s the point. She’ll get up to some nasty stuff. 
• Interesting making Sam non verbal 
• Joel’s glass trick didn’t really work. 
• Haha Joel’s tone 
• What does he expect Joel to fight infected with? 
• This was one of the sadder parts of the game reading all the notes and piecing together the story. 
• Interesting element to Henry’s story and how it reflects on decisions Joel will have to make down the line. 
• Haha Joel is so over all this. 
• He tried to spare the old man 
• I like how you hear guys talking and planning like in the game. 
• Holy!! 
• There he is!! Man I hate those things 
• Oh man reminds me of the kill cutscenes in the game. 
• Holy crap that’s terrifying. 
• No no no no 
• No no no no 
• Points for trying Ellie 
• Yep the Stay Awake with me sign broke me.