After a rocky start, Episode 4 of The Last of Us Season 2 delivers the most grounded and emotionally resonant chapter of the series yet. While the adaptation still grapples with translating bold game mechanics to TV, this episode marks a major improvement. We’re now deep in Ellie’s revenge arc in Seattle, and though some of her major targets remain untouched, there’s plenty of character work, ideological tension, and messy queer romance to savor.
Flashback: Isaac’s Entrance (and Josh Peck??)
The episode opens in 2018, 15 years post-outbreak. FEDRA soldiers patrol a rainy Seattle, including one played by Josh Peck. A casual slur—”voters”—prompts a sharp correction from a silent figure nearby. Enter Isaac (Jeffrey Wright), who explains how “voter” became derogatory once FEDRA revoked civil rights. When the soldier tries to shrug it off, Isaac replies coldly, “Exactly. You’re thoughtless.”
Then, the moment: Isaac exits the truck, tosses grenades at a FEDRA vehicle, and kills the driver. “Welcome to the fight,” he tells the civilians watching. Wright brings both gravitas and menace to a role that was underused in the game.
Seattle, Rainbows, and Rotting Corpses
Back in the present, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) scavenge a looted pharmacy. Dina’s brief digestive woes are called back, but the tone remains light—until it isn’t. As they ride through Seattle, Ellie notices old rainbow flags and wonders aloud about their meaning. A quiet moment mourns the loss of queer culture in the apocalypse, echoing a game sequence in a queer bookstore.
That fleeting hope is crushed when they stumble onto a FEDRA battlefield. Ellie compares the scene to the Apollo 1 disaster. Dina says, “At least they died for something.” Ellie counters, “These were just assholes killing other assholes.”
Guitars, A-Ha, and Emotional Honesty
The duo finds shelter in a record store, where Ellie discovers a working guitar. She plays “Take On Me” by A-ha—a powerful callback to a pivotal game moment. Ramsey’s imperfect performance adds authenticity, and Dina’s reaction says it all. Ellie mentions Joel taught her how to play, one of the episode’s few warm memories.
Interrogation, Isaac-Style
Meanwhile, Isaac is now a brutal commander, running interrogations from a luxury kitchen-turned-torture room. His latest subject: a Seraphite prisoner. Their exchange exposes divisions within the Seraphite belief system, but Isaac isn’t interested in theology—just information. When the prisoner refuses to talk, Isaac brands him with a red-hot pan.
The show makes sure you understand Isaac’s cruelty, perhaps too eagerly. A soldier watching says, “This is so fucked.” Another retorts, “Shut up. Isaac knows what he’s doing.” The message is loud and clear, but repeated unnecessarily, undercutting the scene’s natural tension.
Allegory and Ambiguity
The ongoing war between the W.L.F. and Seraphites is positioned as an allegory for endless cycles of revenge. But by drawing a not-so-subtle parallel to real-world conflicts like the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, the show risks over-simplifying nuanced realities. Equating oppressor and oppressed under a blanket “both sides are bad” take is a dangerous reduction.
The Infection, the Confession, and the Kiss
At the abandoned TV station, Ellie and Dina discover their wolf targets have already been killed by Seraphites. With a working walkie-talkie in hand, they’re soon pursued by W.L.F. forces. The chase leads underground, where they’re ambushed by infected.
Ellie is bitten during the scuffle, saving Dina in the process. When Dina panics, Ellie confesses: she’s immune. The show, lacking the spore-based infection of the game, leans on emotional cues to sell the moment—and it works. Dina, stunned but loyal, stays with Ellie through the night, ready to act if the infection takes hold.
Final Thoughts
Episode 4 captures the essence of what The Last of Us should be: raw, intimate, and emotionally charged. While its messaging can be heavy-handed, and some allegories are mishandled, the core of the episode—Ellie and Dina’s evolving relationship—remains authentic and powerful. If this is the beginning of their road trip, buckle up. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.