The Last of Us Recap: Seattle at Last

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If you’ve found yourself wondering, despite the Cordyceps outbreak, remnants of the U.S. government and its military persist, particularly on the East Coast. However, Ellie and Joel left FEDRA, the collective term for these forces, far behind. Therefore, it comes as a surprise that this episode begins with a group of FEDRA soldiers enjoying themselves inside an armored vehicle. So, let’s clarify – we are in Seattle, but when exactly? The story unfolds in the not-too-distant past, where a seasoned soldier (Josh Peck) shares a tale about working alongside a tough, dim-witted colleague named Greenberg who fails to grasp the concept of disseminating.

In this scene, a newcomer named Burton queries why the group they’re with is referred to as “voters.” Isaac, their leader who we know leads the WLF, explains that they were stripped of their rights to be called voters. As the story progresses, when their vehicle reaches a barricade, the FEDRA forces find themselves encircled by these voters. Isaac declares his intention to talk to them alone. However, there’s more to this scenario than meets the eye. Before leaving, Isaac covertly plants a grenade in the back of the vehicle, hinting at his plan to betray them and align with the WLF. The question arises: Does Burton share Isaac’s beliefs (or at least wants to survive)? Just before the opening credits roll, Isaac issues a stark warning to Burton: “Now make your choice.

In the fourth episode of the second season of “The Last of Us,” the decision made by Burton is left hanging, to be addressed later. Instead, the story jumps ahead 11 years to follow the narrative’s primary timeline, where Dina and Ellie are seen rummaging through a pharmacy that has already been picked clean. They don’t find much of value, but Dina spots something that could potentially be useful (though its purpose is currently unclear).

Seattle exhibits an eerie yet captivating charm as one explores it now. The wilderness seems to have reclaimed significant parts of the city, leaving behind only fragments spared from destruction, such as Capitol Hill. This neighborhood is vibrant with rainbow flags and symbols of Pride, which seem alien to Ellie and Dina. However, turning a corner reveals remnants of past conflict: skeletons, overgrown tanks, and other signs that this area was once a battleground. For Ellie, the charred remains within the tank resemble the tragic astronauts from the Apollo 1 mission, stirring memories of her fascination with space exploration (as seen in the posters adorning her room in Jackson) and reminding us that she has passions beyond just seeking revenge and survival.

Even though, Ellie’s desire for revenge is strong and she’s eager to act, when Dina notices the letters WLF on a nearby TV station’s satellite dish, she’s ready to move quickly. However, Dina advises caution over hasty action, so they hide Shimmer and wait until nightfall inside a music shop. This decision also shows Ellie’s other passions. Finding an untouched guitar, Ellie adjusts the tuning and plays a beautiful acoustic version of A-ha’s “Take on Me,” while Dina watches with tears in her eyes. In this peaceful interlude amidst the action, neither seems to consider abandoning their quest.

As for Isaac, it turns out he’s still alive and continues to support the WLF movement. However, his former idealism has taken a dark turn, now combined with a cruel streak. We see him reminiscing about luxuries he couldn’t afford before the apocalypse, such as high-quality cookware. But it is later revealed that he is using these “unexpected advantages of the end times” for harmful purposes. For instance, copper, which is great for cooking, also happens to be effective for inflicting pain. He targets the Seraphites, a group we learned about in the previous episode who bear scars and follow an unnamed prophet. Despite being vulnerable, one of them refuses to disclose information about their whereabouts. This results in Isaac killing him. Burton, now older and more battle-hardened within the WLF ranks, comments, “Good.” as he stands guard outside the door. “The Scar got what he deserved,” Burton adds, referring to the Seraphite as a brutal animal.

As Ellie and Dina explore the TV station unaware, this is the challenge they’re about to face – or at least a piece of it. Upon entering, they’re confronted by a gruesome scene: slaughtered Wolves hanging from the ceiling with their insides spilled out. On one wall, Ellie discovers an odd rune and the phrase “Feel Her Love” written in blood. At this point, Ellie isn’t aware of it, but she’s stumbled upon the remnants of a battle between Wolves and Seraphites, with the latter emerging victorious. The brutality we’ve witnessed the WLF inflict is nothing compared to what their enemies are capable of. Dina’s question, “What the hell is going on in Seattle?” becomes understandable given the grim scene they’re facing.

Shortly after Ellie and Dina have little chance to ponder the situation, Wolves, who had been summoned for assistance, start causing trouble. The situation rapidly deteriorates, compelling them to battle Wolves and subsequently run in the pouring rain. They seek refuge, though not security, within a decaying subway system, where they once more need to avoid the Wolves tracking them down. When the soldiers are engaged in combat with infected individuals, they use this turmoil to their advantage and manage to escape, barely so. However, there’s another problem: Ellie gets bitten while trying to save Dina from harm.

In a justifiable panic, Dina finds herself terrified. Once they seek refuge in a nearby theater, Dina points a gun at her closest companion with the aim of ending her life. It’s time for confession. “I’m immune,” Ellie discloses, assuring Dina that she will awaken unaltered and that Dina can maintain the gun-pointing until Dina feels it’s sufficient. Reluctantly, Dina agrees, and as it becomes evident that Ellie is honest, two significant occurrences unfold almost simultaneously: Dina discloses her pregnancy, and they start passionately kissing. Upon waking up, each consumes some jerky to combat morning breath before engaging in another kiss. Life after the apocalypse certainly has its hardships.

Together.

Infectious Bites

The struggle between the powerful and heavily armed WLF and the less resourceful but equally dangerous religious group, the Seraphites, doesn’t directly mirror any real-world conflict, yet there are striking similarities to ongoing global conflicts, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian one, as hinted by the creator Neil Druckmann. This heavy subject matter might seem unusual for a zombie series, but it follows the game’s pattern of immersing players in complex ethical dilemmas. Both the Wolves and the Seraphites are capable of heinous acts, and each side has its own motives. This theme is further developed as we see why Joel might be considered a monster by Abby, and vice versa, and the same goes for Ellie’s perception of Abby. One of the most poignant aspects of this episode is how Ellie and Dina prioritize revenge over their feelings for each other. Regrettably, hate often overshadows everything else, regardless of the consequences.

Ellie is too young to recall “Take On Me” becoming popular initially, as she’s just too young to remember anything becoming a hit for the first time. Notably, “Take On Me” is A-ha’s most successful song worldwide, but they continued to have a thriving career after that initial success, achieving consistent popularity in Europe. They’re still active today, although it seems their members rarely interact with each other outside of performances.

If you bet that Josh Peck would appear in an episode of The Last of Us and portray a major jerk, then congratulations, you’ve just made a very profitable wager!

It’s always great when we see Jeffrey Wright on screen again! He is returning to the character he portrayed in The Last of Us Part II (just to clarify, that’s a video game).

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2025-05-05 06:00