Down the highway, if The Last of Us is lucky enough to get any performing award nominations, clips from this episode will clarify why. The sixth episode of The Final of Us, titled “Kin,” noticed Joel and Ellie’s trek throughout america attain a crossroads. The pair had been compelled to take care of issues they’ve been hiding and make decisions they’ve been avoiding, all in an try and lastly get to someone who can help them. It wasn’t an episode with a number of motion, and there wasn’t a single infected to be seen, however the pressure and concern had been omnipresent due to series-finest performances from Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
Last week’s The Last of Us ended with that devastating second of Henry killing himself after killing his contaminated brother, Sam. It’s nonetheless recent in our minds. It simply occurred. However, to hammer residence how impactful that second was on Joel and Ellie, episode six really begins by exhibiting a chunk of that scene once more. The second hits arduous after which three months move. Three months throughout which Joel and Ellie have needed to stay with that picture time and again.
Issues choose again up with a really well-bundled man strolling by means of the woods with pair of lifeless rabbits. He heads into his secluded cabin the place his spouse sits quietly and gestures along with her eyes to the left. There’s a stranger inside, and he has a gun. It’s Joel, and he explains to the person (performed by legendary actor Graham Greene) that he’s searching for his brother, Tommy. The person says he hasn’t seen him (or anybody who appears like Joel), and his spouse (Elaine Miles) reveals this man has a lady with him. Ellie runs down the steps and along with her immediate wisecracks, she appears to have a model new “Don’t Give a Shit” angle.
Joel asks the person to at the least inform him the place they’re on a map, which ends up in some enjoyable banter between the couple, and a revelation that although they wish to hold going west, they need to flip again east. The couple explains that to their west there’s a “River of Demise;” they don’t know what’s past it, however all the pieces that crosses the river dies. Ellie finds this cute however Joel understands how severe it simply could also be.
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Joel and Ellie depart the home peacefully, however you may’t assist however respect the cool, calm, demeanors of the person and girl, who lived in isolation lengthy earlier than the world ended. They’re blissful. They’re laughing. And that’s why Joel is so scared about what this “River of Demise” could possibly be. In the event that they’re afraid of it, he is aware of they need to be too.
On the way in which out, Joel appears to have some type of episode or assault. Ellie freaks out that he is likely to be dying and says “In case you’re lifeless I’m fucked,” however Joel will get a grip and says he’s okay. On the time, it looks like a nothing second, however later we’ll study this isn’t simply an necessary second for Joel bodily, however Ellie’s mentality with regard to Joel.
Earlier than crossing the “River of Demise,” they camp for the evening. Ellie tries some booze and says it’s “nonetheless gross” (Apparently, she’s had it earlier than? To be continued) and the pair play a recreation. Ellie asks Joel if this all works they usually save the world, what is going to he do? Joel thinks about it and says he’s prefer to have a sheep ranch. Ellie laughs and implies that she’d prefer to go to the moon and has studied all the pieces about it. She even mentions that Sally Ride, the primary American girl to enter area, is her favourite astronaut. Once more, this second appears type of superfluous, however for anybody who has performed the video video games, it’s seeding a few things way down the line and exhibits very acute consideration to element.
Joel says he’ll hold watch in a single day, however falls asleep and wakes as much as Ellie having taken over the duties. At first, he’s indignant however she assures him she did all the pieces he would have completed. Ellie is studying. They set out and cross the “River of Demise” with out incident. On the opposite facet, they discover a dam that’s offering electrical energy to somebody (together with an incredible “damn” joke from Ellie) earlier than they discover one other river. This one appears completely different and Ellie suggests possibly that is the “River of Demise,” not the final one. Earlier than he can pull out his map to test, about 10 folks on horseback arrive and encompass them. Yup. It’s that is the “River of Demise” all proper.
The persons are all masking their faces with bandanas and have a canine that may scent contaminated. He sniffs Joel, who’s clear, and turns his consideration to Ellie. We’ve already seen that her situation triggers alerts like she’s contaminated, despite the fact that she isn’t anymore, so tensions rise and rise because the canine approaches. Joel stands there in shock, not sure of what to do with 10 weapons aimed toward him. Fortunately for everybody, the canine doesn’t scent something and as a substitute licks Ellie. Now thought of protected, Joel explains he’s searching for his brother. One of many ladies within the group breaks ahead and asks Joel’s identify. The reply works as a result of Joel and Ellie hop on horseback and trip away. Disaster averted. For now.
The group approaches an enormous gate and waves a particular flag to open the gates. Inside, it’s a working, normal-looking city. There are children operating round, shops promoting items and, on one particular scaffold, somebody’s brother. “Tommy!” Joel screams. For the primary time because the pilot, we get to see his youthful brother Tommy, performed by Gabriel Luna. The 2 embrace in a second that actually hits arduous as a result of Joel and Ellie haven’t had a lot good luck on this present. They’ve survived, which is nice sufficient, however true success and happiness have been arduous to return by. This can be a win although. That is why they set off on this path. To search out Joel’s brother, Tommy, and now they’ve. I’m not ashamed to confess, I shed just a few tears.
Joel and Ellie inhale some precise meals as Tommy and Maria (Rutina Wesley), the girl who introduced them in, clarify just a few issues. Primarily, although it’s not outright acknowledged, that entire “River of Blood” factor is only a fable that they’ve been perpetuating to maintain folks away—people who wish to take what they’ve within the city. It’s an acceptable payoff to the sooner thriller and Joel is able to get into all the pieces with Tommy. He says to Maria that he’d like a while only for household and Tommy explains that she is household. She’s his spouse. Ellie provides a hearty congratulations however Joel solely does so begrudgingly. One thing is off with him.
Tommy and Maria give Joel and Ellie a tour of the city and fill them in on how lengthy it’s been round, what they’ve, the way it all works, and so on. We study that everybody within the city shares all the pieces, making it a de facto communist authorities, however the connotation that when had isn’t the identical right here on the finish of the world. The scene is usually exposition nevertheless it additionally provides the viewers an concept of simply how troublesome it was, and should be, for these folks to create a protected haven like this city—in addition to how conserving issues that approach is even more durable.
That fact looms over Joel and Tommy’s first non-public dialog when Tommy hints at why he stopped speaking with Joel through radio. It’s as a result of he couldn’t give away something in regards to the city. It’s a tense dialog. Joel doesn’t fairly get Tommy’s mindset, and even lies to him about Tess’ well-being and why he’s touring with Ellie. He tells Tommy that Tess is okay; Ellie is the daughter of a strong Firefly and he’s been paid to get her to them. Final Tommy heard, the Fireflies had been on the College of Japanese Colorado (not an actual place, by the way in which), which is every week away from them. Tommy explains it’s a really tough journey although, with a lot of contaminated and raiders in between, and so Joel asks if Tommy will include them. He declines.
Joel is pissed and the pair argue about their previous, which was extra violent than both of them cares to confess. It’s then that Tommy reveals to Joel he’s going to be a father, which is why he can’t go on the journey. Joel doesn’t appear blissful about this and Tommy rightfully takes offense. “Simply because life stopped for you doesn’t imply it has to cease for me,” he says, a reference to Joel dropping his daughter, Sarah. Joel leaves and has one other mysterious assault throughout which he thinks he sees Sarah. It’s fairly clear that whereas he actually, actually needed to seek out Tommy, really succeeding has not been what he anticipated, and possibly he didn’t really look forward to finding him in any respect.
Ellie is again on the home Tommy and Maria have determined to offer them (which appeared tremendous straightforward and peculiar however I digress). She takes most likely her first bathe in months and sees that Maria left her a brand new change of garments in addition to the reward that retains on giving, a menstrual cup. Maria is throughout the road, so Ellie heads over. Inside she sees the names and dates for 2 youngsters on the mantle, Kevin and Sarah, who each died very younger.
Maria returns with a model new jacket for Ellie and he or she provides to offer her a haircut. We study that Kevin was her son and Sarah is Joel’s daughter, aka Tommy’s niece. This looks like information to Ellie, who knew Joel killed folks his entire life however appears largely at midnight about Sarah. That’s a pink flag for Maria who provides Ellie a really key piece of recommendation: watch out who you place your religion in. You possibly can solely be betrayed by folks you belief, an announcement online game followers know is dripping with foreshadowing.
Maria takes Ellie to the flicks, the place everyone seems to be watching Richard Dreyfuss’ Oscar-winning efficiency in The Goodbye Lady. (It’s a film about how a person enters the lifetime of a girl and her daughter and throws all the pieces for a loop. Its alternative right here is ripe with subtext.) In the meantime, Joel is attempting to repair his boots and Tommy enters with a brand new pair as a kind of olive department. He apologizes in regards to the issues that had been mentioned earlier and Joel lastly comes clear about all the pieces. Ellie is immune, Tess is lifeless, and he has to get Ellie to the Fireflies to possibly save the world. He additionally breaks down as a result of, with Tommy, he can lastly be weak. Joel admits that he’s continually scared, bodily sluggish, and doesn’t consider he can end the duty. He feels that he’s a failure.
For the primary time right here, we actually get into Joel’s head. Up till now, he’s been the robust silent sort. However these episodes he’s been having are concern catching up with him and leading to panic assaults. All through all of it, Pedro Pascal actually flexes his performing muscle mass and makes us really feel for Joel in a number of new methods. So when he ostensibly begs the youthful, extra succesful Tommy to take Ellie to the Fireflies and says it’s the very last thing he’ll ever ask him, Tommy agrees.
What we didn’t see as Joel bared his soul to his brother, is that Ellie snuck out of the film and heard the entire thing. Again on the home, she’s livid as a result of she looks like Joel is giving up on her. “Do you care about me or not?” she yells and Joel says after all. Ellie qualifies that she’s not Sarah and Joel instantly tenses up. “Don’t say one other phrase.” However Ellie can’t assist it. She is aware of Joel misplaced somebody he liked, however Ellie says she’s actually misplaced everybody she’s ever liked, besides Joel. Happening with out him could be terrifying to her and he hits her with the very fact they’re not associated and can by no means be. She’s crushed, as is he.
Very similar to Pascal just a few scenes earlier, right here’s the place Ramsey actually will get their time to shine. For Ellie, the scene is nearly a launch valve on all of the built-up pressure and ache she has been residing with, and all of it comes throughout splendidly in Ramsey’s uncooked, slicing efficiency.
Joel thinks in regards to the battle all evening. We see through a flashback of him and Sarah at Christmas one yr, and immediately it’s morning. Ellie is up and prepared when Tommy involves get her they usually go to the horse stables the place, surprisingly, Joel is ready. He says he was going to steal a horse and depart however felt like Ellie deserved a alternative of who she would go along with. With out hesitation, she picks Joel. So Tommy provides them instructions, a brand new gun, and a promise that when the deed is completed, they’ll make this place their residence.
Joel and Ellie set off for the college, a visit Tommy mentioned could be seven days with many, many obstacles in between. Tommy was unsuitable. The journey takes solely 5 days and alongside the way in which, Joel and Ellie are as bonded as they’ve been but. He teaches her to shoot, tells her about his life earlier than the world ended, and even explains the principles of soccer. Actually, Ellie understanding the principles of American soccer with out seeing it might be some of the unrealistic issues on a present with contaminated killer zombies.
The second Joel and Ellie point out that it was a simple journey you simply knew issues had been going to go unsuitable. And boy do they go unsuitable. Upon arriving on the college, Joel and Ellie discover it deserted. There are random monkeys operating round and a few indicators that the Fireflies had been there, however they aren’t there anymore. It’s the second time on this journey that they had a really particular Firefly vacation spot and, once they arrived, the group had moved on. This time, in keeping with a map they discover, it is likely to be Salt Lake Metropolis, which is far additional than Boston is from the Wyoming/Michigan space. However they don’t appear to thoughts. The pair can inform one thing is odd about this place although they usually discover out why when a gaggle of raiders arrive.
Joel and Ellie sneak out of the constructing and make a run for his or her horse when one of many raiders assaults. He and Joel get into it and Joel snaps his neck, however not earlier than the person buries a knife deep in Joel’s abdomen. The opposite raiders begin operating towards them, however Ellie by some means will get Joel on the horse they usually make their escape, with Ellie capturing backward to try to give them cowl. It’s not straightforward however they get away, and as soon as they understand they aren’t being adopted, Joel’s harm catches up with him. He falls off the horse and Ellie rightfully loses it. “I can’t fucking do that with out you,” she says. “Please, Joel. Please” she whispers to him as he loses consciousness and the episode ends.
It’s a strong, terrifying cliffhanger as a result of what Ellie says is likely to be true. Can she do that with out Joel? Will she must? We’ll have to attend till subsequent week to seek out out. For now although, “Kin,” as a complete, it’s the right instance of why The Final of Us is so good. Every little thing within the episode is about survival. It’s about what completely different folks could really feel like in these unfathomable circumstances. And but, there’s not a single contaminated in all the factor. Simply the specter of them is sufficient to concurrently deepen the humanity of the characters in addition to our understanding of the world. We not solely noticed Ellie and Joel’s relationship ebb and movement with unimaginable fact, however in Tommy, Maria, and their city, we noticed all the chances of a vibrant, significant future. One thing price preventing for. And the battle is simply starting.
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