The Last of Us has Joel reaching his goal to go to Wyoming, but he has to make the decision of continuing with Ellie! The episode opens with Henry confused with the gun, Joel calls out his name, and it turns to black as the gun goes off. We see a snowy landscape, so calm now after the chaos, “Three Months Later.” The corpse of deer hangs dragging its horns on the ground. Three white rabbits are brought in by a hunter. Marlon enters the house, he is seen by his wife in a chair, Florence (Elaine Miles), I recognize Graham Greene. Dances with Wolves (1990) is one of his many, memorable films. Miles was Marilyn Whirlwind in series, Northern Exposure. They are unnamed in the episode. He is told to give up his gun by Joel who points his own gun. Marlon is surprised his wife didn’t shoot him, her gun was too far, and also she made him soup! Ellie is at the second floor and when she rushes down, mother smiles, Joel wants to know their location on a map. Marlon has not seen Joel’s brother and notes the other towns, Ellie says Cody is full of Infected, the couple laughs at Ellie’s mention of “Firefly” people. He warns them not to cross the river. Their appearance here is brief, but is it ok if there was a whole show about Marlon and Florence? Plus, I want Greene and Miles to be in every show on television.
Florence says they haven’t seen the killers, but they saw the bodies of Infected and others. Joel walks out of the house, Ellie takes one of the rabbits, he starts to hear ringing and leans against a fence post! This seems to be an ongoing problem for Joel maybe Tinnitus caused way back in Texas or some other time. He says it’s the cold air and Ellie continues under the fence toward the river. They walk through the snow, the hills with a setting sun (beautiful shot), and reach the cliffs above what Ellie calls the “River of Death”! Joel says it is too dark to cross so they will make camp in one of the caves. A fire is going and Joel wraps electrical tape over his boot. He looks up to see the green curtain of the aurora borealis. Ellie tries Joel’s canteen of whisky, it seems like whisky, but it is too strong for her. She asks what he will do after a cure is found from her blood. Joel says he would find a ranch and raise sheep. Ellie looks up at the moon and said she read up on space travel at the FEDRA libraries.
She says to Joel that see tried to save Sam rubbing her blood on his bite. Joel takes the watch, but like in Kansas City he fell asleep. He wakes up to see Ellie at the side of the cave with his rifle. She was careful to scout around before standing guard like he taught her. I think Ellie could survive, probably, on her own. It is snowing over the river and bridge when a gunshot disturbs the quiet! Joel was testing any reaction at the side of the river. He cautiously leads the way to the bridge. Nice overhead shot of the snow swirling around over the two walking across the bridge. Ellie has her hand in her mouth trying to learn how to whistle like Joel! She also wants to learn how to hunt. They approach a dam and then they are surrounded by horse riders! Joel with his hands up is ordered to drop his rifle and then for Ellie to step back from him. A black dog is said to be able to smell Infected and sent over to Joel. The leader sends the dog to check on Ellie. It seems tense until Ellie giggles and plays with the dog. Joel says he is only looking for his brother.
A woman (Rutina Wesley) moves her horse up and asks for his name. Wesley was in a number of series and notably True Blood playing Tara Thorton. The riders approach a town with a long wooden wall. The leader raises up a red flag and the guards ready for their approach opening a large gate. They ride in, Joel and Ellie look to see that it is just a normal, mountain town with kids playing. A post is being prepared and Joel calls out Tommy’s name! After all of this time, four episodes, it is the reuniting of the brothers! They don’t say a word as they hurry to hug each other. Such joy, Joel appears to be a normal, not the tough exterior with his younger brother. At a massive dining hall, Ellie and Joel tuck into some food, Joel tells Ellie to watch her language. She also shouts at a kid curious about Ellie (a video game Easter Egg?). Tommy says they are building a reputation to scare off people. Ellie brings up Marlon and Florence. They seem to be the ones to build up that reputation. Tommy points out that the woman next to him, Maria, is family taking her hand. Ellie congratulates them and gets Joel to do the same.
Maria gives them a tour of their town of Jackson that they established seven years ago. There are only a few raiders that show up and some stray Infected. Joel realizes from the power lines that they get power from the dam. Ellie points out a herd of sheep to Joel. It is a great, independent refuge from the apocalypse, held together by Maria, one person. Maria says to Ellie that she is part of the council, elected, and working for 300 people. Tommy points out that everything is shared to which Joel adds that it is communist. Maria agrees saying that the town is a commune. Ellie is impressed by a young filly at a stable whom Maria says is named Shimmer. Maria says they can shower, get new clothes, and stay at a house across from them. Tommy says it has been around since 2003. Maria she will take Ellie over to the house so the brothers can catch up with each other. At a bar, Tommy prepares the drinks, he asks about Tess, Joel says she’s fine. Then, he asks about Ellie, Joel says she is a daughter of a Firefly. It seems Joel is guarded, untrusting of his brother for some reason, and asks about the Fireflies trying to find her a family for a fee.
Tommy says their base is at the University of Eastern Colorado, a week’s ride, with dangerous territory in between them. Joel wants to ride there with Tommy, but he is hesitant. He blames Maria and Tommy says her group took him in, Joel counters that they cut him off from radio contact, Tommy says he just has to follow their rules. Joel brings up that he may be thought of as “wrong people”, but he did so to protect his brother. Tommy says, “We murdered people.” A paranoid community, but understandable with the apocalypse outside. It looks like Tommy will be staying. He explains that Maria is carrying his baby. Tommy is angry at Joel, he gave up after losing Sarah, but he wants to keep living. Joel says he will leave with Ellie in the morning. The townspeople are singing Christmas songs around the tree. Joel pauses, feels pain, getting support from a pole. He sees the back of a person just like Sarah before the woman finds her daughter. Joel isn’t “wrong people”, but he doesn’t fit in with regular folk anymore. Ellie finishes her shower and sees the note, “I’m across the street” on a pile of clean clothes. It may be too late for Joel, but I wonder about Ellie.
Ellie enters the empty house and by the fireplace she sees a chalkboard with two names; Kevin and Sarah whom both died in 2003? Maria enters with a winter coat for Ellie, she says it is very purple, and then says she will trim Ellie’s hair. She tells Ellie that she was an assistant district attorney from Omaha. All of this time, Ellie’s possible nature of being immune to the Infected, is hidden. Ellie says she is sorry for what Maria says is her memorial for her child, Kevin. Maria tells her that Sarah was Joel’s daughter, Ellie doesn’t say a word, but she is defensive knowing that Joel and Tommy killed people. Maria takes Ellie to the movies. It is a old film projector with other kids in the audience. It is Richard Dreyfuss starring in the romance, The Goodbye Girl (1977), written by Neil Simon. A strange movie to show to kids, but at least it isn’t Jaws, two years earlier! Her attention is drawn to Maria talking with Tommy and then he leaves. Joel tries to pry off the heel of his boot when Tommy enters and tries to apologize. He asks Tommy if the ride is a suicide mission and he is told others have come back.
He admits to Tommy that Ellie immune and that he saw her get bit months ago. Tommy sits down to hear the whole story. Joel explains through narration as we see Ellie walk the snowy street. He goes over how he was hired by Marlene to take Ellie to some Fireflies, Tess got bit and made him promise to watch over Ellie, he admits that Ellie saved him from the man in Kansas City, Bryan from episode four. Then, a man killing his brother, Henry and Sam, last episode. Joel admits he just watched. Then, he says he thought the dog would kill Ellie, but he was too scared to do anything. Powerful acting by Pedro Pascal. Joel would only tell his story to Tommy. He says he has changed and dreams of losing something. Joel says he has always failed her, Sarah, “again and again.” He wants Tommy to take her to the base and help make a better world for his child. Joel adds this is why Tommy left him to somehow find redemption. It is the only thing he asks of his brother. Tommy says he will take Ellie at dawn. Ellie is not going to be separated from Joel so easily. Another powerful episode of The Last of Us especially focusing on Joel Miller.
Five Fungi out of Five!
#TheLastOfUs, #Kin, #PedroPascal, #BellaRamsey, #GabrielLuna, #RutinaWesley, #GrahamGreene, #ElaineMiles
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