After what I felt to be a strong episode that did very little to move the story and characters forward, The Last of Us bounces back with a really strong episode that allows us to see Joel and Ellie start to truly bond. It once again relies on the strength of the source material while expanding the world in interesting ways.

Now that Joel and Ellie have a vehicle they continue to make their way to Wyoming in search of Tommy. While taking a detour through Kansas City, the duo are besieged by violent “people” as Joel calls them. Here Ellie gets to use the gun she took from Bill’s place to save Joel’s life from one of the attackers. The attacker begs for his life on a truly heart-wrenching moment that is sent chills down my spine.

It turns out these people are part of a resistance that took over the local quarantine zone. Lead by Kathleen, played by the always great Melanie Lynskey, this resistance doesn’t take kindly to outsiders and even less so to those who kill some of their own. In an excellent pair of scenes, Kathleen shows a capacity for compassion and then a capacity for ruthlessness as she will clearly do whatever it takes to protect her people.

The 50 minute episode (more like 40-45 minus credits, coming soon and the weekly “behind the episode” mini-docs) moves at a brisk pace and is enlivened by the growing bond between Joel and Ellie. Both actors are just on fire at this point and make it feel so natural. Each week I feel more and more that they are Joel and Ellie, and not simply actors playing the roles. Joel is clearly conflicted with the fact that Ellie is having to see so much violence and also that she can clearly take care of herself and that having her watching his back might not be the worst idea. There are so many great moments here between the two of them that you would be forgiven forgetting these two are in the middle of a post apocalypse with people and monsters trying to kill them in equal measure. It’s also where we get the first appearance of Ellie’s joke book. Yes it’s exactly like the game but those moments are so pure and fun in a story that rarely allows for such things that it felt like a warm, fuzzy blanket.

After four episodes, and nearly the halfway point for season one, The Last of Us and director Jeremy Webb deliver a strong, bridge episode that is more about the ice melting away from Joel and Ellie’s general personality and levity being the flame that causes it.

Score: 9/10

Pros:

• Ellie and Joel’s story bonding more and more
• The dude begging for his mom before Joel kills him is heart-wrenching
• Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen is a great new addition.
• More satisfying balance between being faithful also its own thing

Cons:

• Light on plot this time around