Ranking the Episodes of HBO's The Last of Us

Greetings, reader!

This week's Monday marked the end of the debut season of HBO's The Last of Us, a hit post-apocalyptic thriller based on the vastly acclaimed video game of the same name. I walked into this video game adaptation as I did into 2021's Arcane: I haven't played the game, the story and the world aren't familiar, so I can't speak to how good of an adaptation it is. However, I'm delighted to say that the series works well as a show of its own, to those of us who aren't familiar with the game. Here is my ranking of the first season's nine episodes!

SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers of the series (and indirectly the video game as well, I suppose). You've been warned!

9. Infected (Episode 2)

It's hard to put any episode last, because the overall level of episodes is incredibly solid. No episode is a 10/10 masterpiece, but they're all very good - I've never seen a TV season where any episode could be so easily argued to be the best out of the bunch. While that applies to the sophomore episode Infected, with its emotionally charged ending, it still finds itself at my ranking's last place.

While the sacrificial death of Tess (Anna Torv) is moving, it wasn't quite up there with some of the show's most powerful moments for me - having no previous investment to the character as I haven't played the game, I didn't feel like I had really gotten to know her that well during the first two episodes. What still makes it quite gripping in its own right is Joel's (Pedro Pascal) reaction, making the episode quite memorable even if it remains the least of the bunch in my book.

8. Left Behind (Episode 7)

I do see why this is the show's lowest-rated episode on IMDB, as it doesn't do much to advance the plot and feels a bit disjointed from the other ones. However, I strongly disagree with those calling the episode 'pointless' or 'filler', as it does wonders for Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) character development and gives the actress an opportunity to shine.

The flashback narrative is a nice way to flesh Ellie's character out, and her bond with Riley (Storm Reid) is quite sweet until things take a turn for the heartbreaking. While the episode is an important part of the season's tapestry, it doesn't quite reach the levels seen in most Joel-and-Ellie -centric episodes, and that is why the episode is left behind most of the others in my ranking.

7. Look for the Light (Episode 9)

Look for the Light is a thoroughly decent season finale, wrapping some things up while leaving others open for the upcoming second season. While I enjoyed much of the episode, especially the moral dilemmas it centers on, it wasn't quite as memorable and/or powerful as a whole as many of the episodes leading up to it.

Still, seventh out of nine is by no means a bad ranking, when taking into account how all of the episodes had some special hook to them. The finale wasn't the masterful coup de grâce for me that it might've been for some, but it certainly did its job as an ending and left me excited for season 2.

6. When You're Lost in the Darkness (Episode 1)

One of the most intriguing parts of post-apocalypse stories often is seeing the chaos of how the apocalypse goes down. Many, like The Walking Dead (2010-2022) and Mad Max (1979) start from after the world-changing events and might later flash back to shed light on the background, but others, like Stephen King's The Stand (1978) and this show, start in 'the normal world' and use their first act to showcase the horror of a world-changing disaster going down.

The pilot episode is chaotic and intense, grabbing the viewer's attention and leaving lots of room for worldbuilding and character development in the following episodes. The main jist of the show's story barely gets started, as we only meet Ellie towards the tail end of the episode, but the amount of information and context given in this episodes is vital for how well the next episodes take the story forward.

5. Kin (Episode 6)

Speaking of worldbuilding, this episode comes close to perfecting that concept. In post-apocalyptic shows like this one, it's always fascinating to follow what kinds of places, groups and societies there are out there in this changed world, whenever the main characters travel somewhere new and mysterious. The characters we meet, places we see and things we learn throughout Kin are a delightful expansion of the Last of Us universe for viewers like me, who didn't know what all would be out there.

This is also one of those episodes where the 'adapted from a video game' element can be seen and felt even by those not familiar with this particular game - even from the fairly limited amount of video games I've consumed, I have fond memories of that feeling where after an adventurous and chaotic series of dangerous encounters, you find a safe place where you can rest and just sort of look around for a while. This phenomenon translates fantastically onto the screen in Kin, making it feel like a breath of fresh air amidst the chaos while still having its share of human drama to keep things interesting.

4. Please Hold to My Hand (Episode 4)

I find this slightly overlooked middle-of-the-road episode to be one of the more underrated instalments of The Last of Us. It would be even higher on my list, but I had to give some minus points for the Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey) subplot - the build-up does pay off in the following episode, but that doesn't change the fact that her storyline in this episode feels quite boring and distracting from the main plot.

But everything with Joel and Ellie is pure gold. After a rocky start with so much focus on survival that no bonding could really happen yet, this is the episode where the two main characters start to develop a chemistry, a common language and some sort of pseudo-father-daughter relationship. The dialogue between the two has a delightful arch from cynical suspicion to a foundation of common humor and basic caring, and the two actors play wonderfully off each other. One of the less flashy and memorable episodes, but one of the best and most important ones considering Joel and Ellie's relationship.

3. Endure and Survive (Episode 5)

This highly rated episode is a fan favorite for good reason, even if I consider the 9.5 average on IMDB to be a tad overkill (then again, I can't speak to the show as a game adaptation, so it could very well be that the episode is even more powerful for fans of the original work). The first half of the episode builds up towards the big clash between Kathleen's faction and our main characters, and when the moment arrives, it is as narratively intense as it is well-coordinated and sharply directed. The show's first appearance of a Bloater (the fourth stage of infection) couldn't have had better timing, as an already chaotic sequence manages to escalate even further with this addition.

After the big clash, the episode pulls a massive emotional gut punch with the infection and death of Sam (Keivonn Woodard), the kid we had spent much of the episode getting to know and love. Definitely one of the saddest moments in an overall bleak series, and one that stays with the viewers as it does with the characters.

2. Long, Long Time (Episode 3)

There are many things to enjoy in Nick Offerman's guest performance - one that better win him an Emmy come the next awards season. Chief among these elements is the delightful similarity between his grumpy, libertarian character in this dark and serious series, and his grumpy, libertarian character Ron Swanson in the sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009-2015). Throughout Long, Long Time, one keeps having the amusing thought that this is how things would turn out if the apocalypse happened and Ron Swanson was out there (he's also gay in this version).

And therein lies the secret to the episode's greatness - the love story between Offerman's character Bill and Frank (Murray Bartlett) is moving and ultimately heart-wrenching to the maximum. The episode also features some amazing scenery captured by Eben Bolter's sharp cinematography, further adding to the episode's beautiful nature.

1. When We Are in Need (Episode 8)

I didn't think that the series would top its fantastic third episode, but season 1's penultimate instalment proved me wrong. Just based on this lone episode he appears in, David (Scott Shepherd) is one of the most memorable television villains in recent years. While some episodes had me wishing I had played the game before getting into the series, When We Are in Need made me very happy that this wasn't the case, as following the brilliant escalation of this character from innocent-seeming friend to beyond-frightening foe as a slow-burning shock was a truly gripping viewing experience.

Having acted her heart out throughout the season, Bella Ramsey manages to stretch her skills further yet in this tour-de-force of an episode, culminating in quite the conclusion. While the series is filled with emotional moments, none come close to topping Joel and Ellie's reunion here. Joel comforting his protegé, who first reacts with post-trauma alertness before realizing what's happening and answering his embrace, is a pivotal moment for both main characters and their bond feels stronger than ever. Tears, man.

Thank you for reading! Tune in next week for a post requested by my friend Tuukka - the top 10 scenes from Quentin Tarantino movies.