REVIEW: ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Episode 5: A Worrying Setback

After last week’s intense ending, which was full of reveals such as Dina finding out Ellie is immune and Ellie finding out Dina is pregnant, we have The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 5. It provides further growth in their relationship, which has a lot of catching up to do, and gives Bella Ramsey their defining moment as Ellie. It may not be the strongest episode, as some changes from the game will leave some fans scratching their heads, but it’s still a good episode that throws our characters into terrifying and heart-pounding scenarios.

This episode opens up with yet another scene following the WLF that takes place before the events of the episode. It’s great to see more within the WLF and how they operate, the surrounding issues that they run into, but what makes this scene feel rather pointless in the grand scheme of everything is that it’s used to let the viewers know that B2 of the hospital is a contaminated zone with spores. It’s heartbreaking what we learn from Elise Park, but unfortunately it’s also irrelevant. The mere purpose of this scene is to only set up the grand final moments of the episode. A setup that isn’t necessary when the viewers are well aware of what spores are capable of and also have the knowledge that Ellie is immune. Fans of the show don’t gain anything from this conversation between Hanrahan and Elise, and fans of the game for sure don’t gain anything out of it.

© HBO

We continue from the aftermath of last week’s episode. Ellie and Dina are at the theater planning their next moves (Dina doing most of the planning because Ellie sucks at math, which is relatable). After coming from a hot and steamy moment between them, which felt like an odd placement for this moment to occur, the show continues to divert with Dina’s role and her relationship with Ellie. It allows for video game fans to go in and experience a new story, but also puts Dina under a light that feels like an assassination of not only her character but also Ellie's.

We get to learn about Dina’s past and what happened to her family with the exclusion of any mention of her Jewish heritage, might we add, but this is a monologue that’s essentially used to enable Ellie to continue her crusade against Abby. This, alongside Ellie continuing to let a pregnant Dina join her as they make their way to the hospital, just feels out of character for Ellie. It showcases how strong their love for each other is (far stronger than the games), but it does lead to worry about what Craig Mazin and the writers of the show have in plan for their endgame.

© HBO

The issue of Dina travelling with Ellie continues to persist when they run into a herd of stalkers and are then rescued by Jesse, who Ellie for a moment believes to be Joel. Ellie has a few of these moments in the episode where she’s reminded of Joel, highlighting how his death still affects her. The only trouble is that the rage that Ellie should be feeling has felt nonexistent until the final moments of this episode. Ellie’s pain is felt; she’s grieving, but her rage towards Abby, the WLF and anyone who gets in her way is not present. With only two episodes left and the likelihood of the next episode being a flashback episode, it leaves a lot of worry about how rushed the finale may be.

This episode continues with making the heaviest changes from the game. While Jesse finds his way to Ellie, it isn’t as explosive and action-packed. They encounter the Seraphites, but Ellie doesn’t have her grand moment fighting off a brutish Seraphite. It’s a lot of brutal, gritty, hardcore action that’s instead replaced with intense chase sequences and more deep character moments. There are a lot of new dynamics to work with, such as Jesse’s role at Jackson, which changes his attitude towards Ellie, and Tommy only having left Jackson to find Ellie and Dina instead of getting his own form of revenge on Abby.

Craig Mazin has shown fans that he can be trusted with the show, but The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 5 does leave us worrying about how these character dynamics will affect them in the future and if it feels like we’re rushing to a finish line. Ellie gets her defining moment, which finally gives us the full, enraged Ellie we’ve been waiting to see. As a video game which is being adapted for television, there are expectations that things will change. Although it’s the weakest episode so far, the future of this season/show might make this episode one that we’ll look back on as the best thing to happen to the show or the worst thing.

Rating: ★★★½

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About The Last of Us

The Last of Us. © HBO

Premiere Date: April 13, 2025

Episode Count: 7

Executive Producer/Showrunner: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann, Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells

Writer: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann, and Halley Gross

Director: Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann, Mark Mylod, Peter Hoar, Kate Herron, Stephen Williams, Nina Lopez-Corrado

Production: PlayStation Productions, Word Games, Mighty Mint, Sony Pictures Television and Naughty Dog

Distribution: HBO

Cast: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, Spencer Lord, Danny Ramirez, Jeffrey Wright and Catherine O’Hara.

Synopsis: Five years after the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.