The previous episode of The Last of Us was another long one just like the pilot. Episode four was a return to classic HBO form, with less than an hour of storytelling in the post-apocalyptic, mushroom-filled world of the show. It begins quietly with Joel and Ellie getting to know one another as they make their way to Kansas City.
Then, chaos erupts, which plays out a bit differently than in the game version of The Last of Us. It isn't as drastic of a turn as the previous episode with Bill and Frank, although the episode does add new characters for extra context. It also features plenty of great quotes, mainly from mainly the two leads.
This article contains spoilers for episode 4 of HBO's The Last of Us
1 “I Know It Works.”
Society runs dependently on gas and it seems like a resource that will be around forever. However, this episode paints a dark picture that reveals that gas eventually turns to water in a tank.
That’s why Joel and Ellie have to keep stopping to siphon out gas. Ellie asks how Joel knows how to do it and he has no clue but makes up a story anyway. He may as well have said “I do know some things” like Jon Snow in Game of Thrones.
2 “You Can’t Escape Will Livingston.”
One of the best reoccurring jokes in the game is Ellie’s love of puns. She finds a book called No Pun Intended: Volume Too by Will Livingston that she keeps popping out every once in a while. Ellie finds the book in episode four and shares some true punny gems with Joel.
There’s one about a Mermaid in math class and another about a Scarecrow that wins an award. The best joke in the episode, however, is about how diarrhea is hereditary. “It runs in your jeans” is the joke there.
3 “We Met In The Springtime When Blossoms Unfold.”
This was not a quote by anyone in the episode. It is instead the opening to the classic country song, “Alone And Forsaken” by Hank Williams. This was used in The Last of Us game and was also used in the first trailer for the HBO adaptation.
It’s a powerful song in the universe with lyrics hitting various themes such as lost love. It’s an example of producers knowing great songs to put in media without it feeling like some sort of cash grab.
4 “I Actually Agree.”
Eventually, Ellie and Joel hit a breaking point on their journey and Joel sets up camp. For dinner, Joel makes them a can of ravioli courtesy of a 20-year-old can of Chef Boyardee. Ellie is impressed saying, “That guy was good” which then prompts this response from Joel.
It’s a bit of a joke since a 20-year-old can of anything can’t be that tasty, especially a can of Chef Boyardee. It hits the spot for kids, but for adults, it’s a bit iffy unless there is some big nostalgia for the brand.
5 “Is It Longer Than 25 Hours?”
Curious as ever, Ellie wants to know more about Tommy, but Joel is still unwilling to share much. He expresses that the story would be too long, but Ellie rightfully points out they have a lot of time with this quote.
Joel breaks down a quick story about Tommy wanting to be a hero and that’s why he joined the Fireflies. There was a fallout with Marleen though, and, eventually, everyone went their separate ways. It’s a brief synopsis and one that fills in a few blanks from the game.
6 “No.”
“No” is a simple quote on its own from Joel, but the reason why he says it is important. When he and Ellie enter Kansas City, they see a stranger asking for help. Ellie asks if they are going to help the man which is when Joel refuses and rushes past in the truck.
It was an ambush, just like how it was in the game version of The Last of Us. The biggest difference in this scene is that they aren’t smashed by an armored car in the middle of this chaos. Also, this was where “Alone and Forsaken” was first played in the game.
7 “I’m Not Good At This.”
Soon after Joel has to take out some human survivors in classic game fashion. With things going badly, Ellie comes up from behind and shoots a ravager to save Joel. Even though she tells Joel she’s done it before, she’s clearly in shock.
Ellie may know how to kill people but she doesn’t want to. Joel tries to comfort her, acknowledging that he isn’t good with therapy. Trying to be a good father figure is better than being stoic, so it's a start.
8 “I’m Your Doctor.”
Episode four of The Last of Us introduces viewers to a new character, Kathleen, who is played by Melanie Lynskey. Some may know her from Yellowjackets where she plays the adult version of Shauna. She is the leader of this group in Kansas City, and her introduction begins with her trying to pry information out of a man.
This man may have been her doctor at one point, but Kathleen had enough of his quiet tongue and eventually shoots him. It just goes to show that even in a world filled with mushroom zombies, people can still be pushed to the brink enough to kill a doctor.