Look for the Light

I wish we were allowed to write one word reviews because for this episode it would be that it's PERFECT.

I mean this sincerely! Just amazing!

I was not a believer before this series aired. I thought to myself "why"? Why would they try and make this into a TV show. It's perfect as is. Well I was wrong and I was wrong about how I felt about Bella playing Ellie. She is Ellie... This entire show has been outstanding from beginning to end.

It was great to see Ashley Johnson in this episode and especially hear her voice. For those who may not k ow Ashley played Ellie in the Last of Us part 1 and 2 video games.

I'm sure we will see plenty of negative reviews but for me this episode is the same for the entire season 10/10.

Look for the Light ends season 1 of The Last of Us on a high, faithfully adapting the final moments of the game whilst simultaneously enhancing them with a cleverly implemented opening flashback. Fittingly, the episode itself also focuses on love, how it can heal people's pain and trauma as well as the violence that spawns from that same love.

Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey switch roles in this time around with Pedro being more open and hopeful contrasted by Bella's more closed off nature. They once again cement the fact that they were perfect casting for these characters and each one gets a proper standout moment within the episode.

Ali Abbasi's direction is excellent, the scale and combination of practical effects and CG is still really impressive but the direction shines brightest in the action which is wisely staged to really emphasise the weight and horror of the brutality on display rather than making it a simple spectacle.

Gustavo Santaolalla's music has been perfect throughout (such an obvious yet smart move to put the last of us theme over the opening credits) and it's particularly good here during the action. It's so haunting and bleak, able to communicate so much on it's own, without the need for any dialogue.

This finale was rushed, they skipped so many parts which made Ellie and Joel's relationship like- and believeable. All the struggles they went through were just skipped. We literally only had chatting - giraffe - chatting - hospital - epilogue

They went through the entire country and only had four encounters with infected, they walked through the woods and streets while making noises without any sense of danger.

Ellie's immunity is so important in the game since infected are everywhere and a threat to all humans. However, in the show it seems like humanities biggest struggles are starvation and cold.

Any fanboys here who give every episode a 10/10 should rewatch the first episodes that actually deserve such a high rating. I hope the second season will have more episodes and infected to build the world and create a constant sense of danger.

Brace yourselves, dear viewers, for this episode will undoubtedly spark heated debates among fans. Some will love it, while others will loathe it-much like the game itself.

The Last of Us ends with a masterful coup de grâce, cementing this adaptation's place in the pantheon of prestige television.

It is sombre and dark yet replete with emotions that run deep. Joel, at long last, becomes a man of action. Whether his actions are morally defensible, however, is a subject of endless debate.

Staying true to the game, this episode does not falter in its execution, boasting a master-stroke opening that sets the stage for a gripping narrative to unfold. The strategic use of a flashback adds layers of complexity to already richly-wrought characters, serving as a catalyst for some of the most poignant dialogue between Joel and Ellie to date-dialogue sure to leave the audience teary-eyed.

The action is far from glorified, leaving viewers in a state of visceral shock and awe. The last couple of episodes have served to do some fantastic work for Joel, and this episode is the proverbial cherry on top, truly a beautiful and profound culmination of his character arc. Indeed, the show is a thing of beauty, but beauty that is shrouded in darkness.

Were a flaw to be ascribed, it would be that of brevity. At a mere 40 minutes, the finale feels curtailed. The absence of the Cordyceps is understandable, given the laser-focused narrative, though it marks a deviation from the source material.

By turns harrowing and humane, towering and intimate, this finale buries its hooks deeply in the viewer, capping off a brilliant maiden season. Love it or loathe it, impassioned discourse will assuredly abound in the wake of this uncompromising conclusion to the first chapter of The Last of Us.

Rating: 8.5/10 (Great)

Sigh, what am I gonna say? I really wanted to like the show, mostly because of the amazing chemistry between the two main actors and the great atmosphere it often manages to create. However I feel like the show had several issues and those caused massive - and predictable - problems in the end. Even though you've probably already seen it I'll try to keep it spoiler-free.

My main problem with the finale is that it felt extremely rushed and hollow. Watching the show I was always worried that all the time spent on fan service and long flashbacks would cause problems in the end - and it did. Climax and ending of the entire show are basically crammed into 15 minutes and felt highly compressed.

The last episode rushes through several important plot points and a lot of character development was communicated through a few unsubtle lines of dialogue. Quite a shame considering that I loved how the show was developing the relationship between Joel and Ellie up to this point.

This doesnt ruin the show but I cant help but wonder why the creators paced things the way they did.