The three unlikely companions embark on a journey beyond the confines of The Quarantine Zone in episode 2 of "The Last of Us," titled "Infected." This episode continues to impress viewers with its stunning visuals while delving deeper into the complex relationships between its characters. The episode primarily follows Joel, Tess, and Ellie as they embark on a perilous journey to Beacon Hill. However, the episode opens with a glimpse of the past, where mycologist Ibu Ratna (Christine Hakim) is summoned to examine the corpse of an infected woman. After extracting the fungus from the woman's mouth, Ratna quickly identifies it as Cordyceps and warns that the only solution is to bomb the infected areas.
Back in 2023, Ellie awakens to find Joel and Tess still keeping a watchful eye on her for any signs of infection. The pair eventually get Ellie to reveal that she is apparently immune to Cordyceps. They ponder the truth of her claim, with Tess showing more willingness than Joel to believe in the possibility of a cure. The acting of Pedro Pascal and Anna Torv is subtle yet powerful, conveying entire conversations through their facial expressions, hinting at the characters' past history.
The three characters begin their journey through the area affected by the infection in Boston with the goal of bringing Ellie to the Fireflies' base. Tess and Ellie engage in casual conversation that provides insight into Ellie's past, such as her being bitten when she disobeyed rules and went to a mall. Ellie seems to be withholding important information about this event, as evidenced by Ramsey's subtle expressions, keeping the audience wondering what Ellie is keeping secret.
In contrast to the growing closeness between Ellie and Tess, Ellie and Joel have a harder time connecting emotionally. After Joel's emotional outburst in the first episode, in which he appeared to be reminded of a similar incident with his daughter Sarah, he seems to be more distant emotionally.
When Tess leaves to find an exit from a blocked building, Ellie asks Joel if it is difficult for him to kill the infected knowing that they used to be human. Joel responds that it can be difficult, but before they can continue the conversation, they are interrupted by Tess. Notably, both Ellie and Joel seem to understand each other's tendency towards violence.
The group reaches a high vantage point, where Joel explains to Ellie the interconnectedness of the infected, hinting at the climax of the episode. As they continue on their journey, they come across an abandoned museum where a gruesome discovery of a mauled corpse alerts them to the presence of an infected nearby. Joel insists on silence as they navigate through the building, as the infected, known as "clickers," use echolocation to locate their prey. A close encounter with a clicker leads to a violent struggle and Ellie is bitten, raising concerns about her infection. Tess encourages Joel to remain optimistic and to take the good news when it comes.
Eventually, they reach the Fireflies' base, only to find it full of dead bodies. Tess reveals she has also been bitten and sacrifices herself to save Ellie and Joel, urging Joel to take Ellie to meet Bill and Frank and "set everything right." As Joel and Ellie leave, the infected rush in and Tess gets ready to explode the building with herself and the infected inside. In her final moments, one of the infected transfers the fungus from its mouth to Tess's as she dies.
Ooof, what an ending.
