Recap of HBO’s The Last of Us Episode 1
The Last of Us The premiere episode of the new HBO series dives right into the heartbreaking, the saddest, and the horrific for the popular PlayStation game.
The first episode stars Bella Ramsey (Pascal), Merle Dandridge, Anna Torv and Pedro Pascal. It gives us a glimpse of the world before the apocalypse caused by Cordyceps fungal infection. This sets the stage for Joel’s journey to rescue Ellie Ramsey (Ramsey), a 14-year-old orphan.
Here’s what you need to know about Episode 1 of HBO’s The Last of Us. (spoilers ahead).
The season starts off in 1968, with two epidemiologists discussing concerns around a possible “global pandemic,” with one referencing air travel as a way a virus, similar to influenza, could spread across the world (a very close-to-home discussion in 2023).
One doctor said that a new virus from Madagascar could be found in Chicago in a matter of weeks, and it would cause a pandemic.
Dr. Neuman, an epidemiologist, is not as concerned about a virus pandemic.
He says, “Mankind has been at war against a virus since the beginning.” “Sometimes, millions of people are killed, like in a real war, but we always win in the end.”
Neuman is more concerned with fungus, particularly one that can enter human brains. The goal is to infect the entire human race.
“Billions of puppets with poisoned minds,” he describes. “Permanently fixed on one unifying goal, to spread the infection to every last human alive, by any means necessary.”
“And there are no treatments for this,…it’s not even possible to make them… We lose.”
Fast forward to 2003, where we meet Joel (Pedro Pascal), his daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) and Joel’s brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna).
It’s Joel’s birthday, so his daughter decides to get an old watch fixed for him as a gift. As she sets out to accomplish this, she encounters a lot police officers and, for some reason, the watch shop tries to rush to get her out. This is the first sign that something is suspicious.
Joel receives a call from his brother to help him out of jail that night. Sarah awakens in the middle of the night to hear helicopter noises, cars screeching, and a bright green light through her window. She flips on the TV and sees an announcement for everyone to stay indoors.
Sarah ignores that advice and goes outside to see Mercy, the neighbor’s dog, at the window. Sarah attempts to bring Mercy home, but Mercy flees. Entering her neighbour’s house, Sarah hears what sounds like pots banging and sees a trail of blood, which leads to her elderly neighbour Mrs. Adler. The zombie-like old lady has murdered her family members and turned into a zombie.
Sarah is followed out by her monster-like neighbor, just as Tommy, Joel, and Tommy pull up. Joel kills the elderly woman, and the three of their car drive off. Joel and Tommy say it’s not just the Adler family this has happened to, there is some kind of parasite that’s infected mostly people in the city, or people who went to the city more frequently.
We are now in a complete disaster zone. The uninfected are being attacked by monster-like humans who are multiplying and attacking others. Whole streets are on fire, and everything from cars to stores is being destroyed.
Sarah is a victim of the infected as officials attempt to eradicate them.
Joel pleads to the officer that he and Sarah are not infected. Tommy shoots the man who pointed his gun at Joel. Sarah is then shot by Tommy, and she dies in her father’s arms. This is just one of many heartbreaking moments to expect in. The Last of Us series.
Introduction of the post-apocalyptic universe
The timeline moves then 20 years later, now at the post-apocalyptic Boston.
Everything is worn out, broken down and signs are posted warning of Cordyceps disease. A human can become a monster within five to 24 hours depending on the symptoms.
Bodies are being burnt, there is an enforced curfew at 6:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. “To fight infection and insurrection,” ration cards can be used to purchase things like shoes laces, and other necessities.
Anybody found in the quarantine area unauthorised or with an unauthorized entry to the zone is executed.
Joel, a smuggler again, is trading drugs with an FEDRA officer for ration cards, supplies and trying to gain access to a vehicle that will allow him to escape the quarantine area. Joel and Tess (Anna Torv), Joel’s partner, want Wyoming to search for Tommy. After losing contact for several weeks, they are now unable to communicate with Tommy.
Alongside Joel’s quest, Marlene (Merle Dandridge) is the leader of the resistance, called the Fireflies. She is hiding Veronica, a 14 year-old orphan. Actually, her name is Ellie (Bella Ramsey).
Ellie is funny and sarcastic. Her wit is far better than what you’d expect for a 14-year old. She has lived in Cordyceps infection-infected environments.
Ellie has been a FEDRA student since she was a child. She discovers that Marlene was her teacher and kept her safe.
Marlene says to Ellie, “You have a greater purpose that any of us could imagine.”
Marlene has a plan for Ellie to be released from the quarantine zone by nightfall.
Joel and Tess end up in the building holding Marlene’s operation while tracing a car battery that they paid for, but it was given to Marlene instead. Joel claims that Marlene turned her brother against Joel. Marlene has a proposal for Joel and Tess when they meet face-to-face.
Marlene will ensure that Joel and Tess get Ellie to the Fireflies team in exchange for Joel and Tess getting her there.
The episode concludes with Joel, Tess, and Ellie trying to escape from the FEDRA officer Joel had been negotiating with, reluctantly agreeing to the terms. Joel is triggered by the officer’s gunshot and has an emotional flashback to the murder of his daughter.
Joel and Tess notice Ellie’s mark on her arm. This is a sign that Ellie was bitten by an infected beast. But they don’t have time for questions and continue running.
Joel plays the 1987 Depeche Mode track, “Never let me down again”, through Joel’s radio. This is the apartment Joel, Tess, Ellie and Joel were staying in before they fled. That device can play 1980s music, which indicates that Bill and Frank have had trouble. Danger is ahead.
That’s where The Last of Us The journey begins when we wait to find out why Ellie is so crucial to Marlene’s operation and if Joel or Tess are just walking into greater danger with an infected teenager.