The Last Of Us Episode 4 Review - 6 Ups & 2 Downs

DOWNS

2. Joel's Stupid Decision

For a guy who's survived for twenty years, Joel can be a pretty dumb guy.

While his quip about making it up 33 flights of stairs is great, I have no idea what he was thinking with his glass perimeter in the final scene of the episode. Yes, he might assume that the pair are safe so far up in the building and yes, he might also assume he really would hear if someone came through the door and stepped on the glass. But even if he did hear, how quick would he have had to react before being killed?

This character has been shown to be so careful until now, so to not barricade the door, and to sleep right in view of it feels a little contrived.

Stuff like this doesn't usually register as a major issue, but previously the writers have otherwise been so meticulous in showing Joel's survival skills. So that gets a down.

1. A Lack Of Action & Direct Threat

Likewise, this might sound sacrilegious, but the episode could have benefited from a smidge more action.

I by no means just want action for action’s sake, but this episode in particular could have done with one more set-piece or sequence that really emphasised the danger the militia posed by closing in. Yeah, we get those great scenes of the villains kicking in the doors of residential houses, but Joel and Ellie feel a bit too separated from the action after the first shootout.

Ultimately the episode doesn’t quite convey the feeling that they’re desperate and being hunted through the city and just scraping through. For now then, this gets a down, though hopefully we see more in the next episode.