The Last Of Us: Season 2 Episode 4 “Day One” – Recap & Review (With Spoilers)
While the events of episode 2 still cast a shadow over The Last Of Us, the clouds begin to clear as a new villain is introduced and Dina and Ellie’s relationship strengthens.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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Episode 4 “Day One” Details
- Available On: Max
- Public Release Date: May 4, 2025
- Director(s): Kate Herron
- Writer(s): Craig Mazin
Episode 4 “One Day” Recap (With Spoilers)
It’s More About Survival Than Alliances: Isaac
While Isaac was once a Sergeant in FEDRA, he saw the writing on the wall. So, when given the opportunity, he defected to WLF and killed all those who could have reported him, but one kid, whom he gave a chance to live. Eleven years later, Isaac isn’t much better off. He is torturing a “Scar,” the WLF’s name for the Seraphite, over someone who was killed, and going back and forth with them over who broke the truce, before killing this naked young man in cold blood. Why? Well, because he knew he couldn’t break him.
Take Me On: Dina, Ellie
Despite how dangerous Seattle initially seemed, Dina and Ellie are traversing it with relative ease. They get through a pharmacy, a record shop, Ellie accidentally makes a loud noise investigating a tank which draws no attention, and they even have the time and safety for Ellie to serenade Dina.
No Secrets Between Us: Ellie, Dina
But the good times don’t last forever. After discovering a lot of dead WLF soldiers, killed by Seraphite hands, Dina and Ellie find themselves running from WLF soldiers investigating the murders, ending up in a transit tunnel, and while they escape, Dina sees Ellie get bitten. This, as you can imagine, seems like the beginning of the end in Dina’s mind, but Ellie convinces her not to shoot, and this leads to them both revealing their secrets.
Ellie reveals she is immune, but omits how Joel saved her from the Fireflies potentially experimenting on her. In return, Dina reveals she is pregnant with Jesse’s baby, that she plans to raise with Ellie. This information complicates the path forward, initially, but with hearing a name associated with Abby on a ELF radio, it seems avenging Joel takes precedence over Dina’s pregnancy.
“The Last Of Us” Character Guide
New Cast and Characters
Isaac (Jeffrey Wright)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: A former sergeant of FEDRA, it seemed Isaac saw he was fighting on the losing side with them and decided to defect to work with WLF. Since switching sides, he has risen in the ranks, found himself with the cookware he could only dream of, but has still maintained a role in which he is a purveyor of violence.
Review and Commentary
Highlights
Who Would Guess A Queer Storyline Could Renew Interest? [87/100]
While Joel will always be missed, his absence opening the door for a prominent queer storyline, may feel like a Trojan Horse situation, but it also gives The Last Of Us something to further help it stand out. After all, how many action oriented shows, like this, focused on a queer couple? Now, you could put out there, it is still two young people leading the way, as is the case with a lot of sapphic pairings. But, you have to admit there is something cute about Dina and Ellie.
Now, the only thing left is for things between these two to not end tragically and fit the trope that has haunted female pairings on television in nearly every show in the sci-fi or fantasy genre I’ve seen.
WLF Under Isaac’s Direction [84/100]
Abby doesn’t have the look or vibe of a real villain. Is she someone easy to hate? Yes. But she has no power, her influence isn’t the greatest, and she doesn’t give a formidable impression. Isaac does. The voice, the look, how he tortured that kid and betrayed his team for his own survival, there is a bit of a wild card appeal there. On top of that, it’s another alumnus from the game series, and even if he isn’t on Ellie’s hit list, he could very much get in the way and perhaps lead to a twist for the series that wasn’t in the game.
Overall
Our Overall Rating [85/100]
Admittedly, we thought The Last Of Us was going to go on a downward trend but I’d submit between Ellie and Dina’s relationship being stronger than expected, a sense of danger returning, and introducing a true formidable villain in Isaac, while Joel is a significant loss, it may not leave the series limping as much as we initially thought.
Additional Links
The Last Of Us: Season 2 – Review and Summary
The Last Of Us, as it tries to have Pedro Pascal pass the baton to Bella Ramsey, stumbles in ways that qualifies season 2 as a sophomore slump.
The Last Of Us: Season 2 Episode 7 “Convergence” – Recap & Review (With Spoilers)
The season finale of season 2 of The Last Of Us feels like it should be a mid-season finale due to the way it ends.
The Last Of Us: Season 2 Episode 6 “The Price” – Recap & Review (With Spoilers)
The background of Ellie’s beef with Joel is explored from earlier this season.
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