The Last Of Us: Season 2 Episode 5 “Feel Her Love” – Recap & Review (With Spoilers)

Focus shifts back to Ellie’s revenge, and she encounters the first of Abby’s friends, whom she hopes has answers.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.

Episode 5 “Feel Her Love” Details

  • Available On: HBO
  • Public Release Date: May 11, 2025
  • Director(s): Stephen Williams
  • Writer(s): Craig Mazin

Episode 5 “Feel Her Love” Recap (With Spoilers)

While the WLF may hold the hospital’s upper levels, Hanrahan, one of, if not the head of the group, learns from Sgt Elise Park that the basement levels, where the original infected were held in 2003, had to be sealed off, and she lost her son in finding that out. This information is noteworthy, as Ellie and Dina traverse Seattle, trying to avoid the battles between WLF and the Scars, and one of the final scenes in the episode has Ellie in the basement.

But before that point, things were looking decent. Dina was able to figure out the patrol routes, thanks to WLF being very open on their radios due to the Scars, or Seraphites, not using technology, a la the Amish. However, with there being a building that could allow for them to avoid the WLF, they knew there would be infected, but didn’t predict stalkers. Then, to add to the issues, it was multiple stalkers, but Jesse came to their rescue.

Now, why is he there? Well, he and Tommy decided to be a two-man rescue team without permission, and while Jesse saves them at that moment, running out to the park attracts not only WLF’s attention but Seraphite’s. Thankfully, though, everyone escapes, with Dina shot in the leg with an arrow and Ellie separating from Jesse and Dina and finding herself at the hospital.

There, she lucks into finding Nora and while, again, Ellie finds herself attracting WLF attention, being that Nora tries to escape Ellie by going to the basement, she meets the same fate as Sgt Park’s son, but not before Ellie makes her suffer as Joel did.

“The Last Of Us” Character Guide

New Cast and Characters

Hanrahan (Alanna Ubach)

Hanrahan (Alanna Ubach)
  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Hanrahan is the leader of the WLF

Elise Park (Hettienne Park)

Elise Park (Hettienne Park)
  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Sergeant Elise Park is one of Hanrahan’s most trusted soldiers, and Sgt. Park has been part of the WLF long enough for even her son to be an active soldier. Sadly, though, while exploring a basement level in the hospital, Sgt Park lost her son.

Nora (Tati Gabrielle)

Nora (Tati Gabrielle)
  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Nora is one of Abby’s friends, who worked in the hospital as a nurse.

Review and Commentary

On The Fence

Wishing For Backstory [74/100]

Understanding the history between the WLF and Scars feels like a missing component in understanding the war, and while I get that season 2 is firmly about Ellie’s revenge, she is knee deep in their territory. So, in my mind, going into the prophet, how the original truce was formed, and things like that, I get would more so be for a show with 13, 18 or more episodes, but it would enhance the b-line story of what the WLF are dealing with if we got more than one side killing the other.

And considering, in the last season, we got nearly an entire episode that wasn’t about Joel and Ellie, I would submit that season 2 could likely extend itself to fill in a gap. After all, it isn’t like Ellie’s revenge must be jammed into one season.

Something Feels Missing In Ellie’s Revenge [71/100]

With the focus shifting from Ellie and Dina being a cute couple to Ellie’s revenge, I find myself right back to where I was, thinking Bella Ramsey needs either a crutch or someone good to play off of to own the moment. For, as Ellie, something feels missing.

Maybe it is because you know the risk is minimal, so you don’t fear her dying? Perhaps it could be that, with her not facing Isaac or someone with a notable name behind them, you know whoever she faces won’t be much more than fodder, like Nora was?

Though, maybe in that we have the issue: We’re expected to be invested in Ellie picking off Abby’s friends, whom we barely know a thing about. Add on, there is no grey there – it isn’t like Nora was one of the few nurses or doctors the WLF had, to make her death a callous act by Ellie’s hand. She was just part of Joel’s death, mainly as a witness or, at worst, she supported Abby in her effort. But, to have it where she is barely introduced, then when we see her next, she is bandaging someone up, and next thing you know, she is either going to die by infected spores or by Ellie whacking her? That’s supposed to mean something or be entertaining?

To me, if they are going to have Ellie pick off Abby’s friends, it will ultimately be a dull experience to watch unless they build up these friends to be more than an associate of Abby. Their deaths have to mean something or else, they’ll just become filler. They have to show Ellie, similar to Joel, when stuck on one task or topic, how blinded she becomes, even if her revenge doesn’t equate to the contributions that person has to society.

Overall

Our Overall Rating [72/100]

The Last Of Us continues to lack the type of villain(s) it needs – that is in direct opposition to Ellie. For if the main thing we’re to focus on is Abby’s friends, and Abby, who we barely know, see, and have yet to be notably developed? The second season is going to be quite the bore when not focusing on Dina and Ellie in love – which, for most, is probably not the selling point here. So, between Ellie getting involved in the war or beefing up her targets, the show may need to end the split storyline to keep its lead actor from feeling like a liability.

Additional Links

TV Shows We’re Covering This Season

Images used for editorial and commentary purposes. All rights remain with their respective copyright holders.

Listed Under Categories:
Related Tags: , , , , , , ,

Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.