REVIEW: ‘The Last of Us,’ Episode 9 – “Look For The Light”

The Last of Us Episode 9, titled “Look For The Light,” brings the series full circle as Joel (Pedro Pascal) once again finds himself fighting to protect someone close to him. This time that someone is Ellie (Bella Ramsey). Having finally reached their destination, Ellie is hopeful that her immunity to Cordyceps will provide a cure for the infected. Joel isn’t so sure – and then a dark truth about the cure leads him down an even darker path.

This series thrives on the shades of gray within human morality, and The Last of Us Episode 9 is no different. All throughout the show, Joel has partaken in less than noble means to keep himself and Ellie alive. But what makes the events of “Look For The Light” compelling is how much it hinges on Joel and Ellie’s bond. When they first met, they barely tolerated each other.  Now, Joel actively scrounges around for games that he and Ellie can play and even listens to her amazingly bad puns. Those small moments are a wonder to behold; there’s just so much warmth and love shared between the two.

This is all thanks to the chemistry that Pascal and Ramsey formed during the making of this series. Throughout The Last of Us, they’ve had the chance to add layers of depth to their characters. In Joel, Pascal has shown us a man who will do anything to protect the people he loves. In Ellie, Ramsey shows a girl who is far stronger than the horror-filled world she’s grown into. Both have the chance to showcase those character elements throughout The Last of Us Episode 9. For example, Joel instinctively dives forward to shield Ellie from a grenade, and Ellie is all but vibrating with excitement over the thought of a cure. This feeling continues all the way into the final scene of the episode, which features perhaps one of the most emotionally raw moments of the show to date.

The episode also sees the return of director Ali Abbasi following last week’s episode. He sets the tone of the episode with the very first scene, which centers around the birth of Ellie. A quiet desperation hovers over the scene as Ellie’s mother, despite being heavily pregnant, resolves to take down any infected that might come near her and her child. Sound plays a major role in setting the tone for this episode – the creaking of stairs will send chills down your spine, and gunshots sound like thunderbolts. 

As if that wasn’t impressive enough, Abbasi delivers one of the show’s best action sequences when Joel moves through a hospital, dispatching nearly everyone in his path. This sequence settles into a cold, precise rhythm: Joel moves up a floor. Then he takes out his opponents, whether it’s shooting them in the head or stabbing them. He strips them of anything useful. Then he moves on. Action can often speak to character; Joel’s actions are screaming out that he doesn’t want to lose Ellie. But it also highlights that there’s a selfish undertone to his crusade. Yes, Ellie is like a surrogate daughter to Joel, but does he have a right to deprive the world of a potential cure?

That moment is juxtaposed with Ellie’s mother asking one of her friends to take care of her child, especially with the revelation that she isn’t long for this world. What makes that moment truly special is that she’s played by Ashley Johnson – Ellie’s original voice actress for The Last of Us video game. By including Johnson in this episode, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are allowing her to pass the metaphorical torch to Ramsey. Johnson’s performance also highlights an important life lesson – if you truly love someone, sometimes you have to let them go. Joel’s decision may have brought him more time with Ellie, but the selfish undercurrent lining them threatens to have some dark consequences for future installments. 

The Last of Us Episode 9 closes out the debut season on a high note, exploring the strength of its protagonists’ bond and the shades of grey within their world. This isn’t just one of the best video game adaptations to be put to the screen, but one of the best TV shows I’ve seen in a good long while. If you haven’t been watching, now is the perfect time to hop on board.

The Last of Us Season 1 is available to stream on HBO Max.