Review
"The Last of Us", episode 3: Setting off on a broken path
by Luca Fontana
"The Last of Us", episode 2: Through the valley - and right into the heart
22.4.2025
Translation: machine translated
Explosions, zombie armies, avalanches of corpses - episode 2 of "The Last of Us" doesn't slow down, it revs up. And at a production level that is so spectacular that even HBO would be envious of itself.
Part two, second escalation stage: «The Last of Us» unleashes a chaos of snow, pain and shockwaves in episode 2 - «Through the Valley». What begins as a dark character moment ends in a flaming state of emergency. And in the middle of it all: Characters who go through more than some series do in eight seasons.
In the Spoiler Factory, Michelle, Domi and I talk openly, critically and emotionally about the current episode as always - with spoilers up to this point, but without a preview of what's to come.
Here's a little sneak peek:
If you haven't seen our first episode, you can catch up here:
If you haven't seen the second episode yet and still want to know what it was like, here's a short summary of our impressions - without spoilers.
The apocalypse knows no mercy
If you thought «The Last of Us» would take it easy after the emotionally stirring opening, you'll be proven wrong in episode 2 - and with a vengeance. «Through the Valley» not only strikes mercilessly in terms of narrative, but also in terms of staging.
What particularly impressed Michelle was the interplay between humanity and madness. A scene that seems almost everyday at first glance becomes an emotional powder keg - not because of what is said, but because of what cannot be said. These nuances, this tension in the silence, this is exactly what makes «The Last of Us» so special for her.
Domi, our walking «TLOU» wiki, was also overwhelmed. Not only by the pace of this episode, but also by the force with which it combines emotion and escalation. Despite all the action, this series remains intimate, vulnerable and human. And that is one of the greatest strengths of «The Last of Us».
And me? I loved how the creators not only know the dramaturgical rules like Chekhov's Gun, but celebrate them - and still deliver real surprises. Plus the direction by Mark Mylod, who knows how to utilise HBO's budget so effectively that other studios would dream of it.
What remains is not a breather, but a dull reverberation. A feeling that this was just the beginning. And that there is more to come. «The Last of Us» has come to hurt - and be great at the same time.
Where can you find the podcast?
Hosts
Luca Fontana
Michelle Brändle
Domagoj Belancic
If anyone games more than Phil, it would be Domi. If his dog didn't regularly drag him out into the sunlight, he would have long since collected all the platinum trophies on the Playstation. His heart also burns for another well-known Japanese company, Nintendo. This is proven by the various retro consoles that adorn his office, as well as his encyclopaedic knowledge of all Pokémon - even those that have yet to be invented.
Luca Fontana
Senior Editor
Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.chI write about technology as if it were cinema, and about films as if they were real life. Between bits and blockbusters, I’m after stories that move people, not just generate clicks. And yes – sometimes I listen to film scores louder than I probably should.
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