The Last of Us Season 1 Episodes Ranked

The Last of Us Season 1 ended two years ago, and it was arguably one of the best video game adaptations ever made. The show was a massive success that introduced Joel and Ellie to a new audience while giving fans of the source material a different version of the story they all know and love. While the show was a success, the showrunners had to cut a few corners and make a few creative changes.

Regardless of what was omitted in the first season, it perfectly translated the story to a new medium. Each episode was crafted with great care and made by fans, and this article will be our ranking of every episode of the first season.

9. Left Behind (Episode 7)

Left Behind was originally a DLC released for The Last of Us, which featured how Ellie discovered she was immune to the Cordyceps virus. The episode follows the same story beats of the DLC and introduces audience members to Riley Abel, played by Storm Reid, after she invites Ellie to a night out at the nearby mall. This flashback episode made it clear that Ellie had feelings for Riley, and their love story ended in tragedy after a runner ambushed the pair and bit them both.

While Riley succumbed to the infection and had to be neutralized off-screen, this moment became a turning point for Bella Ramsey’s Ellie as she intends to cure the world. Reid only appeared in one episode and made a lasting impact that complements Ramsey’s performance, and it was gut-wrenching to watch these events unfold in live-action.

8. Infected (Episode 2)

After escaping the city limits of the Boston QZ, Joel, Tess, and Ellie take shelter in an abandoned building where the pair of smugglers think about their next course of action. This is where Joel and Ellie’s relationship began, even though the pair started on the wrong foot. This episode made a few creative changes, like the hive mind of Cordyceps patches, and Anna Torv’s Tess explained to Ellie how the infected are all connected and how to stay alive.

The best part of this episode is seeing the survivors take on two Clickers in the museum. Players are familiar with this combat encounter, which can be difficult for a beginner, like Ellie in the show. This moment showcased how terrifying this infected variant can be. The episode ended with a bang, with Tess sacrificing herself to blow up the Capitol building with the nearby infected.

7. Please Hold to My Hand (Episode 4)

After securing a vehicle, Joel and Ellie made great progress but were stumped after a wrong turn to Kansas City. The residents recently overthrew the FEDRA personnel, and any collaborators or trespassers will be gunned down. This episode is much shorter than the rest and features a simple combat encounter where Joel had to kill a few hunters until he was overpowered, forcing Ellie to pull the trigger.

This episode then introduces audience members to Kathleen Coghlan, played by Melanie Lynskey, leader of the rebel group, as they hunt down Joel and Ellie, along with a few known collaborators. This section of the game is crucial, since this is where the survivors begin to trust one another, and it couldn’t be perfectly translated to a live-action show. Nevertheless, the episode ended on a cheery note after the pair shared a good laugh and were greeted by Sam and Henry.

6. When We Are In Need (Episode 8)

Joel is injured, and Ellie did what she could to feed them both and keep them safe from the infected. After teaching her the basics of handling a rifle, Ellie successfully hunted a deer, but let her go to David and James, a pair of cannibals from a larger group of starving women and children. After exchanging the deer for medicine, David revealed he was the leader of those who attacked them at the university. Ellie was determined to save Joel and distracted the cannibals until she was caught and about to be their next meal.

This episode showcased Ellie’s independence after being thrown into a difficult situation, but she survived with nothing but her strength and will. On the other hand, audience members finally got to see Joel as the cold-hearted killer people described him to be, as he tortured the cannibals for information. Ellie exacted her revenge by cutting into David, and the episode ends as Joel and Ellie walk away from the doomed settlement.

5. Look for the Light (Season Finale)

After surviving the infected, hunters, and cannibals, Joel and Ellie finally made it to Salt Lake City. This was the final part of the original game; however, it didn’t have a happy ending since Ellie must die for a cure to be made. Joel wouldn’t let that happen, and he went on a rampage to kill every Firefly soldier standing in his way. This became the catalyst for the second season after Joel murdered everyone in cold blood and showed no remorse.

Unfortunately, this episode felt too short and rushed. While it had its problems, the HBO adaptation wrapped the story beautifully.

4. Episode 6 (Kin)

This is another episode where a handful of things were omitted and shortcutted, like removing the dam section and introducing the Jackson commune immediately. Joel reunites with his brother, Tommy, and enjoys a day of peace within the walls. This episode features an iconic scene from the game, and then some, with Pedro Pascal’s Joel breaking down in front of Tommy.

Many fans were unsure about Pedro Pascal’s casting as Joel; however, the show highlights that this version is much older, realistic, and worn down than his video game counterpart. After suffering too much personal loss, Joel couldn’t bear to fail Ellie like he did Sarah 20 years ago. Pascal poured his heart out and delivered an exceptional performance.

3. Episode 1 (When You’re Lost in the Darkness)

The first episode was something else, especially after the show started in 1968 with John Hannah playing a scientist as he warns the world of the Cordyceps threat. This cold opening was never in the game, and viewers are taken back to Outbreak Day in 2003. Life was simpler and quiet back then for Joel, living as a single father for his daughter, Sarah, until everything came crumbling down. The episode followed the same story beats as the early chapters and gave audience members a brief introduction to how Joel came to be.

Ellie was introduced a bit later, and the rest was history. The HBO adaptation made a few creative changes, such as highlighting Joel’s violent nature, including beating up a FEDRA soldier for holding them at gunpoint, something he never got to do to save Sarah’s life. This episode had the right tone for the show and was smooth sailing from there.

2. Episode 3 (Long, Long Time)

In the original game, Bill is a smuggler who lives in his town and often transacts with Joel and Tess in exchange for supplies. The survivors worked together to fight the infected and even take down a bloater; however, the live-action adaptation took a gamble that paid off immensely. Instead of recreating the same sequence in the game, the third episode became a small movie featuring the lives of Bill and Frank.

Murray Bartlett was given more to do than his video game counterpart, who only appeared as a corpse and was mentioned briefly. Audience members were drawn to the love story and the pair’s tragic end. Unfortunately, the only downside is that Bill never met Ellie like he did in the game, but it was a worthy sacrifice.

1. Episode 5 (Endure and Survive)

Episode 5 had everything, from hunters to infected to a compelling story. After linking up with Sam and Henry, Joel and Ellie worked with them to escape Kansas City through the sewers. While the game had more combat encounters, the showrunners saved them all for the last few minutes with a horde and a Bloater. Henry could see through Joel’s pain and knew he would understand his reason for becoming a FEDRA collaborator since he, too, was a guardian.

The sniping section in the game was great, but the HBO version took it to a new level by throwing a horde into the mix alongside the hunters. This episode has the most action and brings a satisfying end to Kathleen’s reign of tyranny. Unfortunately, Sam was bitten, and the showrunners made a few changes, like being deaf and revealing his bite to Ellie the night before he turned. The episode ended with Henry having to kill for the first time, and it had to be his brother, and then he ended his life due to the weight of guilt.

Ellie and Joel had been through enough, and these events hardened them even more as they set out to find Tommy in Jackson.

That’s the nine episodes of The Last of Us Season 1 ranked, be sure to check back come the end of the second season to see what we thought of that as well!

For more Thumb Wars coverage, check out what Craig Mazin had to say about controversial moments in The Last of Us Season 2, and how the HBO adaptation could give Joel more to do.

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