9 Best Episodes Of The Last Of Us TV Show, Ranked

The Last of Us captivated audiences worldwide with its gripping narrative and compelling characters. Throughout the season, the series featured episodes that blend drama, action, and emotion uniquely. What makes the series truly memorable is how it develops the characters' emotional depth and enhances the story with layers not previously explored in the franchise's games.

From the first episode, audiences are drawn into a devastated world with complex characters and an engaging storyline. The best The Last of Us episodes capture the game's essence by addressing deep moral dilemmas and delivering impactful scenes. The series showcases how a high-quality adaptation can expand the original universe and introduce fresh elements without losing its core.

9. Infected

Feelings Of Urgency And Tension Dominate The Second Episode

• Episode: 2
• IMBd Rating: 9,1

Infected not only delves into the series' mythology but also offers a glimpse into the pandemic's onset through a prologue set in Indonesia. The scene highlights the crisis's global scale and adds depth to the series' universe, something not explored in the game. This introduction's tension creates a sense of helplessness and urgency, setting a dark tone for the episode.

Attention to detail in world-building, such as expanding the infection's origin in Jakarta and faithfully including the Clickers, are standout points that enhance HBO's adaptation. This episode demonstrates how the series captures the original game's essence while adding layers of complexity and emotion, making it one of the best episodes of The Last of Us series.

8. Please Hold My Hand

Trust Between The Protagonists Is Key To The Future

• Episode: 4
• IMBd Rating: 8,3

Please Hold My Hand focuses on developing Joel and Ellie's relationship, establishing a stronger foundation for their bond as they face future challenges. Once again, the series goes beyond a simple game adaptation by adding depth to character development and moral complexity in Joel and Ellie's relationship, which is the series' heart.

Focusing on psychological tension and moral dilemmas in The Last of Us world, the episode lays the groundwork for intense conflicts and deepens the social dynamics shaping its universe. By showing that humans are as dangerous as the infected, Ellie and Joel's unity makes this one of the best episodes, highlighting the need for trust and partnership to survive in this world.

7. Left Behind

Ellie Faces Loss, Loneliness, And Memories With Riley

• Episode: 7
• IMBd Rating: 7,4

In an adaptation of the game's extra content, Left Behind splits into two timelines: present with Ellie and Joel, and past with Ellie and her friend, Riley. The parallel between present and past emotions Ellie experiences, such as the pain of losing Riley to infection or being alone while caring for a sick Joel.

The episode is essential for understanding Ellie's character and emotionally building the series from the game, providing viewers with a vulnerable view of Ellie and how her past experiences impact her present choices. Bella Ramsey's performance stands out, delivering another facet of the protagonist.

6. Kin

Reuniting With Tommy Makes Joel Reflect On His Life Choices

• Episode: 6
• IMBd Rating: 8,8

Besides deepening Joel and Ellie's bond, Kin also marks the return to Jackson, a community previously mentioned. Taking a temporary break from the post-apocalyptic world's chaos, Joel reunites with his younger brother, Tommy, who makes him question his choices due to their differing living conditions and confront his past, like Sarah's death.

Joel finally accepts that Ellie can be more than a mission, making this episode one of the best in the The Last of Us TV show, as their emotional bond intensifies. Facing their traumas together, Joel and Ellie reflect on their past and begin to trust each other, finding the support needed to survive in this universe.

5. When We Are In Need

The World's Brutality Shapes Ellie Into A Survivor

• Episode: 8
• IMBd Rating: 9,3

As one of the most brutal episodes, When We Are in Need follows Ellie struggling to stay alive when she encounters a group of cannibals. Ellie reaches her peak in an intense fight against David, where she learns to make tough choices and matures in a world where trusting strangers can be deadly.

In a world without moral rules, human relationships or their loss define the greatest triumphs and horrors of this universe. When We Are in Need is by far one of the best episodes of the The Last of Us TV show, marking Ellie's transition from an innocent young person to a hardened survivor after a traumatic and violent experience that changes her forever.

4. When You're Lost In The Darkness

Sarah Is Key To Understanding The Connection Between Characters

• Episode: 1
• IMBd Rating: 9,1

As the premiere episode, When You're Lost in the Darkness uniquely recreates the game's immersion. Adapting the game's spirit perfectly, the episode introduces viewers to the post-apocalyptic atmosphere, balancing tense moments and presenting main characters, establishing a narrative that captivates both fans and new viewers.

Unlike the game, it's Sarah's perspective that guides viewers to build a connection with the characters. Since only her death is shown in the game, Sarah and Joel's relationship is presented intimately and touching, giving a sense of normalcy before the chaos. This makes the character's ending even more impactful at the episode's end, making it one of the best.

3. Long, Long Time

The Episode Explores How Love Can Flourish In Dark Times

• Episode: 3
• IMBd Rating: 8,1

In one of the most memorable episodes for fans of The Last of Us TV show, Long, Long Time momentarily steps away from Joel and Ellie's narrative to explore the relationship between two secondary characters: Bill and Frank. Addressing themes like love and survival, the episode presents a more optimistic and hopeful view of finding joy in a post-apocalyptic world.

Highlighting Peter Hoar's direction in a subtle narrative and the powerful performances of Bill and Hank's actors, the episode offers a perspective never seen in the games by humanizing The Last of Us's brutal world. The episode reminds viewers that even in devastation, survival isn't enough without something or someone to live for, making it one of the best episodes of the TV show.

2. Look For The Light

The Season Ends With A Devastating Choice That Changes Everything

• Episode: 9
• IMBd Rating: 9,0

Look for the Light concludes Joel and Ellie's arc in the first season of the The Last of Us series as one of the best episodes. Tension and drama reach the narrative's peak, highlighting ethical and moral questions about what is right in a post-apocalyptic world. In a sequence even more shocking than in the game, Joel commits a massacre to save Ellie.

Capturing the game's essence, the episode provides an emotional experience that forces viewers to reflect on life's value and the choices made to save loved ones. The ending, marked by Joel's lie, creates tension likely to influence the second season's events, heightening fans' expectations for the series' future.

1. Endure And Survive

Sacrifice, Loyalty, And Morality Are Explored Amidst Intense Action

• Episode: 5
• IMBd Rating: 9,4

One of the series' best episodes, Endure and Survive delivers one of the most emotional and impactful moments of the The Last of Us adaptation. The episode features Henry and Sam, who, like Joel and Ellie, strive to survive in a devastated world. The narrative explores themes like sacrifice, loyalty, and the difficulty of maintaining morality in this universe.

What makes this episode particularly striking is Henry's conflict in choosing to save his brother or ensuring his own survival, reflecting Joel's internal struggle. Followed by a major intense action scene, where a bloater is finally introduced, Sam becomes infected, and his death carries devastating weight for everyone at the episode's end.