Editor’s Note: The following are spoilers for Episode 5 of The Last of Us.HBO Last of us it’s nothing short of suspense, and in the first episodes of the series, we’ve come to expect heartbreaking moments, whether we’re watching a fast-paced action sequence with the main characters, or a more isolated episode with brand new characters. Episode 5 introduced us to another new pace and perspective through two new characters and how they communicate with each other. Helping viewers pay more attention to new characters, Last of us added tension to already tense moments.
The end of Episode 4 introduced us to Henry (Lamar Johnson) and Sam (Keyvonne Montreal Woodard), although viewers’ first encounter with them was brief and hardly a good example of who these characters really are. In the final scene of Episode 4, we see that Henry has a gun against Ellie (Bella Ramsey) head, and Sam puts his finger to his lips to tell Ellie and Joel (Pedro Pascal) remain silent as the episode ends abruptly. While this was clearly intended to be a warning as Henry and Sam threaten their hostages, it also foreshadowed the main theme of the subsequent episode: keep quiet. The beginning of episode 5 turns everything on its head, showing us the preparation for the final scene of the previous episode from the point of view of Henry and Sam. It gave an idea of who these characters are. One of the first important details about the characters that viewers can ascertain is that Sam is deaf and that he and Henry sign each other.
Episode 5 starts with chaos and gives way to silence
Episode 5 begins with loud angry protests, cries for freedom, and calls for the fall of FEDRA as fireworks explode and flames roar as people are beaten and shot. The scene then cuts to Henry putting his finger to his lips like Sam did in the previous episode. This time, Henry urges Sam to remain silent as they hide from passing resistance members in a tank, dragging a corpse with knives sticking out of it. Henry begins to get to know Sam, telling him to focus on him as they drive the last two blocks to their destination. At this point, it’s unclear if the two always speak sign language to each other, or if it’s just something they picked up to communicate while they’re on the run. Either way, their sign language conversation in the alley turns into silence as the people they’re hiding from move out of earshot.
This episode starts off especially loud and chaotic, making the transition to quiet moments that require attention to body language and subtitles especially abrupt and unexpected. Since scenes with Henry and Sam are interspersed with other storylines such as Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey) in her search for Henry, the scenes in which Henry and Sam silently communicate with each other always draw viewers’ attention to what was going on in a unique way.
The moments when Henry and Sam sign each other’s signs in this episode either take place in silence or in the show’s already familiar gentle, simple soundtrack. The lack of spoken dialogue forces viewers to focus on these newly introduced characters in a new way. Not only does this give viewers the opportunity to get to know and empathize with these characters faster than is usually the case, but it also makes the audience uniquely primed for the inevitable action and horror. We all knew that moments of panic between life and death were coming, as happens in most episodes. However, this time we were already especially focused and especially in sync with the characters - kind of like how your other senses are heightened when one of them is taken away. As the action begins and Henry, Sam and Ellie run and hide from Kathleen and her followers, their silence turns from a necessity to a means of self-preservation. A scene in which beloved characters are within a few feet of a woman who wants to kill them will keep viewers on their toes no matter what. However, the way this plays into the episode’s unique use of sound is even more unsettling to viewers.
Sam and Ellie’s quiet conversation is also key
Over the course of the episode, Sam and Ellie become fast friends through both their respective desires to find someone to talk and laugh with, and Sam’s notebook, which allows them to communicate freely despite Ellie not knowing how to speak English. sign language. . The scene that takes place between Sam and Ellie right after their encounter with Kathleen and a crowd of infected people is a turning point for the series as a whole. Sam reveals to Ellie that he is infected and Ellie admits for the first time that she can use her blood to help people in Sam’s position. She also tries to use her blood to heal someone for the first time in the series.
Because the main story Last of us currently focused on protecting and transporting Ellie due to her unique reaction to the infection, her admission that she can cure others of the infection is a groundbreaking moment not only for the episode and Ellie’s relationship with Sam, but for the entire story. row. Notably, this moment takes place in a different scene where the characters are talking silently. Once again, this quiet scene keeps us in focus. Words are written out, not subtitled or spoken. As a result, the pace slows down and, as spectators, we sit on the edge of our seats, watching as important information is revealed and Ellie and Sam’s relationship with their only friend their age grows much deeper.
Like all scenes in this episode with no-talk communication, this scene sets the audience up for a special shock when the sound and action comes in. In this case, it’s when Sam rebels against Ellie and attacks her. The impact of these quiet moments lies not only in the attention we pay when we need to read the dialogue. It’s also about how prepared we are for the tense moments that always follow. Between the unique, heartbreaking format of Episode 3 and the influence of Sam’s communication methods on Episode 5’s dialogue, it’s clear that Last of us eager to try something new so that we immerse ourselves in the plight of these characters. While Sam and the way he communicates won’t appear in future episodes, it will be interesting to see if the different ways that this series is asking us to look at will show up.
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Source: Collider
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