As a Gamer, I Was Blown Away by ‘The Last of Us’ TV Sequence and Now I’m Not Ready for the Story Finale

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As a Gamer, I Was Blown Away by ‘The Last of Us’ TV Sequence and Now I’m Not Ready for the Story Finale

I’ve played through The Last of Us games multiple times, so I thought I knew what to expect from HBO’s adaptation. I was wrong. Dead wrong. The latest episode, Day One just delivered a sequence so intense that I found myself holding my breath for what felt like five straight minutes.

What makes the show work isn’t just its faithfulness to Neil Druckmann’s original vision—it’s how showrunner Craig Mazin and the team know exactly when to expand on that foundation. The subway tunnel sequence is the perfect example of this balancing act. And watching it unfold on screen just hit different. Much different.

That subway sequence just redefined horror-action on TV

Let me paint the scene: Ellie and Dina, trapped underground, with WLF soldiers behind them and a horde of infected ahead. What follows is pure, unfiltered tension that puts most horror films to shame.

The way the scene builds is masterful—first with Dina counting infected on her fingers, then the realization dawning that they’re completely outnumbered. The camera work in those dark, claustrophobic tunnels made me feel like I was right there with them, which is exactly what I wanted as a fan.

The infected in The Last of Us have always been terrifying, but seeing them in such overwhelming numbers, illuminated only by flashlight beams, took that fear to another level.

What elevates this beyond typical zombie fare, though, is how it serves the characters. Ellie getting bitten while saving Dina forces her immunity reveal, which leads to one of the most emotionally charged moments of the season.

Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced sell every second of that scene—the panic, the resignation, the disbelief. It’s raw in a way that even Naughty Dog’s incredible motion capture couldn’t fully convey.

Jeffrey Wright’s Isaac is the villain this season needed

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| Image Credit: HBO

While the infected provide immediate danger, it’s Jeffrey Wright‘s portrayal of Isaac Dixon that’s absolute nightmare fuel. The episode’s opening flashback showing his defection from FEDRA immediately establishes him as someone willing to betray his own people for what he believes is right—a dangerous kind of conviction.

The torture scene with the Seraphite prisoner is genuinely disturbing, not because of explicit gore, but because of Wright’s chilling calmness. His casual story about cooking for dates while heating a copper pan for torture is pure psychological horror stuff that the game only hinted at.

It’s almost fascinating how The Last of Us consistently reminds us that humans remain the true monsters in this world. The infected may be scary, but they’ve lost control of their actions. Isaac and his ilk make conscious choices to inflict suffering. Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann understand this fundamental truth from the games—the Cordyceps is just a backdrop for exploring human nature at its worst.

As much as I hate to admit it, after this episode, I’m convinced the show will thrive even without Pedro Pascal’s Joel. His ghost drives the plot—yes, there’s no debate about it—but these characters and their world are compelling enough to stand on their own.

What did you think of the subway sequence? Did it have you on the edge of your seat like me? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

The Last of Us Season 2 is currently streaming on HBO and Max, with new episodes every Sunday at 9 PM ET/PT.

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