The Last of Us ‘Day One’ Review: A promising new beginning

Suppose the previous episode of The Last of Us was a bridge episode. In that case, Day One officially begins a new adventure for the series while returning to a formula from season one. A trio of towering performances by Bella Ramsey, Isabella Merced and Jeffrey Wright, as well as impressive action, help give this next chapter plenty to build on.

Day One Overview

The last episode was split between Ellie, Dina, Tommy, and the rest of Jackson, mourning Joel and beginning the adventure towards Seattle. Day One is the first episode to capture Ellie’s new adventure fully.

The episode succeeds by embracing the pair of individuals going on a dangerous quest structure from last season. Instead of Joel joining Ellie, Dina is Ellie’s partner in crime. In some ways, swapping Dina for Joel ratchets up the tension even more.

The main plot of Day One is pretty simple. Ellie and Dina arrive in Seattle. However, there isn’t a great way to trek into the city without being seen since it’s broad daylight. The two friends decide to bide their time, but discover a far darker and more complicated situation than they’re prepared for.

Merced remains the breakout star of The Last of Us Season 2. She brings so much warmth, love, and terror through her eyes, telling you everything you need to know about her feelings for Ellie. Ramsey’s excellent as well, and I was particularly impressed with her singing “Take on Me” by A-ha. Wright’s performance instilled a different appreciation for cookware.

One massive improvement over season 1 is the action sequences. The infected chase sequence in the subway is the best action scene in the series to date.

There are a couple of issues in Day One. Ellie and Dina playing instruments is great, emotional, and one of the best scenes in the series, but it does strain the reality of the world that’s been set up. Likewise, Ellie and Dina’s infiltration of the WOLF hideout isn’t well thought out.

Overall, while the absence of Joel is present, the performances, writing by Craig Mazin and directing by Kate Herron ensure The Last of Us has plenty of story to tell A.J.M. (After Joel Miller.)

The Last of Us is streaming on Max.

A Wolf’s Conviction

Day One begins with a 2018 flashback. A group of FEDRA troops is joking about the civilians they’ve harassed. Sergeant Isaac Dixon (Wright) chastises the group for mocking the civilians. Dixon turns on all but one of the soldiers, an idealist played by Josh Peck.

Fast forward to the present. Isaac admires the pan’s features and how it retains heat. He reflects on how he would attract women through his cooking skills. Eventually, Isaac turns his attention to his restrained guest, a seraphite.

Unlike the father and daughter we saw in the last episode, this seraphite is a true believer and refuses to talk. After being burned several times, he even suggests that Isaac should continue burning him. Isaac ends the conversation with a bullet. Peck portrays a more hardened soldier outside the room, claiming the prisoner got what he deserved.

This is a great scene. One of the best elements of the scene was the prisoner revealing that the seraphites are indoctrinating more of Isaac’s troops into their faith, and the religious group isn’t losing anyone.

Day One in Seattle

Ellie and Dina arrive in Seattle. Since it’s daytime, they decide to bide their time in a nearby record store. While Dina’s eyes are stuck on the drums, Ellie heads upstairs and finds an acoustic guitar. Ellie begins playing ‘Take on Me.’ First, Ellie plays to an empty room. Then, Dina joins her.

Without saying anything, you can feel Dina fall in love watching Ellie play. Ellie’s not playing to show off or seduce; she’s playing it shyly, which continues to draw Dina in.

After the song, Dina and Ellie discover a broken window in an abandoned TV station building. They decide to sneak into the building and find a group of wolves who were massacred in a ritualistic manner. The disturbing scene is almost too much for Dina and Ellie, but Wolves show up before they can contemplate the situation they’ve stumbled into.

Ellie and Dina are stealthily able to avoid the group for the most part. It’s only after Ellie attacks one that the other members show up. Ellie slits one of the soldier’s throats and Dina kills another with shot to the back of the head.

Secrets Revealed

They reach the subway station and find a horde of infected that gives chase. Ellie is bit saving Dina. Unlike in the season premiere, Dina sees the bite take place.

Dina unleashes a flurry of emotions. She now has to contemplate killing someone she loves and a future that’s no more. Ellie begs Dina not to kill her and reveals she’s immune. Dina doesn’t lower her gun, but Ellie tells her to watch. She won’t change.

Ellie awakens a few hours later. She’s still her. With Ellie’s confession out of the way, Dina reveals her secret. She’s pregnant with Jessie’s baby. Unable to keep their emotions at bay, they have sex.

The next morning, Dina lightens the mood by joking about morning breath. Dina reveals why she kept her feelings from Ellie. She always liked boys and girls, but her mother told her boys were the only choice. Dina also jokes with Ellie about her obvious attraction.

With Dina being pregnant, Ellie asks Dina to go back, but Dina holds Ellie’s hand as a sign of her commitment.

Day One Final Thoughts

Day One marks a bold, emotionally charged shift for The Last of Us, proving the series can survive and thrive in a post-Joel world. By leaning into the dynamic between Ellie and Dina, the episode preserves the intimacy and danger of the original Joel-and-Ellie formula while deepening its emotional core.

The episode isn’t without flaws—some logistical leaps strain credibility—but its emotional resonance and character development more than make up for it. The guitar scene and the gut-wrenching subway sequence are standout moments, both visually and thematically, reminding us that The Last of Us is as much about the cost of love as it is about survival.

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