THE LAST OF US Episode 1 Breakdown & Ending Explained! Comparison, Lore, Easter Eggs & Deep Dive!

In this video we take a deep dive into the first episode of HBO's post apocalyptic epic The Last of Us based off the videogame by Neil Druckmann starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. We'll also take a look at its connection to the game, lore, easter eggs, and do side by side comparisons from the game. No spoilers beyond episode 1.
Episode 2 Breakdown: • THE LAST OF US Episode...
Episode 3 Breakdown: • THE LAST OF US Episode...
Episode 4 Breakdown: • THE LAST OF US Episode...
Episode 5 Breakdown: • THE LAST OF US Episode...
Episode 6 Breakdown: • THE LAST OF US Episode...
Episode 7 Breakdown: • THE LAST OF US Episode...
Episode 9 Breakdown: • THE LAST OF US Season ...
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[@ThinkStory]

🎸 Would love if you liked and subscribed if you enjoyed the video 🎸 What did you think of episode 1? Check out my other TV Show Breakdowns here: kzbin.info/aero/PLY9KJ1cFVs7hpCCBkdXaeGEX1oQhCV2PB

[@mememom9293]

They could have done this with The Witcher....it would have been glorious

[@alexander_marvelon]

Its pretty sweet pretty 😋

[@ButtersCCookie]

How about putting playlist in numerical order. Irs juvenile and greedy gross not to do so. You got some nerve! You didn't write the show. Piggybacking off the work of others who obviously aren't compensated properly. The writer's strike and all. Please grow up.

[@RenegadeLK]

One of my favorite small details from the episode was when Joel walks in the house and says “You locked the door for once,” which showed that Sarah was sensing danger after her experiences throughout the day.

[@ThinkStory]

Very cool !

[@acefair1169]

And still walk deep into the neighborhood house. I would insta turn and locked the door.

[@mzjackson88]

@@acefair1169 Right, the dog was trying to tell her when she was dragging him back to the house lol, he was like naw it's no for me dog

[@HypocritesExposd]

@@mzjackson88 at least she didn’t die there, the encounter gave them a taste of the clickers to be, showed Joel be a no questions asked badass, Sarah’s reaction to it, etc. In too many bad movies/shows, the character would’ve died in such a situation and all you’d hear from audience would be groans.

[@WiLDCHiLD.]

As someone who remembers 9/11/01 so vividly, seeing the jets and helicopters, and the military (I know, it's Texas, in a military town) just gave me flashbacks of the aftermath with everyone being on high alert on every little thing. Better safe than sorry. Locking your doors was and _IS_ the least you could do to feel/be safe. Terrorism or not, small town, or "safe" community or not, *_ALWAYS_* *LOCK* your doors, whether it's your home or your car, but _especially_ if you are in them.

[@NHNuisance]

Did anyone else notice how they introduced the cordyceps fungus through the yeast fungus or flour in baked goods? The visibly undercooked biscuits being fed to the old woman who turns first, the cookies Sarah is given (and never eats), that Sarah and Joel eat eggs when they were meant to be eating pancakes, the cake that Joel forgets to pick up, and that Joel is on the Atkins diet, meaning that he's not eating carbs, like bread made with yeast fungus or flour.

[@joana8615]

I like that theory but i don't think so. They made it very clear that most infected were in the city and that the grandma probably caught it at the hospital

[@MrJamieFRESH]

This is awesome well spotted

[@HappyUncovered]

Whoa!! this is brilliant

[@lilliannielsen4375]

I agree they added all that as well as jacarta the num1 flour production but they didn’t say anything else about it after and I’m curious if they are avoiding it or not

[@silaswendt1867]

Wow, excellent breakdown. Hadn’t put that together

[@lilliebobson3146]

This episode was packed perfectly. I mean the 30 minutes to get back story on joel, Tommy, Sarah, and the infection. Chefs kiss. Then the time jump with joel and tess. Introducing ellie, Marlene, the fireflies and fedra. Chefs kiss. This was a perfect game adaptation. Oh I need hbo to make resident evil, silent hill, and dead space.

[@EdwardNewgate58]

That cold opening with John Hannah talking about fungi was also a nice touch.

[@nadezdavalterova7032]

SH TV show would be dope

[@rahsaanbryant7961]

Did anyone catch that in the show the fungus was possibly transmitted through wheat? They dodged a bullet because Elie couldn't make pancakes, Joel forgot the cake, they turned down the biscuits and the fresh made cookies? It just seemed like the show made a point to show us the older lady being fed biscuits.

[@jeffreydyess1220]

Wow that’s a really cool detail!

[@andrejristic7480]

jeeeeeez. you are on the next level brother

[@pk3r4lif11]

you copied this word for word from someone elses video.😂

[@HypocritesExposd]

@@pk3r4lif11 please do tell. Not saying your lying, but I’d like to know if OP did a no no

[@A_C2215]

@@pk3r4lif11 point em out 😂😂😂😂🤣

[@blumountaindew]

I loved it!! It was true to the original while fleshing out the story a bit. Sarah still got me even though I knew it was coming 🥺

[@ThinkStory]

Same!

[@williehardiman6766]

I couldn't prepare myself for it. I shed a G tear.

[@xlekhano4792]

Same also I thought this show was gonna be horrible when it came out man I was wrong. I didn’t like how Joel or Ellie looked and even though they race swapped joes daughter for some reason she looks very similar to joes daughter in the game and I don’t mind her being race swapped since she was more of a side character but I hate how tv shows and movies been doing this the only one that was good was into the spider verse and that’s because he wasn’t Peter Parker he was his own character

[@sanyatesGRIA]

Didn’t make it any less painful to watch I believe it

[@eastongreen4965]

What I love about the episode so far is that some of the lines from the game are in it. Like The scene where Sarah gifts Joel his watch. Or the scene where Ellie tells Joel his watch is broken. I felt a bit of nostalgia from that.

[@senbujohns4489]

Man, they did a great job in the 1st episode. I had so much anxiety as it happened and they managed to surprise me on how they expanded the story while keeping faithful to the original. I must also say after watching X's death like 10 years ago, and another time when it got remastered I still couldn't bare to watch this scene in live action.

[@xkirax2997]

I agree! And I hope others learn from it! Adaptation done right is like this. Please continue the good work.

[@HypocritesExposd]

The death scene was perfectly acted imo

[@MollyFC]

I liked the detail that the dog knew something was up with Nana first. Dogs are the best boys/girls.

[@KlvnBrks]

I like that Joel asks for the pill bag back after selling the drugs to the soldier. In the game you're constantly collecting inventory to upgrade your health and weapons. Great detail.

[@somethingisclearlywrong]

Banger of a season premiere. They are nailing this and hope they continue to stay true to the games.

[@ThinkStory]

Fingers crossed.

[@Gh0stfaceKill4h]

I mean it would be kinda hard to mess it up with the main writer for the games as one the Show Runners. Only thing is adding more lore and changing some aspects so it can be fresh for those who played the game & fit a show format. Only real issue I can say is that I had a problem with the casting and still kinda do, but it is definitely a promising series and that 1st ep is already better than any Game adaptation.

[@somethingisclearlywrong]

@@Gh0stfaceKill4h HBO could of went in any direction regardless of having Neil Druckman. It's nice to see that he is able to deliver true to the game. And I agree with some of the casting. Hopefully as the show goes on it will grow on me.

[@mantistoboggan5171]

@@somethingisclearlywrong could have.

[@Gh0stfaceKill4h]

@@somethingisclearlywrong I don’t think so. I mean think about it. You have a show that is successful that also happened to be cowritten by Neil. Why wouldn’t they let their show runner adapt his own very successful property. They could’ve gone their own way if they just had acquired the rights. I’m sure the main reason we got the show at all is cause they already had worked with Neil.

[@cheriemcfadden5287]

I've never played the video game, but I so appreciate the attention to detail when adapting a game into TV. I was hooked once I saw the Scientist describing how a Fungus can have such an affect on its host. not to mention 2 of my favorite actors whom both worked on The Game of Thrones. Little Leyanna Mormont....A force to be reckon with here too 🙂

[@rayven1178]

Did you guys all catch how close Joel, Sarah, and Tommy came to eating flour and becoming infected? - Sarah wanted pancakes for breakfast but Joel forgot to buy more pancake mix so they just had eggs and OJ for breakfast. - Mr. Adler offered Joel and Sarah biscuits while he was feeing granny Adler. Joel told him he's on Atkins and he needed to take Sarah to school and that she'll come over after. - When Sarah came over after school Mrs. Adler was baking fresh cookies. It finished right when Sarah decided she needed to get home so she didn't eat any. - When Joel came home late at night he forgot to stop by the grocery store and pick up his birthday cake.

[@jockpittaway6726]

Well said !

[@cocomo111]

I was rewatching TLOU2 and this made me appreciate how much they're fleshing out Tommy. Bc Tommy is an absolute BEAST with a sniper.

[@KidAstronaut]

YES! Completely agree with this.

[@WisdomThumbs]

Oh yeah. Man’s a man-hunter. If he’s meant to be anything like the guys I know who served in Desert Storm (also from Texas), he got his sniper training against elk, deer, etc.

[@Megafreakx3]

too bad that game's writing is a bloody joke

[@PhpGtr]

@@Megafreakx3 Don't start this... TLOU2 was easily a 9/10 with TLOU1 being 15/10.

[@juicestains52]

Something I noticed: when Sarah gives Joel the watch she mentions “you were never gonna fix it yourself”, foreshadowing Joel’s eventual broken heart that he’ll be reluctant to fix for 20 years. That is until Ellie comes into his life and fixes it for him, the same way Sarah fixed his watch. Just one of the many great additions they make that adds a lot of context.

[@Southwestsilva]

The editing and commentary in this video is elite. Personal favorite was “friend of Jesus” for the neighbor

[@8oh8]

Nico Parker (Sarah) is a spitting image of her beautiful mom, Thandie Newton! Such a great first episode, this transitioned to screen beautifully! So excited for more! 🙀

[@naefaust581]

Thank you! I was wondering if Thandie was her mom, she “spit” her out. Twin image of her mother.

[@hyphymovement203]

She's also the spitting image of Sarah from the games! It's so cool

[@boredstranger7522]

I didn't know they're related. That explains why she looked "familiar"

[@astasui]

@@hyphymovement203 go cry

[@hyphymovement203]

@@astasui wtf are you even talking about lol

[@mileslucem4552]

In the classroom, there was a student who's hand was twitching, which are the first signs of infection. Also, you hear another kid coughing.

[@kasandrahartshorn6268]

Other details. The movie Sarah borrows for her dad I believe is a reference to the movie franchise Ellie and Deena discuss that Joel likes while scavenging on patrol. When the soldier shoots at Joel holding Sarah, his watch takes a bullet. You can see that in the show as Joel is rocking his daughter. It shows all-through the game like that. Also look at the arm positions that Sarah takes as her father presses on her woulds, it is nearly a perfect reenactment. Questions I have from watching the first episode: 1. are they not going to use gas masks and air born spores? 2. Are we going to see scavenging and crafting depicted at least once or twice since it is a huge part of the game? 3. The map Joel had showed him tracing a much longer, more detailed route to Wyoming. How much of that will we see?

[@Weird_but_neat]

Yeah they said no spores in the show

[@icecoldjohnnyy]

Who else noticed Troy baker standing in line for the radio room

[@ohhdanielson]

This breakdown is fantastic. Love that you tie in footage of the game as well.

[@phthalojohan]

Man, am so glad Think Story is covering this awesome show. Love your humorous explained videos!

[@levintine777]

One thing i'd like to add up, Indonesia is a tropical country, and we know from the tv show the fungus can grow much faster on hot temperature

[@leonardoalfonso7080]

Did you noticed the zombie screening on the roof top as they run into the city in the ending shot?

[@x.Aura.x]

You got this uploaded so fast🔥 Very excited you're taking on this series!!

[@shannonmccann3814]

The other scientists in the opening was played by the actor who played Brandon Fraser brother in law in the mummy.

[@kevonthompson4047]

pedro pascal will go down as one of the greatest actors of our generation

[@aliengranpa]

I can definitely agree with that! Also... This is the way!

[@kevonthompson4047]

@@aliengranpa this is the way🪖

[@ImperialMJG]

Now calm down dude

[@kevonthompson4047]

@@ImperialMJG then who, who has the range he does who

[@kevonthompson4047]

@@ImperialMJG i’m waiting

[@scottyoshihara2458]

One of my coworkers and I were talking about how the show may show flashbacks to Day Zero, when the infection spreads.

[@interstellar_1003]

Now THIS is how you stay true to the source material while still building on it. Hear that Halo and Witcher producers! lets hope they keep it up

[@Bwkjam]

One small detail I noticed is that Joel is a combat veteran (high chance so is Tommy). Completely believable backstory and explains his fighting abilities that I previously assumed he picked up after 20 years of fighting.

[@nerdgirljean]

Yesss!! Im so thrilled to see you're gonna be breaking this show down. woot woot!!

[@Sam_T2000]

as a long-time Austin resident: - the tallest and I think second tallest buildings in the Austin skyline did not exist in 2003. - Sarah likely wouldn’t go to school within walking distance of any sort of downtown area where she goes to the watch repair shop. edit: oh, she took the bus… and then later was worried about having gone into town. - that shot shows that Joel lives southeast of downtown, and head west to exit the cul-de-sac… but at the end of their street we see a sign saying Austin is left (south), and San Marcos is right (north), but these directions should be reversed. - I think they mention a “Highway 70,” which doesn’t exist… Highway 71 does, though it’s not on their way to Mexico. - I don’t know what it’s supposed to be, but that little small town drag with the movie theatre where the final scenes of the prologue take place doesn’t exist, either 🤷🏻‍♂️ - they _would_ plausibly be in the path of landing and taking off airplanes, though, as the airport is located in that quadrant of town… so that’s good.

[@AriDrag]

So excited for people to see this! I worked on the show and I’m positive the first season is really going to deliver.

[@andretavares5424]

Surely the most in depth analisys! Congrats!

[@kiwioutlaw]

You give the best clarity/ explanations on these shows. I have loved your channel since day one!!!

[@mrjunker6]

solid start to the show..cant wait for the next episode

[@majorsnipes1]

I think that it was a brilliant come back from most of our disappointments in TLOU2, well done Druckmann 👍

[@Groo-V]

Lmao that video is of you edit in at 17:56 is of Lee valsvik, My aunt! Lmao she loves that they got this on video even though she was super banged up.

[@chrisellersagangsta]

just found your channel and just wanna say your vids are well thought out and very high quality

[@cnashford2]

3:32-3:36 Thanks for saying that because I felt bad thinking, 'there's no way.' 😅

[@MagicalBikeRide]

As some one who a month ago stumbled upon the first game loved played the second finished a week ago. Then learned this was happening Immaculate timing ❤

[@jockpittaway6726]

Pacing of your life is perfect

[@indigoace261]

Great commentary and always good for a laugh. Thanks for sharing.

[@teeheeteeheeish]

The only thing I thought was incredibly weak were the Fireflies. Apart from the leader, the rest of them seemed incredibly inept and soft. At this point in the story, I think they would all be steely-eyed killers and in some ways even scarier than FEDRA.

[@wow-wordsofwisdom8246]

Great I watched episode before, but after watchin your video with huge details, I will watch episode again.... Thank you

[@thenyel1]

I'm just subscribing for the deep dives. Thanks

[@rikorobinson]

I'm probably the millionth person to point this out, but I find it interesting that a lot of people keep calling the cortyceps infection a "virus". I think it's interesting because cortyceps is such a fresh take and viral zombie infections is such a widespread trope, it's like we can't even help accidentally calling it a virus when it's not.

[@PapaSmurf11182nd]

This show made me nostalgic for 2003

[@Ultra_Ken]

I loved that there is a small Clicker on that ending shot at the top of the building in the left and nobody seems to notice

[@kmongan711DanielBlacksmith]

First episode was amazing

[@Memehuskie]

I’m very jealous for people watching the last of us for the first time without playing the game!

[@CordeliaWagner]

Why should they watch it then?

[@berlineczka]

@@CordeliaWagner Because it is supposedly one of the best series this year? Not everybody who watched GoT read the books, not everybody who watches The last of us series played the games.

[@TheRubberMatch]

@@CordeliaWagner strange question wtf 😂

[@alexandraprundis6405]

My birthday is on September 26th. I never seen this date in a movie or series

[@joeslater2390]

The game was too difficult for me, so I'm excited about this show

[@maminions1withers846]

Absolutely loved it can't wait for the next couple of episodes

[@torchsnow629]

Ty sir for the upload , love your reviews

[@mamazannie6060]

Very impressive so far. I enjoyed the first episode.

[@jameshartley5]

non-gamer. This ep was a perfect pilot! HBO et al have a HUGE hit on their hands....

[@xbox360bf3]

Found you channal during house of dragons and Lord of the rings tv show and im so glad to be back now that you're doing The last of us

[@onlyechos6810]

In many cultures butterflies are also closely associated with death, since they feed on corpses for sodium and therefor are often found around dead bodies. They are thought to be either messengers from the spirit world or carrying the souls of the deceased.

[@jughead18sp]

10:15 there was a fake out of the car crash. i was waiting for it. lol

[@aliengranpa]

Gut "wrenching" scene made me spit out my coffee (yes, I'm an old man)!!!!😂😂😂

[@lucretiamaggio6154]

I’ve never played the game (or even heard of it, for that matter) but I really enjoyed the first episode.

[@magzdilluh]

The actress playing Sarah is Thandie Newton's daughter and now I can't unsee it!

[@oatlord]

I know nothing of the games. The show is amazing so far though. Bella is the by far stand out performance.

[@MrRobot03]

I had low expectations coming into this and wow

[@jaropeanutbutter9949]

Not spiteful or anything but for being so detail oriented he said “fungus” earlier and then refers to the infection as a “virus” later

[@relld05]

Awesome catch with that Seventeen magazine reference btw. They likely just changed the cover to avoid having to pay Paris Hilton

[@coreymagz3145]

They world building they did on Tommy alone really sets up his role in TLOU Pt 2, whenever that comes out and I am stoked.

[@aNsWeRkEy02]

the watch & hardcore drugs was straight from the game..I like how they did it in the show..excited for the next epi

[@Fotosynthesis858]

I think when Ellie tells Joel his watch is broken, it reminded him of when Sarah tells him his shirt is inside-out. Which is why he was mumbling in his sleep because he was dreaming of Sarah

[@Teezythadon]

They actually had the car that would have t-boned them as a fake out before the plane debris.

[@interlace84]

After watching this as well as Emergency Awesome's breakdown I'm pretty sure not a single detail got skipped

[@aliengranpa]

I find emergency awesome too condescending in his breakdowns. I feel like he's mansplaining to people that don't need it.

[@davinpeterson79]

@@aliengranpa explaining*

[@wolfbane7497]

remember everyone they changed spores for tentacles because the actors really want people to see there faces

[@kasandrahartshorn6268]

I wondered if that’s why it was happening. Plus the tentacles are so creepy

[@DinsRune]

The start of this video honestly just made me think "oh hey, someone else remembers Legion!"

[@2fast4u_rms]

I loved this episode. I never played the game tho.

[@lNoWayAroundItl]

I do appreciate the continuity with the little period era details.

[@kylemcmahon9777]

Yo. Steph. If you're out there.... take my boy back.... we'd appreciate it

[@pogtuber5146]

I loved how when they drive past the highway in the show, even though you don't see anyone getting attacked like in the game, you can still hear people screaming so you know that infected are ripping through all those parked cars. Great detail.

[@leonardoalfonso7080]

We need more zombie grandma memes!

[@erikaheck8261]

THE 98 DEGREES ALBUM COVER, I SCREAMED

[@mscarolynnigro]

Excellent breakdown !

[@thewatchfemme4051]

Pedro Pascal is doing Mal Reynolds and I am here 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 it 👏🏻

[@gioturra]

I think thats hair from the person connie’s eating up, not cordyceps related.

[@eriktatos]

That’s what I thought at first

[@CallingAllMadMen]

It's not hair. They are fungal tendrils.

[@debbiewebster732]

Praying it will come out on DVD eventually because it looks good

[@charisma-hornum-fries]

I think Nico Parker is one of the most talented, sharpest, top-tier nepotism babies Hollyweird has created. Her parents taught her well.

[@rookie1405]

If Stephanie didn’t take you back after this video then it’s a lost cause 😅😅

[@OaktownGirl]

How did you not mention the Viper/Game of Thrones Easter egg??

[@x.Aura.x]

OMGGG ✌️😂💓

[@JimmiHoevring]

Because it wasn't an easter egg... Curtis and Viper 2 was in the game universe before Pedro Pascal was cast as Joel.

[@brucelee7782]

Nicee breakdown! Subscribed. Just not sure why they had to take the break in the room and let joel sleep for 2 hours? In the game it was because tess had to check out the guns. Also I feel tess is more of a strong character in the game and ellie is more placid too. In the show they are a different version of themselves

[@sirhandsome5107]

Great show!

[@robertfoerster566]

I've always said of any zombie like movie/show...."Everyone, get in your cars, drive around town and run over the infected...rinse repeat...no need to speed, 30km an hour will do." ;)

[@Wholesomewebs]

I was thinking that the guy Tommy KO’d at the bar was infected

[@who__cares__]

This show gives me hope for tv/movie video game adaptations

[@oatlord]

I wondered what she wrote after the shot of Bush. I assume a little jab, especially with the Gore Lieberman shirt shown later.

[@jaidasimone_]

I also chuckled when he said 36. He looks good but not that good 😂

[@chelscara]

He told Denise to get back in the house, that should have been more than enough lmao

[@ceedub9317]

“Disturbances in Jakarta” sounds like a Westworld breakdown video. 😁

[@thechatterbot]

So good!

[@sai_lg1070]

Honestly I didn’t think it would be good but I’m starting to change my mind

[@joshuabacon2904]

Great show love it so far

[@adamstapleton9756]

Hal see on, not Hali can.

[@Patrick-wl6pw]

Love tv last of us I cry 😭