The most brutal episode of all is upon us! I played the PlayStation games more than once, and even though I knew the events were going to play out in this HBO series at some point, I was still blown away reliving it all again. They tweaked a few things, but it’s not important; the impact is still there.
We start off with knowing that Abby and her posse are holed up in the lodge, a ridge or two over from Jackson. She is still hot for revenge, even though her mates don’t think it is an opportune time for her obsession. Down in Jackson, we learn that Infected have been spotted about, so Tommy puts everyone on alert. The town has a practiced protocol for such circumstances, including patrols of the area. Joel is actually out with Dina, and we see Ellie saddle up and depart with Jesse, all on their usual rounds.
Abby also ends up on her rounds. On that frigid, blustery, snowy day, she scopes out Jackson from a safe distance. She doesn’t waver from her mission despite the bitter day. She is focusing on a duo on horseback and sets out to get closer. One misstep, however, leads her into trouble. On a slope’s edge, she loses her footing and slides down to its bottom, only to be surrounded by bodies frozen in the snow. She plainly sees they are Infected and they were only lying dormant. Upon her arrival, they come to life, and she is on the run for safety with the horde in pursuit.
Then a great sequence in the Naughty Dog game gets relived when Abby finds outbuildings and the only thing between her and a gruesome death is a weak chain link fence. Intense! She is saved at the last second, but she doesn’t know at first by whom. A gruff man pulls her to a moment of safety, and she is relieved to be saved. A woman, Dina, calls out, “Joel,” and Abby quickly realizes that her rescuer is the man she seeks. Does she have a change of heart in that moment? The Infected are about to breach the sealed door holding them back. It is too fat and too bitter outside to get safely back to Jackson with a horde on the pursuit, so Abby offers a closer safe haven for Joel & Dina. The lodge. They do make it to the lodge because the horde has moved on to Jackson.
Another great sequence plays out as the town takes it on. The young and weak have taken to the basements; armed parties, including Tommy’s wife Maria, have taken to the roofs. Tommy and his unit are on the ramparts as the Infected arrive. A breach is made in the fortifications when a huge Bloater crashes through. Tommy single-handedly takes care of that bad boy, as you can see below. However, the town suffers heavy damage and casualties as a result. It is all so savage and brutal.
Ellie & Jesse are not part of that fight. When the call went out that Joel & Dina were not responding to radio hails, Ellie & Jesse went out to locate them. At one point, when Abby was leading Joel to the lodge, he turned back to see Jackson Hole under siege. He almost turns to go back, but Abby pleads that they can stock up on ammo and reinforcements if they just get back to the lodge. They do, and once inside, Abby has Dina sedated. She reveals to Joel all the whys and wherefores. She is going to kill Joel because he, without hesitation or remorse, killed her father (the Dr. back in Salt Lake City who had Ellie on the table). We can only hope that Ellie & Jesse come in time. Ellie does arrive, but she’s too late. And, finally, the HBO viewer knows what the gamers have known for a long time. I must admit, with respect to the HBO viewer, I have never seen any comment uttered by gamers that would be the ultimate spoiler – Abby bludgeons Joel to death with a golf club!
YOU DON’T GET TO RUSH THIS.
Ellie is subdued to witness the last blow and swears vengeance on them all. The last image is of Ellie, Dina & Jesse taking Joel’s body back to Jackson Hole. What now? What direction does the story take? We leave you with this, as we truncate this episode’s title a bit,…”Though I walk through the valley of…”
