As they attempt to flee Kansas City with Joel and Ellie, Henry and Sam are introduced to us in “Endure and Survive.”
The fifth episode of The Last of Us, “Endure and Survive,” properly introduces us to another pair trying to make it in this post-outbreak world, brothers Henry (Lamar Johnson) and Sam (Keivonn Montreal Woodard), who are also trying to flee Kansas City. This follows the bonding between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in the fourth episode, “Please Hold My Hand.” “Endure and Survive” demonstrates the very real sorrow of love and loss that comes from this hellish world and that letting someone close is asking for the final heartbreak, in contrast to an episode like “Long Long Time,” which demonstrated the beauty of letting someone in during the apocalypse.
The Henry Pursuit
Beginning with a look at recent history, “Endure and Survive” describes how the residents of the Kansas City quarantine zone took control of the QZ from FEDRA. The FEDRA officers are brutally treated by the residents of Kansas City, who beat, hang, and shoot them in the head. We witness Henry and his deaf brother Sam cowering in the shadows as they try to make it two blocks to safety among the war-torn streets as the new overlords of the QZ police the streets hunting for FEDRA, or collaborators.
We discover that Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey) has apprehended a gang of informers that she claims she used to be afraid of—a jail full of people. She asks the group if it was satisfying to turn on their neighbors to FEDRA, seeing them imprisoned or killed in exchange for goods like prescription drugs, booze, and even apples. But now that Kathleen is in command, the roles have reversed, and she declares that fortunately for them, nobody has to perish. If found guilty, they can go on trial and get a sentence, but first, Kathleen needs to find Henry.
She orders her right-hand man Perry (Jeffrey Pierce) to kill the group when no one responds. When one of them says Henry is with Edelstein (the physician Kathleen killed in Episode 4), Kathleen appears surprised. Kathleen reports that things are going well now that Kansas City is free, contrary to Edelstein’s claim that he had a location where he could meet up with Henry and Sam if things didn’t work out. While Kathleen sends her men out to find Edelstein, Henry, and Sam in the city right away, declaring that finding Henry is their first priority, the man is unaware of where they were headed in spite of this knowledge. Kathleen tells Perry that they are not actually putting the defendants on trial and that because burning the bodies after is quicker, Perry should do so when he is finished.
Strong Sam
Back to Henry and Sam, who have arrived at the rendezvous point, Edelstein can be seen hiding in a nook. According to Edelstein, a FEDRA officer notified him about the location, and FEDRA is unaware that it even exists. The objective is to slip out of the QZ because the three of them lack ammunition and haven’t found much food to survive on. Henry believes they can escape via tunnels. Henry estimates that they have 11 days to decide what to do next based on the food they have. Sam is frightened, as Edelstein notes because Henry is frightened.
Henry is drawing a superhero on his Magic Slate toy that he wears around his neck as Sam talks to him. Sam is reassured by Henry that he is not afraid and that they are completely safe. However, Henry claims that the only issue is how unsightly the spot where they are hiding out is, and he hands Sam a huge bag of crayons to help decorate the space. The two brothers then start doodling on the brick walls.
Ten days later, Sam, who Henry refers to as “Super Sam,” has painted superhero images all over the hideout. The group has only one can of food left, and the streets are still crowded with soldiers. Henry argues that they should wait for Edelstein, who has been gone all day, despite Sam’s desire to eat. After making a commitment to return the next day, Henry informs Sam that he won’t be coming back and that they must go because they have run out of food. Ten days later, Sam, who Henry refers to as “Super Sam,” has painted superhero images all over the hideout. The group has only one can of food left, and the streets are still crowded with soldiers. Henry argues that they should wait for Edelstein, who has been gone all day, despite Sam’s desire to eat. After making a commitment to return the next day, Henry informs Sam that he won’t be coming back and that they must go because they have run out of food.
Joel and Ellie
They hear the imminent shootout with the Kansas City gang and Joel and Ellie‘s truck collision from Episode 4 as they get ready to leave. Henry claims to have a new strategy after witnessing Joel defeat the team. At some point that evening, Henry and Sam locate the residence Joel and Ellie were sleeping in at the conclusion of Episode 4 and approach them covertly. When Joel and Ellie awaken, both Henry and Sam have weapons aimed at them. After receiving some dubious reactions from Joel, Henry decides to trust this pair of fellow survivors because they claim they don’t intend to harm them and only want to aid them. When Henry presents them, he claims that they are Kansas City’s most sought-after guys, but with Joel and Ellie present, it’s a close call. Joel advises that Henry and Sam go their separate ways after he and Ellie enjoy their meal with them. Henry, however, has a different plan and promises to show Joel and Ellie how to leave the city in the morning.
The following morning, when Joel and Henry survey the city, Joel reports that he heard the Kansas City FEDRA were monsters who would rape, torment, and murder people for twenty years before the populace rose up and retaliated against them. Henry concurs. Joel is informed by Henry that he is not FEDRA but rather a collaborator. Joel doesn’t want to work with a rat, but since Henry has never killed anyone or used violence, they decide to form a sort of alliance because Henry knows how to get out and needs someone to clear the way. Henry remarks that he hasn’t heard Sam laugh in a long time while they converse, and it is clear that Ellie and Sam have already forged a connection.
When Henry discusses his strategy, he claims that although Kathleen is in charge of the city, the way to travel across it is through maintenance tunnels, which will lead to freedom. Henry says that FEDRA pushed the sick underground 15 years ago and never allowed them to come back up when Joel asks what they need him for. While everyone, including Kathleen, believes the tunnels are infested, Henry claims to have inside knowledge from a FEDRA member that the tunnels are truly clean. Henry believes that the approach is “dicey as fuck,” but is encouraged by Joel and Ellie’s ability to defeat two clickers in the past.
By means of the Tunnels
The group arrives at a bank with a tunnel leading to it. As they enter, Joel orders Ellie to pull her rifle. They don’t encounter any infection as they move through the tunnels, but they ultimately come to a section covered with children’s drawings and have a door that resembles the entrance to a cartoon castle. As soon as they walk in, they discover a whole area designated for kids, complete with additional pictures, toys, books, and a makeshift soccer goal. Joel claims to have heard of locations like these where people established villages underground following Outbreak Day.
Joel discovers a drawing of two men with the caption “our protectors,” Danny and Ish. In The Last of Us Part 1, we learn that Ish was a man who went underground and, while searching for supplies, came into a family in the neighboring suburbs. A community was established after Ish invited the family. Ish eventually met Danny, and the two of them guarded their underground sanctuary together (as seen in the drawing). But eventually, one of the doors was left unlocked, allowing a group of the infected inside. Ish and Susan, the mother of the first family Ish saved, managed to flee the attack and make their way to the suburbs with a few other survivors, but it is unknown what happened to them after that.
Sam discovers a Savage Starlight comic book issue in this hidden play area; Ellie had been collecting them in the original game. Ellie displays her enthusiasm for the subject, and Sam and she become closer over their shared love of the series. Sam teaches Ellie how to sign “endure and survive” while Ellie repeats a comic book line: “To the edge of the cosmos and back, endure and survive.” Joel was persuaded by Ellie to stay outside for a while because there are things for them to do. Henry advises waiting till it is possibly darker, but it appears like Ellie and Sam are simply happy to have a place where they can temporarily act like regular children.
Joel explains to Henry that he shouldn’t have been angry with him for being a rat since he understands why he would do something like that to protect Sam as Sam and Ellie play. Joel is informed by Henry that his prior claim that he has never hurt anyone is untrue. Henry tells that there was a fantastic man whom he would follow anywhere since he was never self-centered and always forgiving. But when Sam was diagnosed with leukemia, FEDRA had the medication that may save him, and he realized he’d have to give them something significant: that magnificent guy, the head of the Kansas City resistance organization, and Katherine’s brother. Because of what he did, Henry claims that he is a bad person. However, Henry claims that Joel understands since, despite not being Ellie’s father, Henry can sense that Joel was someone’s father. Joel decides they must continue moving after this.
The Ideal Box
When Perry enters the room and reports that they have still not located Henry or “the man who killed Brian,” we discover Kathleen there. We find that Kathleen grew up in this room since Perry said Kathleen’s mother had told him where she was. Kathleen remembers how this room appeared so huge when she and her brother Michael were younger. When Kathleen was younger, she reportedly feared thunder, so Michael used to reassure her during storms that nothing could enter their chamber because it was a large wooden box. If they were in their ideal box together, they would be secure.
He was so attractive, but Kathleen claims that she isn’t and that he would find her actions abhorrent. Michael told her that the last time she saw him alive, in jail, and she knows that he would want her to forgive Henry and not harm him. He pleaded for pardon, and Kathleen wonders why pardoning when it results in death. Perry responds that although Michael was a terrific man, she changed things, and they support her choices.
Within the Suburbs
When we return to the tunnels, we discover that everyone has successfully crossed over to the other side without coming into contact with any infected. Henry adds they don’t know where they’re going after they’re safe, and Ellie mentions they’re headed to Wyoming as they stroll through the suburbs outside. Ellie quips that it always happens like way: he’s against something, then she asks a million more times until he warms up to the idea. Joel appears to be against the notion. They barely avoid a gunshot coming from a nearby house as Ellie speaks. Joel advises them to stay there while he sneaks around to the house and stops the man as they shelter behind a car. Joel asks Ellie if she still believes in the plan in response to her concern. Joel tries to approach the shooter while Ellie nods.
Joel draws the gunman’s attention as he approaches the house and just avoids being shot. Joel arrives at the residence and discovers an elderly man holding a sniper rifle. When it appears that the man will not slide over his rifle, Joel pleads, “Please don’t do it, please.” The man attempts to shoot Joel, but Joel stops him in his tracks and kills him. Joel notices Kathleen ordering the man to “keep them where they are, we’re almost there” on a nearby walkie-talkie as the man is lying on the ground.
Joel can be heard shouting “RUN!” as cars approach from down the road as Ellie, Henry, and Sam hide. Joel grabs the sniper rifle as the group flees and makes an effort to kill the approaching vehicles before they hit Ellie, Sam, and Henry. Joel kills the truck’s driver just before it hits Ellie, causing the truck to crash into a nearby house and explode. Kathleen yells out that Henry could save her men sometime by coming out while they are out on the road looking for him. Kathleen responds, “No deal,” to Henry’s offer to come out as long as he can let the kids leave. Kathleen responds that perhaps Sam was meant to die as Henry begs her to understand. Does Henry really believe that Sam is worth everything, as Kathleen claims that children pass away frequently? As Henry leaves to meet Kathleen, he instructs Ellie to grab Sam and get ready to flee.
When Kathleen eventually turns to face Henry, she says, “It finishes the way it ends,” grabs her gun, and prepares to shoot him. But in the distance, we can make out the neighboring truck explosion detonating, and we can soon hear the cries of the infected underneath. Years after being buried, a huge stream of infected emerge from the hole and attack Kathleen’s warriors. Joel shoots any infected that approach Ellie too closely. As a bloater (a large infection Ellie mentioned in the second episode, which Tess appeared to assume didn’t really exist) makes its way out of the hole, Ellie finds her way inside a truck. Before advancing directly on Perry, the bloater throws people around like rag dolls. Perry can only shoot so many times before the bloater effortlessly decapitates him.
A sick child enters the truck’s interior and makes her way toward Ellie by flipping and tossing around. She safely exits the vehicle and moves towards Henry and Sam, who is fending off infected underneath a vehicle. As Ellie approaches them, Joel covers her with the sniper, allowing her to eventually stab the infected and rescue Henry and Sam. But just as they are about to reach safety, Kathleen discovers them and kidnaps them. But when the four regroup and flee from the ruins of the former Kansas City suburb, the sick youngster lurking behind Kathleen comes up on her and attacks her.
It Finishes How It Finishes
The quartet makes it to safety at a hotel, and as Joel and Henry talk, Joel mentions that while they don’t know how they’re making it to Wyoming, Henry, and Sam are welcome to join them on the journey. Henry agrees, saying he thinks it would be nice for Sam to have a friend, and that he’ll tell Sam in the morning. New day, a new start. In the hopes that it may help, she cuts her hand and then massages her blood into Sam’s wound. Ellie promises her new friend that she will stay up with him when Sam asks her to, and the two of them hug.
Sam is found perched on the edge of the bed, gazing out the window, when Ellie awakens the following morning after falling asleep. Ellie approaches him and notices that he has turned. Sam and Ellie stumble into the area where Joel and Henry are dozing, and Ellie makes every effort to fend off Sam. Joel reaches for his gun, but Henry grabs it first and shoots Joel with a warning shot. Henry shoots Sam off of Ellie in the midst of a heated argument. Henry immediately understands what he has done—he has killed his younger brother, the one person he has been battling to keep safe. Henry is crying as he once more points the rifle at Joel while he keeps asking himself, “What did I do?” Joel and Ellie watch in astonishment as Henry grabs the gun, places it to his temple, and pulls the trigger.
Joel has dug two graves for the brothers outside the hotel, and Ellie places Sam’s Magic Slate on his grave. Ellie begins to walk after asking Joel which direction is west. Ellie writes “I’m sorry” on Sam’s slate, and when Joel notices it, she calls out to him from a distance, saying, “Let’s go,” as they leave the suffering and the friends they made in Kansas City behind. Watch ‘The Last of Us’ on HBO Max
