Living With B

If you haven’t watched Episode 4 yet and want to stay unspoiled, now’s your cue to tap out!

In Seattle, Ellie and Dina find themselves amid a brutal battle between the zealous Seraphites and a ruthless militia.

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Episode Summary & My Thoughts

Seattle! We’re here and ready to kick some W.L.F. butt! Well… Kind of.

Ellie and Dina make it to Seattle undetected. They scavenge, hang out, and sneak into a W.L.F. facility—but things go south. They’re caught, fight W.L.F. soldiers, get attacked by Infected, and eventually find their semi-permanent hideout.

This episode was a rough one for me. It felt stale and low-stakes, even though it clearly shouldn’t be. Despite being in enemy territory, I didn’t feel much tension. From the moment they arrived to when Ellie loudly slammed the tank lid, I expected something—anything—but nothing came of it.

They end up sheltering in a vinyl store, where Ellie finds a pristine guitar and starts playing. This scene drags. Dina enters, crying, and the emotional beat just didn’t land. It felt awkward and too long.

I wish they focused on scenes in the radio station or the railroad tunnel. Those areas felt longer and more intense in game. Here, they were rushed. Even the gruesome visuals—bodies hanging with their guts out—fell flat. Is it weird to call that lackluster? Because it was.

Ellie’s kill? Boring. The tunnel scene? Slight tension, but short-lived. It was also the only time we saw Infected. I liked the callback to Dina counting them by sound and the contrast in how Ellie/Dina vs. the W.L.F. handle them, but it still didn’t hit the same.

Then comes the reveal: Ellie is immune. And it just… happens. No true explanation, no scars. She just says, “I’m immune. Keep your gun pointed at me and I’ll wake up the same,” and goes to sleep. It felt off. Maybe I was expecting them to explore the concept of spores, or maybe I was expecting something more in-character.

And then: Dina’s pregnant. Woo hoo, but also boo. I hated the reveal. In the game, there’s emotional depth—Dina admits she’s known and didn’t want to be a burden. Ellie snaps, “Well, you’re a burden now.” Brutal, but real. In the show, we get puppy-dog eyes and “I’m going to be a dad.” Girl, are you forgetting how dangerous this is?

That leads to the sex scene. I don’t get it. It felt weird, forced, and dragged out. Their relationship dominates the episode, when the focus should be on the revenge plot or the danger they’re in. Build the romance through that, not around it. Denver did make the comment here that I’m going to be a grumpy old lady, so maybe I’m just a prude, but I still stand on this point.

The best part? Isaac. He’s terrifying, complex, and oddly funny. His bit about finally getting a fancy Mauviel saucepan thanks to the apocalypse was funny—and yeah, those pans are expensive. He was a highlight.

Ellie, on the other hand, feels immature. She’s missing the grit, anger, and honesty of in-game Ellie. Denver made a good point—they maybe should’ve waited a few years to let Ramsey grow into the role. Right now, she feels like a toned-down version of Ellie.

That said, the set design? Stunning. The visuals are breathtaking, and the production team deserves serious praise. No matter how much I disliked this episode, it’s still a beautiful show.

Final Thoughts

This episode felt rushed, only focusing on the bustling romantic relationship of Ellie and Dina. I wish they’d focus more on the danger they’re in and build the relationship during it rather than revolving the whole season around it. I want the flashbacks. I miss Joel.

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