Misplaced Pages

Kin (The Last of Us)

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

6th episode of the 1st season of The Last of Us
"Kin"
The Last of Us episode
Standing in a bedroom at night, Ellie looks upset at Joel.Ellie confronts Joel about his decision to part ways. Crafted to be almost identical to the video game, the scene was praised for Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal's performances.
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 6
Directed byJasmila Žbanić
Written byCraig Mazin
Featured music
Cinematography byChristine A. Maier
Editing by
  • Timothy A. Good
  • Emily Mendez
Original air dateFebruary 19, 2023 (2023-02-19)
Running time58 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Endure and Survive" 		Next →
"Left Behind"
The Last of Us season 1
List of episodes

"Kin" is the sixth episode of the first season of the American post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us. The episode was written by series co-creator Craig Mazin and directed by Jasmila Žbanić. It aired on HBO on February 19, 2023. In the episode, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) travel to Jackson, Wyoming, where they find Joel's brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and his wife Maria (Rutina Wesley).

The episode was filmed in November and December 2021. Žbanić was drawn to the story as she felt the functioning society of Jackson reflected her experiences growing up in Sarajevo. The town of Canmore, Alberta, was used to replicate Jackson; local businesses were transformed and buildings were constructed in the town, including a 30-foot-tall (9.1 m) log wall on a major street. The episode received positive reviews, with praise for its writing, direction, cinematography, and performances of Pascal, Ramsey, and Luna. It was watched by 7.8 million viewers on its first day. Pascal was nominated for Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards for his performance in the episode.

Plot

Three months after watching Henry kill himself, Joel and Ellie make it to Wyoming. They are told their whereabouts by Florence and her husband Marlon, who warn them to avoid the dangers further west. Learning his brother Tommy may be dead, Joel has a panic attack.

Traveling further west, Joel and Ellie are surrounded by a group led by Maria, who takes them to a safe community in Jackson, Wyoming. Joel is reunited with Tommy. He and Ellie are provided food, clean clothing, and a house. Maria cuts Ellie's hair and warns her to be cautious of trusting others, citing Joel's dangerous past; Ellie rebuts, citing Tommy's. Ellie learns of Joel's daughter, Sarah, who died twenty years prior. Joel tries to convince Tommy to join him and Ellie to Colorado; Tommy declines as Maria is pregnant. While having another panic attack, Joel sees a girl reminding him of Sarah.

Later on, Joel confides in Tommy about Ellie's immunity and his declining health and mental state, citing dreams he cannot remember but recalls feeling loss. Joel asks Tommy to take Ellie to the Fireflies as he fears he cannot keep her safe; he agrees to take her the following morning. Ellie overhears them. Later, she acknowledges Joel's fears regarding his daughter's death and admits she will only be more frightened by his absence. Joel says she is not his daughter, nor he her father, and states they will part ways. He retires to his bedroom and thinks of Sarah.

In the morning, Joel changes his mind, and he and Ellie leave Jackson on horseback. They arrive at the University of Eastern Colorado in five days, where they find the Fireflies have vacated; a map points towards St. Mary's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Joel and Ellie attempt to escape after seeing a group of raiders. One of the men attacks Joel; Joel kills him but is stabbed. Joel and Ellie escape the pursuing men. Afterward, Joel collapses from the horse, and Ellie begs him to survive, stating she cannot continue without him.

Production

Conception and writing

A 51 year-old man with a grey beard smiling to the left of the camera.A 35-year-old woman with brown and blonde hair and glasses smiling at the camera."Kin" was written by series co-creator Craig Mazin (left) and directed by Jasmila Žbanić (right).

"Kin" was written by The Last of Us series co-creator Craig Mazin and directed by Jasmila Žbanić; it was Žbanić's first experience in directing television. She was announced as one of the show's directors in April 2021. Žbanić was offered to direct the previous two episodes—"Please Hold to My Hand" and "Endure and Survive", which take place in war-torn Kansas City, Missouri—as she had lived through the Siege of Sarajevo. However, she was more interested in "Kin" as it demonstrated a functioning society; she felt she had survived in Sarajevo due to solidarity, which she wanted to reflect in Jackson. Žbanić attempted to play the game before watching YouTube videos instead, particularly of the sequences featured in "Kin". She found players told her they wanted "emotions and atmosphere" in the show, which she sought to include.

Mazin and co-creator Neil Druckmann, who wrote and co-directed the video game on which the series is based, wanted the beginning of "Kin" to provide levity after the traumatic ending of the previous episode, as well as demonstrate the development in Joel and Ellie's relationship. Joel's mention of feeling as though he has lost something in his sleep was a contribution by Pedro Pascal, who portrays the character. Mazin wanted Joel and Ellie's argument to be almost identical to the game's version, including the blocking and set design, due to its effectiveness and the impact it had on him; he considered it the game's most famous scene. Joel's injury was altered from the game—in which he is impaled by rebar after falling from a second-story balcony—as the series is more grounded in its action and impacts.

Jackson was not shown in the first game; Tommy and Maria's scenes in the first game took place at the dam near Jackson as the team lacked the time and budget to add the town. Jackson became the starting location for The Last of Us Part II (2020). For the show, Mazin and Druckmann felt moving the scenes inside the town made them more interesting. Ellie's interest in space was introduced in Part II. Mazin felt the television series provided the opportunity to reference elements of the sequel earlier. Joel's interest in living on a sheep ranch was similarly a reference to Part II. The girl staring at Ellie is a reference to Part II's Dina.

A song from the game's score—"All Gone" by Gustavo Santaolalla—is used in the episode to remind viewers of Sarah's death. The credits use the song "Never Let Me Down Again", sung by Mazin's daughter Jessica; the original version by Depeche Mode was used in the first episode. Mazin wanted the song to use a female voice to echo Ellie. He appreciated the moment as it involved Jessica, his real daughter, and Ellie's actor Bella Ramsey, who he considered like an adopted daughter. Mazin included the film The Goodbye Girl (1977), which he had watched growing up, as it told the story of a child gaining a father figure. He felt the inclusion of art demonstrated the town's functionality.

Casting and characters

Žbanić revealed the casting of Graham Greene, Elaine Miles, and Rutina Wesley on December 9, 2021. Greene and Miles were confirmed to be playing original characters Marlon and Florence in August 2022. Mazin felt, like other pairings in the show, they echoed parts of Joel and Ellie's relationship. Wesley's role as Maria was announced on January 9, 2023. She researched the game to "capture the essence" of Maria but wanted to avoid replicating it; she found it "terrifying" to play a pre-established character but wanted to add her "energy on it". She appreciated Maria's calmness as a leader and observed she was a person who only smiles with her eyes; she thought Maria naturally entered a leadership role due to her history as an assistant district attorney. Wesley felt Maria gravitated towards Ellie in a motherly manner without realizing, due in part to her pregnancy. Gabriel Luna felt Tommy was drawn towards Maria due to "her mercy and her strength". He thought Tommy felt guilty for moving on from Sarah's death, whereas Joel has not.

Filming

A tall wooden gate covered in snow, with a traffic controller in the midground and a crane with crew members in the background.A university building with people, equipment, and a vehicle in the foreground.Filming took place in Canmore (left) and at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (right) in November 2021.

Christine A. Maier worked as cinematographer for the episode. Preparations took place in Canmore, Alberta—the stand-in for Jackson—from November 1–16, 2021, followed by production from November 15–20, with Pascal, Ramsey, and Luna present on set; approximately 300 extras were used, as well as horses. Most businesses in the town signed agreements regarding the show's impact, with the production paying between CA$1,000 and CA$1,500 per day.

Production designer John Paino wanted Jackson to show the "natural beauty" of the Midwest to contrast with the "concrete" of the previous locations. His team built greenhouses and stables on empty parking lots, and added details to the existing buildings in Canmore. The 30-foot-tall (9.1 m) log wall was built on a major street in the town; it needed to be opened to allow traffic to pass. Joel and Tommy's conversation at a bar was filmed in the Wainwright Hotel in Heritage Park Historical Village, which Paino felt "fit the Western rustic thing".

In late November, filming occurred at Mount Royal University and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), recreating the fictional University of Eastern Colorado. Snow was removed at SAIT and foliage added to both locations to produce an autumnal setting. Žbanić completed production on December 9.

Reception

Broadcast and ratings

The episode aired on HBO on February 19, 2023. The episode had 7.8 million viewers in the United States on its first night, including linear viewers and streams on HBO Max. On linear television, it had 841,000 viewers, with a 0.28 ratings share. On HBO Max, it was streamed for approximately 759.6 million minutes from February 20 to 26. Viewers noticed two shots in which production members were briefly visible; they were digitally erased from the episode several days later.

Critical response

Pedro Pascal smilingBella Ramsey talkingGabriel Luna smilingThe performances of Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, and Gabriel Luna (L–R) were praised by critics, earning Pascal an Emmy nomination for Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, "Kin" has an approval rating of 100 percent based on 31 reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10. The website's critical consensus called the episode "a relatively gentle installment that spotlights some of Pedro Pascal's most arresting work yet". IndieWire's Steve Greene felt Jackson's presentation benefited from Žbanić's direction; The A.V. Club's David Cote praised her control of the episode's varying tones and wrote "Kin" was "probably the most visually gorgeous episode so far". IGN's Simon Cardy favorably compared the cinematography to classic Western films like The Searchers (1956) and True Grit (1969).

Den of Geek's Bernard Boo called Pascal and Ramsey's performances "possibly the best ... of their respective careers". Pascal was nominated for Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards for his performance. TVLine named him the Performer of the Week, citing his emotions and physicality; Push Square's Aaron Bayne opined Pascal balanced "stoic masculinity with tender vulnerability", and The A.V. Club's Cote lauded his monologue to Tommy. Joel's panic attack became an Internet meme about anxiety and fear. io9's Germain Lussier felt Ramsey's performance shone in Ellie and Joel's confrontation, and IGN's Cardy praised their ability to switch between emotion and comedy. Critics enjoyed Pascal and Luna's chemistry, and Push Square's Bayne considered Luna's performance "a wonderful counter to Joel", citing the familial bond and underlying tension. The Washington Post's Gene Park praised Wesley, Greene, and Miles; Polygon's Pete Volk considered the latter two the standout and wanted more.

Critics lauded Mazin's writing. io9's Lussier found the episode's focus on survival encapsulated the best qualities of the series. Total Film's Bradley Russell praised the script's use of humor and interactions between Joel and Tommy, and, while resolved too neatly, considered Joel and Ellie's confrontation among the show's best moments to date. The A.V. Club's Cote similarly commended Mazin's humor, emotions, and economic use of dialogue. The Verge's Alex Cranz appreciated the improved pacing by omitting the game's action sequences. The Escapist's Darren Mooney and Inverse's Dais Johnston applauded the recognition of communism in Jackson as a refreshing subversion of post-apocalyptic stories. Several critics admired the inclusion of a menstrual cup, noting feminine hygiene is often unacknowledged in the genre. IGN's Cardy and Push Square's Bayne found the ending slightly rushed despite the high quality elsewhere.

Notes

  1. As depicted in "When You're Lost in the Darkness"

References

  1. ^ Baker, Troy; Mazin, Craig; Druckmann, Neil (February 19, 2023). "Episode 6". HBO's The Last of Us Podcast (Podcast). HBO. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  2. ^ Russell, Bradley (February 20, 2023). "The Last of Us episode 6 review: "Features one of the show's best and most affecting moments"". Total Film. Future plc. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  3. Khan, Rabab (February 20, 2023). "The Last Of Us Episode 6 Review". Game Rant. Valnet. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Bento, Manuel São (January 15, 2023). "The Last of Us Season 1 Spoiler-Free Review". That Shelf. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  5. ^ "El arma secreta de 'The Last of Us' está en sus directores" [The secret weapon of 'The Last of Us' is in its directors]. Cinemanía (in Spanish). January 19, 2023. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  6. ^ Moreau, Jordan (February 19, 2023). "'The Last of Us' Director on That Major 'Part II' Connection, Pedro Pascal's Tearful Reunion and the Below-Freezing Canada Set". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  7. Petski, Denise (April 23, 2021). "'The Last Of Us': Jasmila Žbanić & Ali Abbasi To Direct HBO Series Based On Video Game". Deadline. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  8. The Last of Us | Inside the Episode - 6. HBO Max. February 19, 2023. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  9. ^ Žbanić, Jasmila (December 9, 2021). "It was a great pleasure to work on the series The Last of Us". Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2021 – via Instagram.
  10. Bailey, Kat (August 10, 2022). "Exclusive: HBO's The Last of Us Casts Henry and Sam, But There Are Some Major Differences". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  11. Romano, Nick (January 9, 2023). "True Blood star Rutina Wesley's The Last of Us role confirmed in exclusive photo". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  12. ^ Rosenstock, Ben (February 19, 2023). "The Last of Us's Rutina Wesley found a "Fierce Stillness" in Maria". Vulture. Vox Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  13. ^ Romano, Nick (February 19, 2023). "Rutina Wesley wanted to play Maria in The Last of Us her way: 'I was up for the challenge'". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  14. ^ Vick, Megan (February 19, 2023). "The Last of Us' Gabriel Luna Takes Us Inside Joel and Tommy's Tense Reunion". TV Guide. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  15. ^ Cryer, Hirun (November 3, 2021). "The Last of Us TV show leak reveals how HBO will bring a major location to life". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  16. ^ McLean, Elle (November 25, 2021). "Calgary schools get post-apocalyptic makeover for filming of "The Last of Us" (PHOTOS)". Daily Hive. Buzz Connected Media Inc. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  17. ^ "The Last of Us Filming in Canmore". Town of Canmore. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  18. Byrd, Matthew (November 19, 2021). "The Last of Us HBO Series Set Photos Suggest Major Character Death". Den of Geek. DoG Tech LLC. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  19. Russell, Bradley (November 19, 2021). "The Last of Us series set leak shows Joel, Ellie, and Tommy in one of the game's major locations". GamesRadar+. Future plc. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  20. ^ Colgan, Greg (November 4, 2021). "HBO show filming to begin in downtown Canmore". RMO Today. Great West Media. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  21. Barker, Sammy (November 16, 2021). "Horses Trot onto the Set of The Last of Us' TV Show". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  22. ^ Lee, Ashley (February 19, 2023). "How 'The Last of Us' created Jackson, a 'miracle' settlement of the Old West". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  23. Zemler, Emily (March 13, 2023). "On Location: 'The Last of Us' Follows Joel and Ellie Across an Apocalyptic America That's Actually Canada". Condé Nast Traveler. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  24. Byrd, Matthew (November 24, 2021). "The Last of Us HBO Series Set Photos Show Joel and Ellie at a Firefly Base". Den of Geek. DoG Tech LLC. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  25. Sirani, Jordan (January 17, 2023). "How to Watch The Last of Us: Episode Release Schedule and Cast". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  26. Hailu, Selome (March 13, 2023). "'The Last of Us' Season 1 Finale Scores 8.2 Million Viewers, Reaching Series High Despite Oscars Competition". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  27. Salem, Mitch (February 22, 2023). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 2.19.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  28. Campione, Katie (March 23, 2023). "'Outer Banks' Leads Nielsen U.S. Streaming Chart After Season 3 Debut, 'The Last Of Us' Dominates Acquired Programming With Episode 7". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  29. Bisset, Jennifer (February 23, 2023). "'The Last of Us' Episode 6 Editing Error Spotted By Viewers". CNET. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  30. Russell, Bradley (February 23, 2023). "The Last of Us episode 6 has *another* mistake – involving horses, hands, and Ellie". Total Film. Future plc. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  31. Liang, Lu-Hai (February 26, 2023). "HBO Quietly Fixes The Stray Crew Members In The Last Of Us Episode 6". TheGamer. Valnet. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  32. ^ Lussier, Germain (February 19, 2023). "Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey Shine in a Super Emotional Last of Us". io9. G/O Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  33. ^ Chang, Tom (February 19, 2023). "The Last of Us Season 1 Episode 6 "Kin" Review: Joel's Uneasy Reunion". Bleeding Cool. Avatar Press. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  34. ^ Richmond, Ray; Beachum, Chris (July 26, 2023). "Pedro Pascal ('The Last of Us'): Emmys 2023 episode submission revealed". GoldDerby. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  35. "The Last of Us: Season 1, Episode 6". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  36. Greene, Steve (February 19, 2023). "'The Last of Us' Episode 6 'Kin' Gives the Show Something Else to Fight For". IndieWire. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  37. ^ Cote, David (February 19, 223). "Out West, The Last Of Us delivers a gut punch". The A.V. Club. G/O Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  38. ^ Cardy, Simon (February 19, 2023). "The Last of Us: Episode 6 Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  39. ^ Boo, Bernard (February 19, 2023). "The Last of Us Episode 6 Review: Something's Wrong With Joel". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  40. "Performer of the Week: Pedro Pascal". TVLine. Penske Media Corporation. February 25, 2023. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  41. ^ Bayne, Aaron (February 20, 2023). "TV Show Review: The Last of Us (HBO) Episode 6 - Brothers Bond as Pace Quickens". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  42. Jaworski, Michelle (February 23, 2024). "Joel's panic attacks in 'The Last of Us' spark a new meme format". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  43. Robertson, Joshua (February 23, 2023). "Joel's Panic Attack In The Last Of Us Has Already Been Memed". TheGamer. Valnet. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  44. Jackson, Claire (February 22, 2023). "Internet Says 'Same' After Seeing Joel In The Last Of Us Show Have Panic Attacks". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  45. Park, Gene (February 19, 2023). "'The Last of Us' recap: Meet the real Joel Miller". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  46. Volk, Pete (February 19, 2023). "I would watch an entire show about The Last of Us' grumpy old couple". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  47. Sepinwall, Alan (February 19, 2023). "'The Last of Us' Episode 6: Pedro Pascal's Powerhouse Performance". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  48. Cranz, Alex (February 20, 2023). "HBO's The Last of Us is skipping to the cut scenes, and it's for the best". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  49. Mooney, Darren (February 19, 2023). "In 'Kin,' The Last of Us Reaches the End of the West". The Escapist. Gamurs. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  50. Johnston, Dais (February 20, 2023). "'Last of Us' Episode 6 Just Subverted a Common Post-Apocalyptic Trope". Inverse. Bustle Digital Group. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  51. Carpenter, Nicole (February 19, 2023). "The Last of Us apocalypse's most underrated tool? A menstrual cup". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  52. VanArendonk, Kathryn (February 19, 2023). "Give It Up for the Last of Us Menstrual Cup". Vulture. Vox Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  53. Stewart, Sara (February 20, 2023). "'The Last of Us' Reflects Prepper Reality in Bringing DivaCups to Dystopia". Los Angeles. Hour Media Group. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.

External links

The Last of Us
Video games
The Last of Us
The Last of Us Part II
Television series
Season 1
Other media
Characters
Category
Categories: