Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Last of Us season 2, episode 5.
The Last of Us season 2, episode 5, titled “Feel Her Love,” brilliantly adapts one of Ellie’s most challenging scenes from the iconic video game into live-action, showcasing Bella Ramsey‘s exceptional performance. Despite facing some unjust criticism regarding their casting, Ramsey has emerged as a standout this season. Just as they did in season 1—with unforgettable moments like the kiss with Riley, battling David, and compelling Joel to promise he’s truthful—Ramsey masterfully embodies the emotional depth of Ashley Johnson‘s portrayal in the game, adding their individual flair while retaining the original’s impactful essence.
Throughout this season, Ramsey has adeptly evoked a spectrum of emotions in pivotal scenes. The heart-wrenching moment of Ellie mourning over Joel‘s lifeless body translates just as powerfully on screen as it did in the game, and her relationship with Dina remains both intoxicating and heartwarming in this new adaptation. In The Last of Us season 2, episode 5, Ramsey skillfully navigates one of Ellie’s darkest and most complex scenes from the game, illustrating the moment when the character reveals her terrifying potential, and the execution is nothing short of spectacular.
Bella Ramsey Perfectly Captures Ellie’s Disturbing Torture Scene In The Last Of Us Season 2
Torturing Nora Marks A Significant Turning Point In Ellie’s Journey
The Last of Us season 2, episode 5, diverges from the game in several significant aspects. Unlike the original storyline, Dina accompanies Ellie on her perilous mission to the hospital instead of remaining at the theater. Additionally, Jesse rescues Ellie from a group of stalkers rather than a W.L.F. squad, and it is Dina who suffers an injury from the Seraphites, not Ellie. However, once Ellie stealthily separates from her companions to infiltrate the hospital, the narrative aligns closely with the game. Ellie confronts Nora at gunpoint, where Nora taunts her regarding Joel’s death, leading to a tense standoff in a dimly lit, spore-filled corridor.
In a striking parallel, Ellie strikes Nora on the leg, mirroring how Abby attacked Joel with a golf club.
As Nora succumbs to a violent coughing fit, Ellie resorts to beating her with a lead pipe, demanding information about Abby‘s whereabouts. While the TV adaptation cannot replicate the raw shock of the game—where players physically press a button to repeatedly strike Nora—there’s a palpable tension that remains. In this regard, I was genuinely impressed by how closely the show managed to capture that visceral shock, largely attributed to Ramsey’s outstanding performance.
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Ramsey delivers a chillingly cold performance as Nora desperately pleads for her life. In a tense exchange, Nora mentions that the basement is filled with spores, implying that Ellie has doomed them both by dragging her there. However, Ellie coldly retorts, “Did I?” Nora then accuses Ellie of being unaware that Joel killed all the Fireflies, but Ellie’s response is startlingly blunt: “I know. I don’t care.” This interaction illustrates her blatant lack of empathy; she embodies pure rage and hatred, a stark contrast to Ramsey’s typically bubbly persona.
Ramsey’s Portrayal of Ellie Is Truly Terrifying, Rivalling Her Video Game Counterpart For The First Time
Ellie Displays Callousness & Cold-Blooded Determination
Image via Max
The game’s emotional weight derives from Ellie’s genuinely frightening transformation. Players are struck by the shocking brutality she unleashes upon Nora, mercilessly attacking her with the pipe while ignoring her anguished pleas. In the television adaptation, Ramsey perfectly embodies this terrifying aspect of Ellie. There’s a wild intensity in her gaze that hauntingly conveys Ellie’s cold-heartedness at this pivotal moment. Her singular focus on revenge comes at the cost of losing her humanity.
Anyone who still doubts Ramsey’s acting abilities or suitability for the role of Ellie hasn’t been paying attention.
Throughout The Last of Us, Ramsey has delivered numerous powerful performances, including the shock and detachment after killing David, the mistrust evident after Joel swore he was honest, and the tender glances exchanged with Riley and later Dina. Now, they have provided a breathtaking interpretation of this iconic torture scene. Anyone who still questions Ramsey’s acting prowess or their suitability for the role of Ellie has clearly not been watching closely.
