The Last of Us returned this week with “Day One,” a 53-minute gut-punch of an episode that packed in infected terror, WLF tension, Seraphite fear, tender romance—and, sadly, internet hate. If you’re keeping count, that’s basically the full bingo card of what makes the series both stunning and deeply polarizing.
Viewers were gifted an episode that fans of the original Part II game might’ve been waiting for. Not because it ticked every box perfectly, but because it felt right. From Isaac’s steely glare to Ellie and Dina’s quiet confession in the shelter, this one hit different.
Faithfulness to the Game Hits Its Peak
This episode was dripping with references and atmosphere straight out of The Last of Us Part II. No detail felt out of place.
Isaac’s long-anticipated debut was quiet but heavy. He didn’t need to yell to convey control. His presence alone said: this is a man you don’t cross. The WLF’s might and menace became clear almost instantly.
Then there was that chilling TV station sequence. Ellie and Dina uncovering the aftermath of a Seraphite ambush? It was shot-for-shot unsettling. The dangling bodies, the eerie quiet—perfectly paced.
Even the subway scene hit like a freight train. Infected chaos met emotional vulnerability in a way that only this show seems to pull off.
And yet, it wasn’t just action. There was softness.
Ellie and Dina’s Relationship Finds Its Moment
It’s funny—amid clickers and cults, a single acoustic guitar can silence it all. That Take on Me scene? Gorgeous. No wonder people online are still talking about it.
Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced didn’t just act it—they lived it. It was sweet. It was awkward. It was human. There was a beat of silence after Ellie sang that let the moment breathe in a way that felt almost too real.
Then came the intimacy.
One sentence.
One realization.
Everything changed.
Dina’s confession—about her mom telling her she liked boys—landed like a stone. There was pain there. And truth. And love.
Some viewers had been unsure about Dina’s hesitance in earlier episodes. But this moment? It clicked. She wasn’t unsure of Ellie. She was scared of herself. And she finally stopped running.
Not Everyone’s Applauding
But here’s the thing: not everyone’s here for it. And we’re not talking fair critique.
The episode is being review-bombed.
At time of writing, 16.1% of IMDb user reviewers gave it a 1/10. That’s… bleak. Especially for an episode that’s mostly been praised by critics and fans alike.
Let’s break down the current user score trends:
| Score | % of Votes |
|---|---|
| 10 | 24.1% |
| 8 | 17.2% |
| 1 | 16.1% |
One reviewer sneered, “I’m immune. I’m pregnant. They’re so turned on that they start having sex. Who wrote this garbage?” Another moaned about “more and more gay scenes.”
Can we not?
Review Bombing Isn’t New—But It Still Hurts
If you’ve followed TV lately, this isn’t surprising. Episodes that feature queer love stories—especially ones involving women—get tanked online at an alarming rate.
Reddit user glamourbuss pointed it out plainly:
“Literally all four episodes with a queer kiss have been review bombed like this… These IMDb scores mean nothing other than highlighting how homophobic this world still is.”
It’s not just this show, either. Look at The Witcher, She-Ra, even Heartstopper. Queer joy gets punished, not questioned.
It’s exhausting.
And yet, the cast and crew keep going. They tell these stories anyway. That says a lot.
The Internet Is Loud, But Not Always Right
Thankfully, not all the noise has been negative.
Fans have rallied online, flooding Reddit and Twitter with praise for the performances, writing, and visual callbacks to the game. Many have noted how faithfully the episode adapted key beats from the source material, and how much heart it poured into small moments.
There’s also been some fair critique—like concerns about how the show’s handling Abby. Viewers say the mystery around her has been toned down compared to the game. And others want Ellie’s rage to finally erupt.
Valid? Yes. But that’s not the same as hate.
The people giving this episode a 1/10? They’re not mad about plot. They’re mad two women kissed on screen and it mattered.
More to Come, More to Feel
This wasn’t just another filler episode. It moved everything forward. The plot. The threats. The love story.
And with more weeks ahead, we’re only just scratching the surface of what’s to come—Ellie’s internal war, Dina’s shifting faith, and yes, Abby’s collision course with fate.
One sentence from Dina sticks with me:
“I sat up all night thinking I’d lost my whole future with you.”
That’s what this episode did. Reminded us why any of this matters.
