Is Ellie Losing Her Humanity—or Just Badly Written? | The Last of Us Recap | PNWS Ep. 47

05/13/25 • 71 min

In this week’s episode of The Last of Us Season 2, Prof Noctis and Evan tackle one of the most debated questions of the series so far: Does Ellie feel flat this season? Or is something deeper going on under the surface?

We break down Episode 5, Feel Her Love, from its cold open to the brutal basement finale—covering:

Why Ellie’s stoic performance may be intentional
The introduction of spores and what they say about immunity as power
Dina’s growing presence and what it means for Ellie’s future
A gut-wrenching new revenge narrative
The ethical weight of torture in storytelling
Why fans feel conflicted—and what that reveals about us
All that, plus theological depth, gameplay comparisons, and yes... the red lights.

🎮 Subscribe for more weekly breakdowns as we continue our Last of Us Lecture Series
🧠 Because gaming should make you think and feel.

#TheLastOfUs #TLOU2 #GamingAnalysis #ProfNoctis #FeelHerLove

https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/torture/

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New episodes of the ProfNoctis Weekly Show release every Monday! / @profnoctis
Check out my Livestream! / profnoctis
/ profnoctis
/ @profnoctis

Join Prof's Classroom discussions: / discord

Also connect with us on BlueSky now!
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CLASS SUPPLIES and EXTRA CREDIT
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Playstation 5 Console: https://amzn.to/46GNBb6

The Last of Us: Part 1 for PS5: https://amzn.to/4hf5YIK

The Last of Us: Part 2 for PS5: https://amzn.to/40IJjxj

The Last of Us and Philosophy by Charles Joshua Horn: https://amzn.to/4hDKvsF

Psychology and The Last of Us by Anthony Bean: https://amzn.to/4hDOm9i
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We break down Episode 5, Feel Her Love, from its cold open to the brutal basement finale—covering:

🎮 Subscribe for more weekly breakdowns as we continue our Last of Us Lecture Series
🧠 Because gaming should make you think and feel.

#TheLastOfUs #TLOU2 #GamingAnalysis #ProfNoctis #FeelHerLove

https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/torture/

-------------------------------------------------
New episodes of the ProfNoctis Weekly Show release every Monday! / @profnoctis
Check out my Livestream! / profnoctis
/ profnoctis
/ @profnoctis

Join Prof's Classroom discussions: / discord

Also connect with us on BlueSky now!
Wade/Prof - https://bsky.app/profile/profnoctis.b...
Evan - https://bsky.app/profile/whiskerss.bs...

______________________________

CLASS SUPPLIES and EXTRA CREDIT
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Playstation 5 Console: https://amzn.to/46GNBb6

The Last of Us: Part 1 for PS5: https://amzn.to/4hf5YIK

The Last of Us: Part 2 for PS5: https://amzn.to/40IJjxj

The Last of Us and Philosophy by Charles Joshua Horn: https://amzn.to/4hDKvsF

Psychology and The Last of Us by Anthony Bean: https://amzn.to/4hDOm9i
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Previous Episode

The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 4 Breakdown: Trust, Turnstiles, and That Guitar Scene | PNWS Ep. 46

What does it mean to trust someone in a world falling apart?

Join Prof Noctis and Evan as they dive deep into Episode 4 of The Last of Us Season 2 — “Day One.” From Isaac’s cold open and the introduction of the Scars to Ellie and Dina’s rooftop moment, we explore the layered themes of grief, intimacy, loyalty, and the human cost of survival.

🔍 Topics this episode:

Isaac’s explosive debut and Jeffrey Wright’s chilling performance

Dina and Ellie’s long-awaited emotional (and physical) connection

That unforgettable guitar scene: “Take On Me” reimagined

Religious zeal, rebellion, and the morality of war

Turnstiles, trust, and terrible fears (spaghetti anyone?)

What The Last of Us teaches us about second thoughts and second chances

🎙️ Thoughtful, funny, and heartfelt — this one’s packed with insight and a few terrible puns. Stick around to hear how Wade’s family is coping with Joel’s fate, why kale trivia might save your life, and whether or not Josh Peck is in this episode (?!).

📌 Like, comment, and subscribe for more recaps, lecture plays, and video game storytelling analysis every week.

#TheLastOfUs #TLOU2 #GamingLectureSeries #ProfNoctis #HBO
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New episodes of the ProfNoctis Weekly Show release every Monday! / @profnoctis
Check out my Livestream! / profnoctis
/ profnoctis
/ profnoctis
/ profnoctis
Join Prof's Classroom discussions: / discord

Also connect with us on BlueSky now!
Wade/Prof - https://bsky.app/profile/profnoctis.b...
Evan - https://bsky.app/profile/whiskerss.bs...

______________________________

CLASS SUPPLIES and EXTRA CREDIT
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Playstation 5 Console: https://amzn.to/46GNBb6

The Last of Us: Part 1 for PS5: https://amzn.to/4hf5YIK

The Last of Us: Part 2 for PS5: https://amzn.to/40IJjxj

The Last of Us and Philosophy by Charles Joshua Horn: https://amzn.to/4hDKvsF

Psychology and The Last of Us by Anthony Bean: https://amzn.to/4hDOm9i
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Next Episode

Did Neil Druckmann Just Give Us the Best TLOU Episode Ever? | Episode 6 Recap | PNWS Ep. 48

Is this the best episode of the entire series? Wade (aka ProfNoctis) and Evan break down everything from The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6 — an emotional, beautifully written journey through Joel and Ellie's shared memories. From the astronaut scene to the slow-burning truth behind their fallout, this episode delivers some of the most poignant moments in the show’s history.

We explore:

The emotional payoff and story structure

Joel’s flashbacks and what they reveal about legacy, love, and loss

The evolution of Ellie’s character and Bella Ramsey’s performance

Themes of generational growth, reconciliation, and the power of presence

How Future Days reframes the entire season

Directed by Neil Druckmann himself, this might just be the high point of the series.

New videos every week.
Subscribe for more recaps, game playthroughs, and deep dives into the games and themes behind The Last of Us.

-------------------------------------------------
New episodes of the ProfNoctis Weekly Show release every Monday! / @profnoctis
Check out my Livestream! / profnoctis
/ profnoctis
/ profnoctis
/ profnoctis
Join Prof's Classroom discussions: / discord

Also connect with us on BlueSky now!
Wade/Prof - https://bsky.app/profile/profnoctis.b...
Evan - https://bsky.app/profile/whiskerss.bs...

______________________________

CLASS SUPPLIES and EXTRA CREDIT
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Playstation 5 Console: https://amzn.to/46GNBb6

The Last of Us: Part 1 for PS5: https://amzn.to/4hf5YIK

The Last of Us: Part 2 for PS5: https://amzn.to/40IJjxj

The Last of Us and Philosophy by Charles Joshua Horn: https://amzn.to/4hDKvsF

Psychology and The Last of Us by Anthony Bean: https://amzn.to/4hDOm9i
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