Review: The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 4 — “Bitter Roots” Shows the Cost of Survival

Episode 4 of The Last of Us Season 2, titled “Bitter Roots,” is a haunting, emotionally raw chapter that leans into grief, tension, and the fragile hope that keeps Ellie moving forward.

With Joel’s death still casting a heavy shadow, the show pivots fully into Ellie and Dina’s evolving relationship. Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced (as Dina) carry the episode with a mix of tender chemistry and hardened resolve. Their dynamic feels lived-in—equal parts comfort and conflict—as they navigate both their trauma and the increasing threats around them.

The pacing is deliberately slow, focusing on quiet conversations, lost moments of peace, and the creeping paranoia that danger is never far behind. That danger arrives in the form of a brutal confrontation with a new faction hunting Ellie—foreshadowing darker paths ahead and the emotional toll vengeance is beginning to take on her.

The episode’s strength lies in its restraint. It doesn’t rely on spectacle, but on scars—emotional and physical—and what they reveal. “Bitter Roots” is less about survival and more about why they’re still fighting to live, even when the world offers little reason to.

Rating: 8/10 — A mournful, beautifully acted episode that deepens Ellie’s emotional arc while setting the stage for a storm to come.