Why We Love Melanie Lynskey in ‘The Last of Us’
The article contains spoilers for The Last of Us.
I vividly remember the moment in the game when Joel and Ellie are in Pittsburgh and encounter Hunters, a group of violent human survivors. My wife and I played The Last of Us together—she was much better at quick moments, such as killing Clickers, while I loved the story mode, including walking, exploring, and finding supplies. No matter how you play, we can all agree that the obstacle in the game where you, as Joel, must kill the Hunters before they kill you is, to put it mildly, nerve-racking. The creators of HBO’s series adaptation decided to play further on these fear and test human weaknesses, and selfishness by giving us a completely new character, Kathleen, the group leader, wonderfully portrayed by Melanie Lynskey.
“Please Hold to My Hand,” episode 4 of The Last of Us directed by Jeremy Webb, undeniably caused a shift in the audience and die-hard fans of the game franchise. Some opposed expanding what is known as a short albeit stressful obstacle. Some criticized Kathleen’s seemingly soft personality. But I’m here to tell you that beneath her stoic demeanor hides a smart, complex, and dangerous woman seeking vengeance for what was done to her, simultaneously overthrowing FEDRA and seizing control of Kansas City. I’d even go so far as to say she’s even more dangerous, hiding behind a motherly smile, perhaps acting inconspicuously but with enough venom to murder a former childhood doctor in cold blood.
No matter what side you’re on, you ought to agree that Lynskey’s Kathleen comes in strong and outright memorable, interrogating the doctor about the whereabouts of her brother’s killer. The killer’s name is Henry (Lamar Johnson), and we later learn that he sacrificed Kathleen’s brother in exchange for leukemia medication for his younger brother, Sam (Keivonn Woodard). Kathleen becomes completely jaded and cruel as a result of her overwhelming grief. The woman’s rage even blinds her to the danger of Clickers, who are about to escape from the underground bunker FEDRA drove them into years ago.
The Last of Us episodes 4 and 5 are among the most emotionally charged, as the creators display the human ugliness in making impossible decisions about who dies and who lives. Although Clickers are the most dangerous threat in the post-apocalyptic world, people sometimes trump this threat. Kathleen soon gets a taste of her own medicine when an overwhelmingly large number of Clickers rises from the ground. All human problems vanish during a battle with Cordyceps as everyone fights to survive.
But before the annihilation of Kathleen, the character reaches Henry. She’s still seeking vengeance despite the chaos and her own people dying around her. Her final cruel words to Henry are that children die all the time and saving Sam in exchange for Michael was “fucking with fate.” The woman further says that the little boy may have meant to die. The character essentially attempts to play God, elevating herself and her family above all others. But the child Clicker gets to her first, repeatedly punching her and murdering Kathleen. The referenced scene becomes even more powerful when one considers that it could be the same Clicker who nearly killed Ellie a few scenes before. It almost seems symbolic; Kathleen wants to essentially kill a child and is later murdered by the child-like monster.
Melanie Lynskey delivers an excellent performance portraying a ruthless, cold-hearted woman who stops at nothing. Kathleen’s toughness may remind some viewers of another great character from Lynskey that we were blessed with not long ago: Shauna from Yellowjackets. Like Shauna, Kathleen has seen too much and doesn’t have time to follow rules. Looking at her The Last of Us character, it’s evident that the New Zealander actress pours her heart out with every character she embodies.
Episode 5, “Endure and Survive” features a heartbreaking finale, which those familiar with the game know. Sam transforms into a Clicker and attacks Ellie. Henry acts quickly and kills his brother, who he promised to protect, before turning the gun on himself. There is undoubtedly a sense of helplessness post-watching, with many questions: what was it for then? Why did Sam get cured only to be gone later?
Kathleen and Henry’s characters represent broken people who will do anything for their loved ones, including murder. The Last of Us reminds its audience of the most difficult decisions the show’s characters must make in order to survive, decisions that, over time, transform people into monsters. With Melanie Lynskey’s Kathleen expanding the story known from the gameplay, the audience gets to dive deeper into the human psyche and explore what one does in the face of danger.
The Last of Us is streaming now on HBO Max with new episodes every Sunday.
Categorized:Editorials News
