Well. Well, folks, that was "The Last of Us" Episode 2. It was a much shorter episode than the last one (read on if you haven't already reviewed The Last of Us Episode 1), but it still managed to make a big impact on our heroes.

It was one of the four episodes I watched before writing my review of The Last of Us. So let's just say that I was as surprised as I was impressed.

But don't scroll down before watching "The Last of Us" Episode 2 online (trust us, this HBO Max show is something you watch first, not read about beforehand). This is what happens when you have one of the best HBO shows in a while.

The following contains an in-depth review of "The Last of Us" Episode 2 and therefore contains spoilers. Below this recap are also notes based on the "Last of Us" video game to which the episode refers.

I remember Joel, Tommy, and Sarah hearing a commotion in Jakarta (which only Sarah knew about) on the radio. Now, back to the first infected person in Jakarta in 2003, so far no strings have been untied. After the military discovers mycology professor Eve Latona (Christine Hakim) enjoying lunch, she rushes to confirm that the Ophiocordyceps samples were not taken from a human.

Sadly, she soon finds herself testing infected (dead) humans, which was wrong. Shocked by the fungal material found when she cuts off the subject's foot, she witnesses vines coming out of its mouth. In the next room, a member of the military tells her that this is one of many humans who may have been infected and that the others are missing.

He then says that she was brought in to help find a vaccine or a drug to stop it. To which she replies that there is no medicine or vaccine. He asked what she should do next. She said with a somber look on her face. Start bombing. Bomb this city and everyone in it."

After saying this, she cried and asked for a ride home to spend this last moment with her family.

Thankfully, in the current timeline, this little moment of humor begins. Ellie (Bella Ramsey) wakes up to find Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Tess (Anna Torv) watching her with suspicion (and a loaded gun).

She looks at them as if to say, "Really." - Before saying, "I'm sorry," she shows them the wound, which has not yet spread, and then sarcastically says more to them. Joel and Tess crowd her about how she got here, and eventually she is allowed to take a bio break.

After Joel and Tess discuss what to do - he wants to ditch Ellie, she wants to see it through to the end - they find out that Ellie has food in her bag. It is actually real chicken, which surprises the new shepherds. An unpleasant exchange ensues, and Ellie explains the notion that she must be the key to the cure - something Marlene told her in confidence - but Joel doesn't believe it.

Tess convinces Joel to go through with it, and Ellie feigns a bout of infection before demanding her gun. She is refused. Ellie walks outside and marvels at the view, which is one of the most impressive shots of the series so far. Along the way, Tess marvels at how Ellie has survived. Later, the group enters a flooded building and Ellie doesn't know what to do. Joel shows her what they can wade through before the kids do a strange and confusing comedy routine at the front desk.

When debris blocks the group's path, Tess moves ahead to clear it, giving Ellie and Joel time to talk. Ellie and Joel have time to talk. Ellie opens up to him, but Joel closes up. Throughout this scene, you can see the chemistry and the banter between the two, even when they are not getting along. When Tess returns, the trio go to the roof and look at the huge mass of infected people lying on their sides (presumably to conserve energy).

Ellie realizes they are "connected," but Tess explains that it goes deeper than that. Damaging the fungus in one area, the infected nearby will attack. Joel then says that the only way to proceed without going through the crowd of infected is through the museum. Again, Ellie asks for a gun, but is denied (the scene where she says she has a spare hand and Joel replies, "Congratulations," may be my favorite scene so far in this episode). And things go downhill fast right after Joel demands silence from everyone.

A type of infected called a "clicker" because of the noise it makes finds our heroes and chases after them, reminiscent of the velociraptors that hunt humans in "Jurassic Park." Joel shoots down an infected after he is covered in them, and Tess uses her axe to strike another infected in the brain.

After the enemy is down, Joel asks Tess if she is okay. She says she twisted her ankle, but she's fine. Ellie's "well, I didn't pee my pants," is further proof that the show can find humor in the darkness. Ellie also realizes she was bitten, but notes, "Well, if it happens to one of us. There is a pregnant-like pause between Joel and Tess, and she says she should get out of there.

While Joel tends to Tess's ankle, Ellie laughs off her fear of walking on the wooden planks separating the roofs. Joel is distressed that Ellie has not developed an infection, and Tess snaps at him that he should take it as good news. After he leaves, we see that she is sad.

Joel and Ellie have a pleasant time on the rooftop, but before they leave, the group finds the meeting place where they were supposed to deliver Ellie to Firefly abandoned with bloodstains. They then discover that the meeting place where they were supposed to hand Ellie over to Firefly has been left covered in blood.

While Tess tries to take Ellie west, Joel leaves and tries to go home. But Tess insists on staying. Her "luck was going to run out sooner or later." Joel realizes this, but is unable to say so. Ellie notices and says, "She's infected," and Tess shows Joel the freshly spread wounds. They compare the bite marks, and Tess says that Joel needs to take Ellie to Bill and Frank. He will "make everything right." Before Joel can shoot, the infected person comes to life and the infected system feels the shot. Joel figures it out and checks outside to make sure they are all coming.

Tess smears gasoline all over the room to keep Ellie and Joel from following her, while he begins to cry without weeping. Tess says, "Save those who can be saved," as she utters the words that will stay with us, and Joel forces an angry Ellie out of the room. Tess tries her best to put out the lighter fire, but it doesn't work. The infected have entered the building, and things are not looking good.

Still, "The Last of Us" manages to surprise with beauty, with a brilliant and grotesque shot of the infected "kissing" Tess and trying to spread the fungus. Outside, Joel and Ellie wait until an explosion from inside reveals that Tess has done it. Then the three of them leave, leaving the two of them alone.

And, perhaps predictably, the ending of "The Last of Us" Episode 2 broke everyone's hearts.

But first, we need to know who Bill and Frank are.

Read our thoughts and review of "The Last of Us" Episode 4 when this episode (and future episodes) airs.