Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us episode 4.The Last of Us episode 4 ended on a massive cliffhanger, with two unknown characters sneaking up on Joel and Ellie while they slept. The Last of Us episode 4 follows directly from episode 3's heartbreakingly beautiful story with Joel and Ellie continuing their journey toward Wyoming. On the way, they come across a blockade on the highway at Kansas City, forcing them to travel through the city itself.

This brings the duo into contact with the Hunters, a revolutionist group who overthrew FEDRA in the Kansas City QZ. The Hunters are led by Kathleen, played by Melanie Lynskey, who is desperately searching for a group of people, two of which are named Henry and Sam. With The Last of Us episode 3 ending on a bittersweet note, episode 4 throws Joel and Ellie back into the fire with a final cliffhanger that promises danger for The Last of Us episode 5.

Related: The Last of Us Episode 3: 17 Easter Eggs & Hidden Details

Henry & Sam Snuck Up On Joel & Ellie In The Last Of Us Episode 4's Ending

Lamar Johnson as Henry and Keivonn Woodard as Sam in their Last of Us official character posters

The ending of The Last of Us episode 4 saw the duo Kathleen is hellbent on finding, Henry and Sam, sneaking up on Joel and Ellie. Introducing the pair in this way represents a change from the game source material, where Henry attacks Joel from behind and Sam threatens he and Ellie with a gun. As is clear from episode 4, HBO's The Last of Us is unafraid to make subtle tweaks to the original.

From what can be gathered from the changes in The Last of Us episode 4, Henry and Sam are heavily connected to the Hunters that have control of Kansas City. In the scene in which Kathleen is interrogating the doctor being held captive, it can be inferred that Henry and Sam were at least partially responsible for turning the revolutionist movement in to FEDRA, which resulted in the deaths of many Hunters including Kathleen's brother. This conflict immediately raises the stakes, making the pair's introduction a major moment in the show.

What Henry & Sam's Introduction Means For Joel & Ellie In The Last Of Us

Joel and Ellie looking at the city view in The Last of Us

Warning! The following section contains spoilers for the original The Last of Us game.Henry and Sam appearing at the end of the episode promises big things for Joel and Ellie after the amazing The Last of Us episode 3 saw them take a backseat. Firstly, Henry and Sam are two of the most important characters in the game and play a big part in bringing Joel and Ellie closer together. Their story is one that ends in tragedy, with Sam - the younger of the two brothers - being bitten and Henry taking his own life in response. This not only contributes to Ellie's survivor's guilt over being immune but allows Joel to open up to her more through seeing Sam and Henry together.

In terms of HBO's show, however, Henry and Sam's cliffhanger will likely lead to a much more action-heavy The Last of Us episode 5. Joel and Ellie befriending Henry and Sam will undoubtedly involve them in the conflict taking place in Kansas City - changed in The Last of Us from the game's Pittsburgh location - more than they already were. This will mean that both Henry and Sam's history with the Hunters will be divulged, but will also result in the final confrontation between the brothers, Joel and Ellie, and the Hunters in The Last of Us episode 5.

New episodes of The Last of Us release every Sunday on HBO.

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