Who are Henry and Sam in 'The Last Of Us'? A look at characters who play important role in HBO series

Henry and Sam are two new characters who are introduced in 'The Last of Us' Episode 4's dramatic cliffhanger
UPDATED FEB 10, 2023
Lamar Johnson and Keivonn Woodard in 'The Last of Us' (IMDb)
Lamar Johnson and Keivonn Woodard in 'The Last of Us' (IMDb)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Henry and Sam, two characters who will be crucial moving forward, were introduced to the core cast of 'The Last of Us' Episode 4's cliffhanger. After tragically learning of Bill and Frank's deaths, Joel and Ellie headed west to Wyoming in 'The Last of Us' Episode 4, picking up where Episode 3 left off. They pass through Kansas City on their route there, but because the highway around the city is closed, they must pass through the center of the city.

Two new survivors, Sam and Henry will undoubtedly earn a spot alongside the other characters who have come and gone. This leads us to the main question, who are the characters, Sam and Henry, and why are they important to 'The Last of Us?

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Who are Sam and Henry in 'The Last of Us'?

Sam, 15, and Henry, 25, two brothers are taken from the 2013 video game. Sam and Henry were raised in the quarantine zone around Hartford in the video game until the military decided to abandon it, at which point they both had to fend for themselves. Later, they joined a group of survivors and remained with them until one day, when the group was ambushed by the alleged "hunters" while exploring and plundering through Pittsburgh.

Former Pittsburgh Quarantine Zone inhabitants who were frustrated with being ruled by the military and the Fireflies formed a faction known as the Hunters, which took over all forms of authority. Sam and Henry had to hide from the evil and hostile tourists however they could, up until they ran into Joel and Ellie. Both pairings assisted one another in leaving the city and avoiding the hunters.

Why are Sam and Henry important in 'The Last of Us'?

What Henry and Sam's introduction in the final moments of 'The Last of Us' episode 4 truly signifies is that it sets up Episode 5 and the continuation of the characters' journeys. For example, Henry and Sam significantly influence Ellie's personality, and through them, the Hunters. This can result in 'The Last of Us' Episode 5 being action-packed. The Bloater's underground presence was hinted at in 'The Last of Us' Episode 4, and Episode 5's promise of Joel, Ellie, Henry, and Sam working together to fight the Hunters suggests that this chapter of the tale will end explosively.

Why is Kathleen so obsessed with finding Henry?

Melanie Lynskey in 'The Last of Us' (IMDb)
Melanie Lynskey in 'The Last of Us' (IMDb)

Henry barely makes a brief personal appearance in 'The Last of Us' Episode 4's final scene, but his influence permeates the entirety of the episode as a result of Kathleen's desperate search for him. The Hunters' leader, Kathleen, is questioning a doctor in order to identify a certain group of people. The doctor Kathleen is questioning claims that he never told FEDRA anything about her brother, but Kathleen argues that Henry did and that she is aware he is still in the city. Kathleen also confesses that FEDRA beat her brother to death. This indicates that Henry is likely to be blamed for betraying her brother to FEDRA, which led to his death.

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