The Last of Us: A Pointless War Between WLF and Seraphites

'The Last of Us' vividly portrays a world fractured by violence, where survival often means battling other survivors. Season 2, Episode 4, titled "Day One," throws a spotlight on two warring factions: the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) and the Seraphites. This intense rivalry creates a dangerous landscape for Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) as they navigate Seattle, seeking the WLF group responsible for Joel's (Pedro Pascal) death. Caught in the crossfire, Ellie and Dina witness firsthand the deep-seated animosity that drives this conflict, an animosity that, like many others in the series, is rooted in pure hatred.

Episode 4 delves deeper into the WLF, introducing their leader, Isaac (Jeffrey Wright). Understanding the WLF, however, requires examining their relentless war with the Seraphites, a religious cult locked in a bitter feud. While the previous episode hinted at the brutality of this conflict, Episode 4 showcases the extent to which hatred has consumed both groups.

A pivotal scene underscores the futility of their war: Isaac's interrogation and torture of a captured Seraphite (Ryan Masson). This exchange highlights the central tragedy of the conflict: neither side remembers the original cause of their animosity. It's a stark reminder of how far the world has fallen, where fighting has devolved into a senseless cycle of violence fueled by unwavering hatred.

The Conflict's Lost Meaning

The confrontation between Isaac and the Seraphite is revealing. Isaac, with chilling composure, subjects the prisoner to brutal interrogation, employing burns and beatings to extract information. Yet, the Seraphite, despite enduring prolonged torture, refuses to yield. Instead of divulging the location of the next attack, he points out that their actions are retaliatory, a claim Isaac echoes on behalf of the Wolves. The conversation quickly devolves into accusations, with Isaac citing the Seraphites' killing of a child, and the Seraphite countering with the WLF's similar actions. Isaac attempts to justify the WLF's actions by claiming the Seraphite children are trained to attack them. Neither side accepts responsibility, resembling children engaged in a playground squabble.

As accusations fly, it becomes painfully clear that both Isaac and the Seraphite have lost sight of the conflict's origins. The WLF and the Seraphites are trapped in a vicious cycle of violence, seemingly impossible to break. The fact that neither side denies killing children underscores the moral bankruptcy of both factions. The accumulation of offenses fuels anger and resentment, blinding them to the humanity of their enemy.

Isaac's interrogation ultimately yields nothing, leading him to kill the Seraphite in a fit of rage. This act adds another transgression to the ever-growing list, but at this point, reconciliation seems impossible.

Dehumanization and the Cycle of Hatred

If the origins of their rivalry are forgotten, the war itself becomes meaningless. Hatred has festered for so long that it's become deeply ingrained in their identities. This scene lays bare the animosity between the organizations, from their actions to their dehumanizing language. Isaac consistently refers to the Seraphite as a "scar," a clear insult, despite the prisoner's attempts to correct him. The WLF's dehumanization of the Seraphites is further exemplified by Burton (Ben Ahlers), a soldier once spared by Isaac, who refers to the Seraphite prisoner as an animal deserving of death. The Seraphites, in turn, call the WLF "Wolves," associating them with animals and mirroring the WLF's contempt.

The Seraphite prisoner disparages the WLF, asserting that none of his group would abandon their convictions to become a Wolf, implying that it would be worse than death. Their language reveals the depth of their hatred, which has become integral to their identities. They refuse to acknowledge the other's humanity, viewing them only as targets. This dehumanization prevents them from finding common ground and establishing peace.

A Reflection of a Broken World

'The Last of Us' is undeniably set in a world ravaged by destruction. The apocalypse left lasting scars, particularly with the infected still roaming freely. However, the conflict between the WLF and the Seraphites is independent of the infected threat. It's another instance of humanity turning against itself. 'The Last of Us' explores numerous conflicts unrelated to the infected, where people create "us-versus-them" scenarios, such as FEDRA versus the Fireflies, or the Kansas City resistance targeting FEDRA "rats" in Season 1. These wars are detrimental to everyone involved.

The hatred between the WLF and the Seraphites has become all-consuming, overshadowing everything else. Their battle has become such a priority that they seem oblivious to the infected within their city, a dangerous oversight. The WLF is attacked while pursuing Ellie and Dina, whom they mistakenly believe to be Seraphites, resulting in significant losses. Between the WLF's ambush of the traveling Seraphite group in Episode 3 and the Seraphites' attack on the WLF that Ellie and Dina witness, there's ample bloodshed to explain their current hatred. However, the original cause remains unknown and irrelevant.