The Last of Us continues on HBO, and Episode 7 saw Ellie get her hands on the second volume of her favorite joke book. In an episode dedicated primarily to telling the story of Ellie and her romantic love interest, and best friend, Riley, there was one unanswered question: What do you call an alligator in a vest? The pun was left hanging as Ellie discovered explosives that Riley was guarding, so what is the punchline?
What do you call an alligator wearing a vest?
The answer to the joke, is “an investigator.” The “gator” is “in” a vest. It’s as simple as that!
Ellie’s pun books have been a constant source of amusement, both in The Last of Us HBO series, and the video games from developer Naughty Dog on which the critically-acclaimed show is based. Many of the jokes told, affectionately referred to as “dad jokes,” are so bad, they’re hilarious.
They’ve also managed to pull Ellie, Joel, and Riley out of some of the most troubling moments. The jokes hidden away within fictional author Will Livingstone’s books are a welcome distraction from the chaos and trials of the post-apocalyptic world, providing a brief bit of respite from the unrelenting violence that The Last of Us often offers up. This is true in both past episodes, and The Last of Us HBO Episode 7.
Using No Pun Intended: Volume Too to pass the time, and more notably, break the ice with Joel in Episode 4, Ellie is able to start building on the fragile relationship she has formed with her courier. It’s clear that Joel now sees the youngster as more than just “cargo,” and the pair share a close bond.
In the Last of Us game, the books are collected across Ellie and Joel’s journey, eventually landing the players who collect them all a virtual trophy titled “That’s All I Got.”
