Actors Lamar Johnson (The Hate U Give, Your Honor) and newcomer Keivonn Woodard recently spoke to Deadline about their roles in the hit horror series The Last Of Us. Johnson and Woodard guest starred in the fifth episode of the HBO Max show, titled “Endure and Survive.” This article contains spoilers for episode five which aired Feb. 10 on HBO Max.

The latest episode from the drama follows Johnson’s Henry and Woodard’s Sam as they enlist the help of protagonists Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones) and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones, Hilda) to escape the grasp of Kathleen, portrayed by Emmy nominee Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets, Togetherness), who “resents [Henry] for selling out their secrets to FEDRA—and… blames him for the death of her brother,” says Esquire.

Ramsey teased the episode and its guest stars on Twitter:

Can’t wait for Keivonn Woodard @LamarJohnsonn @melanielynskey @pierce_jeffrey and untaggable bloaters to blow your miiiiiiiinds tonight 😈😇😈😇#TheLastOfUs https://t.co/6yAN1LwQbT

— Bella Ramsey (@BellaRamsey) February 10, 2023

When asked about working with Woodard, who is deaf, Johnson said, “I found out when I booked the role that they’d be incorporating Keivonn and ASL. And for me, I didn’t know any sign before getting to set, so it was sort of a crash course, but I had a director of ASL along with interpreters that helped me wrap my head around sign language in our scenes. And I think that sign created a lot more depth to our relationship because communication is not only through words but also through body language. And I think it truly bonded us because we had to communicate through feeling, and I think people felt that in our performance. It was easy to connect with Keivonn because he’s such a great kid. He’s so talented, and we both really connected and committed ourselves to these roles. And we had a really great team of people behind us and we supported each other. So, when I saw a lot of the changes [to Henry and Sam’s story], especially with Sam being deaf, I was really happy because I felt that it added a beautiful layer of intimacy between Henry and Sam and their connection.”

Johnson defended Henry’s choice to reveal secrets of Kathleen’s rebellion against the government militia FEDRA: “They live in a very harsh world, and Sam is Henry’s purpose. It’s his will to live. And if he didn’t have him, he wouldn’t have the will to live. So, do I agree with protecting and trying your absolute best to protect and save the one thing you have left in this world that you love and care for? Yeah, it’s a tough one, but I think I understand where he’s coming from, and I think Joel does too.”

Woodard, nine years old, declared his deceased father helps “motivate [him] to be brave, even if there are frustrations or struggles.” Additionally, he said he was not scared of the clickers: “I got to meet them beforehand; that way, I got an idea of what they looked like…”

When discussing the heartbreaking end to both characters’ fates, Johnson explained his approach to filming the scene. “I know the weight.. and the importance of that scene, especially with … being a fan of the game. So, I guess going into it, I kind of knew what we were doing that day. I think I just tried to be as present and authentic as possible because everything was given to me. I had Keivonn there, I had Pedro there, I had Bella there, and they were all reacting and giving me what I needed for me to perform. So, I tried not to overthink it. I wanted just to be present and allow things to affect me, like seeing Keivonn as Sam’s body lay there. So, all I had to do was just be present and react to everything in my environment.”

Woodard said he “felt very sad… but got through it.”

Johnson and Woodard share more insight on the making of the episode in the video below.