The Last of Us – “When We Are in Need” Review
The Last of Us, “When We Are in Need” aired on March 5th on HBO. Based on the 2013 video game developed by Naughty Dog, the series follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), a smuggler tasked with escorting the teenage Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across the post-apocalyptic United States. In “When We Are in Need”, Ellie crosses paths with a vengeful group of survivors -and draws the attention of its leader. A weakened Joel faces a new threat. Next Sunday is the season finale. Below you will find our review of The Last of Us, “When We Are in Need”.
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Warning: This article contains spoilers from The Last of Us “When We Are in Need”. Read at your own risk!
The episode opens with a preacher, David (Scott Shepherd), reading from the Bible to a small community. As they are dismissed, some of the men go hunting. Joel is still recovering when Ellie goes hunting for food. It’s while Ellie is hunting that she encounters David and a fellow hunter, James (Troy Baker). Ellie trades her deer for medicine for Joel. While James is getting the medicine, David explains how he became a preacher and found God after the apocalypse started. That he became the leader of the group of survivors after the collapse of a QZ.
David reveals that one of his members was killed by a man who was with a girl. James came out of hiding before handing the medicine to Ellie. Ellie quickly leaves and gives the medicine to Joel. David tells the community that they found the man who killed the member of their group and he will lead a small group out. The next day, Ellie spots David with a group; she tries to draw them away from Joel but she is captured.
“You’re a dangerous person.” – David (Scott Shepherd)
David takes Ellie back to his camp while a few of the group stay behind in search of Joel. Hearing footsteps in the house, Joel awakens and stabs one of the men. At David’s camp, he has Ellie locked in a cage, offering Ellie a place in his community. Meanwhile, Joel has managed to trap the remaining members and tortures them into telling him where David has taken Ellie. Silver Lake Resort. Back at David’s camp, Ellie discovered that David has been feeding the members of this community human flesh. As David was giving Ellie a speech about how she was like him, she managed to break his finger when he tried to hold her hand.
As Joel gets into the community, he finds a shed full of headless people hanging from the rafters. David and James drag Ellie out of the cage and just as they attempt to kill her, she informs them that she is infected. Just after she is able to bite David on the hand, using that as a distraction, she kills James as she escapes. David hunts Ellie down as the resort is on fire. Ellie manages to overpower and kill him. Once outside Joel finds a very traumatized Ellie.
My Overall Thoughts
This episode was chilling and dark, and I loved it! Also, I need to add that it was completely disgusting knowing that David’s group was eating people. The creep vibes from David were huge from the very beginning, setting up how twisted this man is. I’m sorry, but was I getting some pedophile vibes from David? As the episode concluded I came to realize there are some moments I have mentally blocked from game. David was truly terrifying though.
It was a very smart move for Ellie to use her immunity as a distraction to get away from David and James, it was a perfect fast-thinking moment. I really appreciate the contrast between last week’s and this week’s episodes, which both featured Ellie prominently. It’s been great to see how much she has changed and grown as a character. This episode really demonstrated that Ellie is capable of standing up for herself and defending herself. It warmed my heart to see Joel so worried and to find Ellie; he embraced her like a father and even called her “baby girl”. It demonstrated the strong connection that has developed between the two throughout the season.
When you’re lost in the darkness, look for the light.
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