The Last Of Us Episode 8: Recap And Ending, Explained

HBO’s “The Last of Us” has excelled in many areas, including its impressive roster of directors for each episode. Episode 8 has been directed by Iranian filmmaker Ali Abbasi, known for his impactful work in the 2022 film “Holy Spider.” Abbasi delivers an enjoyable episode as Ellie encounters a group of settlers in the snowy terrain of Colorado and is taken to their camp by their leader, David. However, by the end of the episode, it becomes clear that the fungal apocalypse has not changed one thing: the existence of vile men who lead groups as religious preachers in both old and new societies.

How Does David Recognize Ellie and Who Is He in “The Last of Us”?

The eighth episode of “The Last of Us” introduces a new group of characters, instead of continuing with Ellie and Joel’s story from the previous episode where Ellie had stitched up a man’s wound. This group of settlers is struggling to survive in the extreme cold weather. They follow a man named David, their leader, religious head, and symbolic father. David appears to act like a shepherd, guiding his followers towards safety and peace, similar to the Biblical character of the same name. He reads from the Book of Revelations, inspiring his followers with the idea of a new heaven and earth after the apocalypse. A banner in their gathering hall reads “When we are in need, He shall provide,” but it is clear that David makes the decisions that provide for the community. Concerned about the dwindling food rations, David decides to go on a hunt with his close friend James to provide for his people.

The residents of this town are grieving the recent loss of one of their members in addition to the issue of a food shortage. A man who had died after going out in quest of food with some other men was survived by his wife and Hannah, his teenage daughter. Hannah sobbed aloud as David read the words at the beginning of “The Last of Us” Episode 8. When she queries when her father will be laid to rest, she is informed that it won’t be until at least spring because the ground is still too frozen to be dug up. Hannah’s actual father, Alec, has passed away, but David argues in this scene and others that Hannah is not fatherless because he will step in to fill the void. Ellie is still worried about where to find any medication or qualified assistance for the ailing Joel somewhere nearby this community. The food rations for this couple have also been running low, so Ellie decides to attempt using Joel’s rifle to go animal hunting. Ellie leaves him at their shelter and ventures out into the snowy landscape, initially pursuing a rabbit. Soon after, Ellie sees a deer large enough to feed her and Joel for several days. Using what she has learned about shooting a gun, Ellie takes out the animal. The girl is only doing this for the first time, so the picture is not the best because the animal is struck but still manages to flee.

David and James discover the deer after it has passed away from its wound a short distance away, and they are curious as to who shot it. When they decide to swiftly capture the deer for themselves, it is obvious how desperate they are to provide food for their people. The two men are taken captive by Ellie, who has already arrived at the scene by following the blood trails and sneaking up on them undetected. David gently tries to persuade Ellie to give them some of the meat because they have a large group that requires food and he is willing to make a trade. When Ellie learns of this possibility, she doesn’t spend any time in asking if they have any antibiotics, and the two parties quickly come to an agreement. Ellie will receive a vial of penicillin from David in exchange for half the venison. While he waits with Ellie, the man orders a bewildered-looking James to ride back to their camp and deliver the medicine.

It seems obvious that each of the characters will soon be important to the other as the two begin their discussion. Ellie is wary of David and his motives despite the fact that he is one of the few adults she has encountered that she must trust. Ellie is a young lady who, at least on the surface, reminds David of himself in terms of tenacity and resolve. Ellie may also ask him questions that no one else, particularly a teenager, would really ask. She is curious as to how he came to be pious because it is unusual in today’s society and may be the first time in “The Last of Us” that religion and God are mentioned. David claims that he didn’t come to believe in God until the end of the world when he realized that religion and faith were what kept him motivated and living. As a result, he actually likes his new position as the patriarchal shepherd and community’s head.

But there is also something strange about David from the start—a nagging suspicion that he is hiding something from us. Ellie comments that the group’s survival had more to do with chance than religious faith and that luck might eventually run out as they continue their discussion of faith and destiny. David responds that he thinks everything happens for a reason, citing his chance encounter with Ellie as an illustration. According to David, this encounter was also predetermined by fate because there was a very clear reason for it. The man now discloses that a man and a teenage girl killed Alec, a member of their group who had just recently passed away, in this incident. This was unquestionably Joel and Ellie, and Alec had to be the victim of Joel’s fatal stabbing at the University of Colorado. David identifies Ellie as the same girl with a companion who had been in the area because not many people travel out to open lands in this world, and even fewer do so in snowy Colorado outdoors. James returns to the scene and holds Ellie as hostage as she becomes abruptly wary of the potentially dangerous possibilities. However, David is the one who hands the girl the medication and allows her to go, further perplexing James. James’ faith in David had been questioned previously by David, and perhaps out of a desire to demonstrate his faith and loyalty, James does not intervene or say anything. Ellie leaves the area with the penicillin she so urgently needed, disregarding the safety of her hunted deer, and returns to her shelter. Here, she haphazardly dispenses the medication using a syringe (which David and James had also given her) before embracing and collapsing next to Joel.

How Does Ellie Fare After David And His Men Capture Her?

At this juncture, David allows Ellie to flee, but after she kills one of their own, he is unwilling to let her and her companion go. Only three cans of food remain at their refuge as he and James make their way back to their camp while dragging the heavy deer behind them. However, a guy enters the kitchen carrying a tray full of meat and identifies it as venison. This meat is added to the dinner preparation. Despite the fact that David and James don’t actually bring the deer back until, after this scenario, it already appears as though the men at the camp are prepared to empty their stock. The theme of “The Last of Us” Episode 8 shifts from the scene where David calmly informs Ellie that he knew about her and her companion because David’s men were looking for them to exact vengeance. In the previous scene, he demonstrated his ability to calmly reel someone in. Now, when he informs his people that they have located Alec’s killers, he demonstrates another key quality. Hannah enthusiastically yells out that David should murder both Joel and Ellie mercilessly when he says that he plans to use Ellie to track down the person who killed Alec. David simply approaches Hannah and gives her a hard smack; when her mother attempts to intervene, he even stops her. Once more, the preacher tells Hannah that he is now like a father to her and that she should honor him appropriately rather than interrupting him. David clearly does not distinguish between an adult and a young adolescent; he is not a person to help a young person comprehend things. He is instead someone who can impose his views on others when necessary.

The following morning, Ellie exits their shelter and notices birds flying away, indicating that someone or something is approaching. She cautiously investigates and spots David, James, and some other men riding towards their location. David orders his men to kill Joel and bring Ellie back to their camp, with James suggesting they leave her behind to avoid feeding another mouth. However, David insists on taking Ellie with them. Ellie quickly returns to their shelter, wakes up Joel, and hands him her knife before taking a handgun and riding away on a horse with the intention of causing a distraction and escaping. She is successful in creating a diversion, but the men shoot her horse, and they capture her. David orders three men to search every house for Joel while he and James ride back to camp with Ellie. Meanwhile, Joel realizes the danger they are in and recovers his strength. When one of the men enters his house, Joel hides, then kills him with precision. He takes the other two men hostage and threatens to shoot their kneecaps unless they reveal Ellie’s whereabouts. After learning the location of the camp, Joel kills both men and sets off to rescue Ellie.

Upon arriving at David’s camp, Ellie is locked up in a cage and treated like an animal. David tries to convince Ellie to join their group, but she refuses. While alone in her cage, Ellie notices something on the ground outside, and upon closer inspection, she sees that it’s a human ear. Later, when David returns with food for Ellie, she realizes that the meat on her plate is human flesh. It becomes clear that David and his group have been engaging in cannibalism to survive, using human bodies as a source of food. This is also the reason why Alec’s body has not been buried, as David intends to use it for nourishment. Most people in the camp are unaware of cannibalism, and it is likely that David and James went on a hunt for humans in addition to animals. James is confused about David’s decision to bring Ellie back to camp since they already have plenty of food. He does not realize that David wants Ellie for another reason.

8th episode of “The Last of Us”: Finale explanation – Who Does David Want From Ellie, Exactly?

After revealing his group’s cannibalistic practices, David begins to open up to Ellie about his true nature. He confesses that he does not believe in any deity and that he only uses religion as a tool to control and manipulate his followers. David sees himself as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, leading his vulnerable flock toward what he sees as salvation. His admiration is not for any divine being, but for the Cordyceps fungus that caused the apocalypse. David sees the fungus as a model of efficient and ruthless community building, and he draws inspiration from its methods. He admits that even before the outbreak, he struggled with a violent nature, and the fungal outbreak provided him with an opportunity to hide his true self while still engaging in violent behavior. For David, the Cordyceps fungus is a symbol of power and control, and his true identity is far removed from the humble biblical shepherd that shares his name.

It is not difficult to surmise that David must regularly murder and torture victims for amusement. As he keeps secrets from everyone, the man also appears to relish deceiving and deceiving innocent bystanders. Now that he has Ellie by his side, he is determined to make her believe that the two of them share a level of intelligence that is much greater than that of the rest of his people. Ellie appears to be considering David’s proposal that they work together to rule the populace. David claims that Ellie is the competent companion he has been looking for all his life. However, when a distinct charge permeates this scene and the dialogue, the true filth of the entire situation becomes apparent. Ellie is a teenager, and David is old enough to be her father, but he is attracted to her mentally and physically. Additionally, one cannot help but question if David had used his pedophilia on the other young people who attended his camp. Even worse is to consider Hannah’s predicament, where the man is essentially acting as her parent.

Although Ellie appears to be convinced by David’s offer, she actually injures his hand in an attempt to obtain the key to the cage door, proving that she is still more intelligent than the man. David instead sends James to ultimately kill Ellie and chop her off after she fails to do so, but the girl now uses the last maneuver she has in her arsenal. (quite literally). She claims to be infected and that the guys are too because she bit David in an attempt to flee. This causes enough of a stir for her to slice James to death. Ellie then flees to the steakhouse while David pursues her from behind, and she attempts to hide in the restaurant’s labyrinthine configuration of tables and chairs. The tension in the situation is increased when she locates and hurls a burning piece of wood at the guy because the slaughterhouse is on fire and is beginning to burn down. The worst-case scenario occurs as a result of the conflagration when David finally catches up to Ellie and makes an attempt to rape her. Ellie makes a valiant effort to battle back and manages to seize the cleaver the attacker was carrying. Ellie regains control of the situation and brutally hacks David to death, repeatedly striking his body in a traumatized and hysterical way. She exits the burning structure while still in shock over what just happened. There is no denying that Ellie will alter drastically as a result of this experience. The lady could be tough and adult all the time, but she could also be childish. In this situation, Ellie loses any childlike innocence she may have had—not to the dangerous fungus-infected assailants, the dubious Fireflies, or the fascist FEDRA. Instead, she is destroyed by the nefarious ambitions of a predatory man who had secretly assumed the position of provider and guardian of people when they were most in need. David is without a doubt the evilest character in “The Last of Us,” and he may also be the most accurately depicted antagonist in video games.

A sickly but determined Joel was making his way toward Ellie as she was going through all of this in order to assist her. Joel arrived at the settlement and went through a structure where he saw human heads severed and preserved, much like in meat processing plants. He also discovered Ellie’s knapsack, confirming that he was in the proper location. Ultimately, Joel is able to track down Ellie just as she exits the steakhouse following the traumatic event, and he pulls her in for a comforting embrace. Even though Joel is unaware of what has occurred, he is a loving father who recognizes that Ellie needs his support and companionship. Joel leaves the community, holding Ellie close to him.

What Can We Expect Next From ‘The Last Of Us’ Episode 9?

The emotional and moving journey is finally coming to an end because “The Last of Us” season finale will be available to watch the following week. How Ellie is affected by the events of episode 8 will only be revealed next week because the series and video game both place a strong emphasis on the emotional aspect of things as well as on actual events. Ellie has undoubtedly never had to defend herself in such a way and against something that is arguably worse than death. It would be fascinating to see how the girl handles it and, in particular, how Joel handles her now that their connection has solidified. Finally, the two have come a long way and have been through a lot to achieve their final goal—contacting the Firefly physicians so they can order a vaccine to treat Ellie’s illness. The doctors and the fireflies would not only have to still be alive, but their theory would also have to be put into reality. The most anticipated development for next week is whether or not Ellie can actually use the vaccine to save the planet.