‘The Last of Us’ Recap: ‘When We Are in Need’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Eight of ‘The Last of Us’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Last week when we settled in to discuss the phenomenal HBO series, The Last of Us, we talked at length about how the show took the time to once again revisit the big question that has hung heavy over its first season. Specifically… are we a species that is worth saving? A question that ‘Left Behind’ examined in a positive nature, by exploring how we lift one another up through love and the bonds we share. All of which made for a powerfully bittersweet episode, one that saw Ellie hold to that lesson by going the extra mile to save an ailing Joel, and such commentary left us wondering… exactly how the show was going to explore this concept further. Since obviously, this was now a focus for the commentary in this tale. 
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Which is why… last night’s episode was so incredibly surprising. Simply because… ‘When We Are in Need’ is a story that made it clear that it wasn’t fair to just look at one side of the equation. For while there is a great deal of reasons that we are worth saving, there are plenty of reasons as to why we might not be worthy. So why not offer up an objective look at humanity and the wonder and the horror we are capable of, in an effort to set the stage for the season finale in a unique manner. A feat that this episode accomplished, by introducing us to a new group of survivors in Silver Lake, Colorado. Who were led by an enigmatic preacher named David, and were in fact, facing an ugly crisis. 

In that food supplies were low in this town, and that meant the time had come to venture out and hunt to survive and that brought forth quite the surprise for David and one his disciples, James. For while they were out there, they heard a gunshot and eventually ran into a large deer that had taken that bullet. Which in turn, led them to an encounter with Ellie, who shot the deer and was trying to feed herself and Joel, and that led… to some fascinating revelations and outright kindness from David. Who after informing her that he knew she and Joel were responsible for the death of one of his people at the campus, he was willing to let her go with medical supplies in exchange for that deer and a chance for both of them to go their merry ways. 

A move that made it seem as though this story was going to be about the power of hope in the apocalypse and the kindness, we can continue to impart in trying times. But the reveal that David was a preacher that believed in the fire of God, over His kindness, and the fact that he and his flock came looking for Joel to enjoy justice and bring Ellie back with them… spoke to the reality more so… of the dangers of hope and how far we can fall in dark times. Because those men were beyond ready to kill Joel without giving it a second thought and Ellie’s fate… was going to be far worse. Because David wanted more from her than just having her around in a screwed-up cult. He wanted her very soul to commit to the darkness that people carry in the pits of their souls so that she could take part in a twisted vision he had for the future.

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Such as rebuilding the world in a far darker image than how most would remember America before the fall, and of course… to do whatever must be done to survive and thrive. And if that meant eating the flesh of human beings to do so, then so be it. Which put Ellie in a difficult place mentally. Because that was quite the dark request to ask of someone, and quite the hopeless path to go down. For it meant surrender to this world, a surrendering of the all the fine lessons she had learned up to this point and worst of all… a surrender of the soul. Where the days ahead would result in anger and sorrow and dark acts in the name of survival and well… her high intelligence made it clear that such a choice was no way to live, and she fought back with every fiber of her being.
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Which in turn, led to a harrowing bedlam of violence in this tiny town. Where she was forced to kill both of her captors in a manner as vicious and as violent as the nightmares roaming the countryside. But she did so, because there was no other choice, for denying this preacher the penance he somehow thought she owed her, meant her own death. And just when the moment was at its darkest… she was thankfully reunited with Joel. Who healed up thanks to the antibiotics she was given in a show of false faith, and took out of some of David’s flock to find her in Silver Lake, and just like that… they could continue their journey toward Salt Like and try to heal from a dark chapter in this journey, one that very much made it clear… why at times… we don’t seem worthy of salvation at the slightest. 

Because we are… creatures of great ego, that sometimes find dark meaning and dark direction in trying times. The kind that motivates us to use fear and cruelty to function rather than deal with the trauma or pain that life has caused us. Plus, we are creatures that are eager to sometimes instill false hope and use it to control others to do our bidding in a similarly desperate attempt to gain control of our own emotions and destiny. Regardless of the pain it causes others. But above all, why we should sometimes pause in answering that question, is because we are capable of great cruelty, especially when our survival instincts come into play, and all of that was put on display through David and his twisted little commune and their dire actions. 

Yet while that was tough to watch and featured some tough lessons to learn, this episode deserves a lot of credit for exploring both sides of the coin. Because most stories that explore that question, will only touch upon our darkness, and look more at the light within us and nothing more. So, to see a show do otherwise, especially this close to the end of season one… is an impressive feat indeed and one that is likely grounded in something greater. For going this route, doesn’t answer the question… it instead sows doubt and concern, and reminds us of why we cannot find peace in our current climate. That likely means that the season finale… will offer the final word this examination, by bringing together every dark and light moment and lesson we’ve experienced this season… to offer a thoughtful and impactful answer to that powerful question. Until next time.

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