‘The Last Of Us’ Episode 8 Spoiler-Free Review

TV & Film

Mar 8

With only one episode left in Season 1, HBO’s The Last of Us has effectively raised the stakes each week, leading us to this week’s heart-pounding episode. I want to quickly offer a trigger warning as this episode deals with violence against animals and an attempted sexual assault of a minor.

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE LAST OF US EPISODES 1- 7 AND POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THE GAME

After the flashback episode last week gave us a look at how Ellie got bit and what her life was like before we met her in Episode 1, we quickly returned to present-day where Joel is fighting for his life and Ellie is doing her best to keep them both alive and hidden. She sewed up his wound in last week’s episode but now it looks like it may be getting infected, and she needs medicine!

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This week introduced us to a religious cult that held a lot of similarities to the rebellion we met back in Episodes 4 and 5. Joel and Ellie have already had one run-in with the cult back at the University of Eastern Colorado, and they want revenge. The fuse is lit when Ellie runs into the leader of the cult and one of his men while out hunting. Still unaware of who they are, Ellie agrees to give them half of the deer she shot if they provide her with medicine. They agree, and even after revealing who they are, the leader allows Ellie to take the medicine and leave while they take the entire deer. After administering two doses of the medication to Joel, Ellie is forced to leave him as the cult’s men head track the pair down. Ellie is captured quickly, and Joel is forced to fight for his life.

While trapped in a cage at the cult’s homestead, Ellie learns a terrifying secret and how the cult has been keeping their people fed even after their rations had run out. Ellie’s resolve and strength are put to the ultimate test while she is trapped and isolated from Joel. The cult leader is easily worse than any of the Infected we have met during the first seven episodes of the season. After Ellie refuses the things offered to her by the cult leader, things take a terrifying turn, and it is a fight to the death!

Bodies hanging from ceiling — Image Source: HBO Max

The episode was by far one of the most difficult of the season as it dealt with both violence against animals and attempted sexual assault. It was fascinating to see such similarities between the cult and the rebellion in the Kansas City QZ as it pointed to the human monsters that are roaming the country in addition to the Infected. One of the best parts of this episode was seeing how much Ellie has grown over the season and how strong she really is. She was not only fighting for her life but Joel’s as well. The final few minutes of the episode were the best moments of the season.