THE LAST OF US: Ellie Fights To Survive In The New Promo For Episode 8: "When We Are in Need"

THE LAST OF US: Ellie Fights To Survive In The New Promo For Episode 8: "When We Are in Need"

Following a heartbreaking origin story, next week's episode of The Last of Us will return us to the present as Ellie is forced to fight for her survival and someone new is not going to make it easy!

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By RohanPatel - Feb 27, 2023 10:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Last of Us

Tonight's episode of The Last of Us picked up in the immediate aftermath of the previous hour as Ellie (Bella Ramsey) managed to get Joel (Pedro Pascal), who is still rapidly bleeding out after being stabbed last week, to a relatively safe location and is now struggling to find a way to keep him alive. 

As she weighs her options, it flashes back to Ellie's origin story and we learn a lot more about the girl before she was bitten and inadvertently became the potential savior of humanity. 

We actually learn quite a bit more about how the Boston FEDRA facility operated as well, and about Ellie's life prior to meeting Joel, when she was just on her own with a best friend that had disappeared. However, as expected, when that friend - Riley - returns, Ellie's life is changed forever. 

What follows is a touching hour where Ellie and Riley catch up and spend one last night together, ultimately sealed with a kiss, but, unfortunately for them, fate has different plans in store for the youngsters, and they must fend off a clicker, which they successfully do, but not without paying a devastating price. 

Next week, the series returns to the present to adapt one of the game's most thrilling chapters when Ellie gets her first solo mission, trying to simultaneously give Joel enough time to recover while also fighting off a dangerous new villain: David (Scott Shepherd).

Check out the new preview for episode eight, titled "When We Are in Need," below:

Plus, check out the featurette for episode seven:

The Last of Us features Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Anna Torv as Tess, Nico Parker as Sarah, Murray Bartlett as Frank, Nick Offerman as Bill, Storm Reid as Riley, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, Lamar Johnson as Henry, Keivonn Woodard as Sam, Graham Greene as Marlon, Elaine Miles as Florence, and Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker.

THE LAST OF US story takes place twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.

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TheRose
TheRose - 2/27/2023, 10:48 AM
I appreciated the detour and parallel story presented in episode 3 with Bill and Frank. This most recent episode, however, missed the mark for me.

The "Apocalypse Kids Skip School" idea is novelty, but not worth watching play out for 45+ minutes. It was intriguing to see what FEDRA kids are up to, but in a "MCU Easter Egg sort of way--cute but inconsequential. "Chekov's Infected" attempted to raise the stakes, but really, it just made our main characters Bella and Riley look inept and unlikable for being so reckless. It became even more irksome when the trailer for next week essentially hinted that the entire David storyline will be handled in a single episode. If Melanie Lynskey's uncompelling storyline could get 2 episodes, why not one of the more effective villain arcs from the game?

As for the good qualities for the Mall episode: I think Storm and Bella had good chemistry. The way the Riley can overpower/overrule Ellie is a nice change of pace from seeing Ellie rebelliously and callously parade through every conversation. It was refreshing to see her on her toes and nervous. You can also tell the team put a lot of effort into the set design of this episode, which really captured the aesthetic. It's a shame that there is literally zero reason to visit this mall again.
undertheradar29
undertheradar29 - 2/27/2023, 11:04 AM
@TheRose - I think the rationale behind the episode is like you said- flesh out Ellie, flesh out how she views relationships, plant seeds for season 2, etc. While I do wish we had more time in other parts of the game, this is a calm-before-the-storm type episode. David's chapter likely won't need as much time given a lot of that in the game was stealthy and battle-focused. I don't think this episode made E & R look unlikeable. They're kids, they're bonding, during times of pretty severe stress and gloom. I will agree that I wish there was more time with say, Kansas City chapter stuff (or Pitt), or more with David next week, but such is life.
TheRose
TheRose - 2/27/2023, 11:26 AM
@undertheradar29 - I suppose I misspoke -- I personally found them "Unlikeable" for ignoring the possibility that infected may be in the mall. Of course, my point of view is that in an apocalypse scenario, it is best to be cautiously paranoid and I usually get annoyed with character becoming willfully ignorant of the danger around them. That's probably not the case for everyone, so I should say that it worked against my personal enjoyment of the episode.

Ellie and Riley were likable kids, but unlikable apocalypse survivors.

I haven't actually played the games, so my main understanding is actually from when my wife played through the game. Without giving any spoilers away, David was a character that truly intrigued her at the time of her playthrough and when his whole character comes to light, it was quite the reveal to her. If there was space for the series to flesh out tales, she would have preferred it be about the intrigue of the main action/plot instead of lingering on plots that have already reached their conclusion. I tend to agree.

There can always be room to explore parallels and parables of things like Bill/Frank and Ellie/Riley, but when they come at the expense of time dedicated to the main story, it can be disappointing.
undertheradar29
undertheradar29 - 2/27/2023, 11:35 AM
@TheRose - David is definitely interesting, not super one-note I don't think, though his motivations were sort of thin in the game. It does make for some good material to sink their teeth into, as far as the actors go.

Definitely see the apocalypse survivor point of view. I guess even then, as kids that only know this, rebelling is sort of engrained in teenagers. Certainly is a "duh" moment that they're attacked, but also understandable in a way I guess. I agree- I wanted more Joel & Ellie time. They're great together, so more of that. I'd have shortened the Riley stuff a bit. No need for the full tour- cutting it short would have been fine with me.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 2/27/2023, 1:09 PM
@TheRose - I agree with most of what you said though I believe @undertheradar29 is right about them being teens and rebelling. Plus, they didn’t go there by accident. The firefly’s set up Riley there so she thought they were safe. The firefly’s were at fault in this situation for not clearing the perimeter.

That infected was almost a clicker which means he was there at least a year to 2 years.

I don’t know what I’d change about the episode because it was a pretty decent episode and pretty much follows what happens in the game, but something felt off.

The ending kinda happened abruptly. I’m sure they’re saving why Marlene didn’t kill Ellie for episode 9 So that’s probably when we see Riley either turn into a zombie or succumb to the virus.

David’s chapter should definitely be 2 episodes I feel. By the end of the game, David felt like the only villain of the game. Honestly though, they’ve taken away the most interesting portions of the game already.

Ellie and Joel are clearly the protagonist and fedra and the kc mob were clearly “bad guys”. In the game, by the end I didn’t feel like Joel was a good guy
TheRose
TheRose - 2/27/2023, 1:44 PM
@MyCoolYoung @undertheradar29 - Those are all good points. I think what it comes down to is willful ignorance/rebellious attitudes of teens and I believe it's my personal opinion that I don't like it.

I agree that something felt off. If it's accurate to the game, I understand, but the pace felts stunted, IMO. The scenes were intimate between Riley and Ellie, but uneven with the rest of the series. If anything, they reminded me of the Stranger Things episode where Eleven goes and meets her lost sister; since that episode got me to stop watching, it's not exactly praise.

The easiest change would have been to cut the flashback down to 1/2 the episode and show Ellie's resolve to stick with Joel by the midpoint. Then she can go out hunting, and we would have gotten a survivalist episode until she is caught for questioning by David's group. Let's hope that if they are limiting the David arc to 1 episode that it's an extended length.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 2/27/2023, 2:24 PM
@TheRose - I’d Bet this episode is about an hour and a half like one of the other episodes. I like what you said a lot actually. We’re undoubtedly going to come back to Ellie and Riley anyway your way would’ve worked really well.

My biggest criticism of this show, and this is the first time I’ve been able to put it in words, it feels like the creators think the audience is dumb. Maybe we are, I don’t know. We can’t have an emotional connection to the characters unless we spend the whole episode with them with a bunch of “awww” type moments or certain things have to be spelled out to us or forced down our throats.

Everybody that Joel and Ellie have come across have been a mirror or a dark mirror to their journey. Henry and Sam, bill and frank, Kathleen and the military guy/or her brother that died, tommy and his wife, Ellie and riley. Almost every episode.

We went like 3-4 straight episodes with someone calling Joel a protector. Just little things like that. They’re very heavy handed with their storytelling at times. In my opinion, we didn’t need a whole episode of bill and frank but that made a whole episode of Ellie and Riley necessary.

Those episodes were intimate as hell and well acted but just didn’t feel necessary which made them feel off to me. I digress though.

Henry and Sam was the first time It felt like when I played the game. That episode was great other than the goofy zombie stuff. Why the hell would this “smart” leader Kathleen ignore the protruding ground of infects to find one person and why would she try to shoot that one person in the midst of thousands of zombies coming out the ground? So cartoony and stupid
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/27/2023, 4:00 PM
@TheRose - I agree it kinda missed the mark. It's essential backstory for Ellie, but it doesn't really change anything about Ellie and Joel's relationship.

Would've been more interesting if it was to mirror that relationship like Bill & Frank's or Henry & Sam's. Although on the other hand, the show is already driving home that ''Joel is Ellie's protector'' angle really hard.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/27/2023, 5:59 PM
@MyCoolYoung - that's exactly how I felt watching the episode of this week as well. They're hammering a little to hard on making the viewer care for Joel and Ellie.

This episode was kinda different though. It wasn't so much about their relationship, but just about making us care for the character.

But to be honest, I prefer the former. Even if it feels too forced at times with all the mirrors. Their relationship is what drove the game, and what drives the show as well.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 2/27/2023, 7:30 PM
@bkmeijer1 - I agree. I feel like 5/6 drove their relationship a whole lot and-was digging that. I do believe Ellie and Riley deserved majority of this episode. Joel and Sarah had one which informed us of why Joel moves how he does and this was the same for Ellie.

I just don’t think we needed a full stop episode. The way it ended felt off like a lot was missing. They just go heavy with the dramatic a lot. Did we need to see Ellie hesitate like she was really about to leave Joel there to die after what she said the episode prior? I think a more impactful ending is Ellie hesitating, the flashback, flash forward to Ellie hunting and cut to her caring for Joel.

They try to play on our heart strings with familiar tropes when they could just let us see the journey unfold
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/28/2023, 3:45 AM
@MyCoolYoung - yeah, no way she was actually considering leaving. Even before the flashback that was pretty evident.

As for the opening flashback of Joel, I feel that atleast informed us of the setting as well. Think this one could have done so in relation to the fireflies, and in the half the time.

Do still look forward to next week's episode. Guess that's really gonna show us how Ellie functions.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 2/28/2023, 3:57 AM
@bkmeijer1 - only episode I look forward to more than this one was episode 5. I did get a glimpse of Ebert and Robert's review saying the last two episodes are rushed, which one episode for each closing chapter does seem like a bit much.

I don't even know how I got to their review. I rarely if ever read reviews outside of the ones posted here. Still looking forward to David. The only true antagonist of the game I feel
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/28/2023, 5:03 AM
@MyCoolYoung - I imagine they might end up feeling rushed. Read somewhere online that 8 and 9 are 51 and 43 minutes respectively.

Kinda wish they made David the antagonist for the whole season. Having someone hunt the protagonists constantly is more compelling imo. Maybe he finds out about Ellie's immunity and so he and his crew wants to eat her assuming they will get immunity too. Which makes it hunting her across the US worth it.

Anyway, did you also got around to The Peripheral?
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 2/28/2023, 11:16 AM
@bkmeijer1 - yup! 2 episodes in. I remember having interest in this show then my wife asked me not to watch without her and it fell by the wayside. Me and Doc was really interested in this one
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/28/2023, 11:57 AM
@MyCoolYoung - definitely a better show than White Lotus S2 imo. Don't let your wife know you already started watching though.

Also, your comment makes it sound like Doc is your wife (if so, ask why Doc isn't around anymore).
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 2/28/2023, 12:35 PM
@bkmeijer1 - yanno he's not talking to me either. He's on a sabbatical. He gets like that sometimes 😔
PatientXero
PatientXero - 2/27/2023, 11:08 AM
Christ, they will be through the first game by the end of the season at this rate. I was hoping they’d make through 2 seasons with the first game. Idk if I wanna watch a show about the second game.
undertheradar29
undertheradar29 - 2/27/2023, 11:36 AM
@PatientXero - IF you do the math, the game is about 15 hours... we get a bout 9 hours with the season. Take out the stealth and combat and it definitely is relatively in-line with the story of game 1. I think season 2 will be brutal in a good way just like the game. What makes you want to avoid a second season?
PatientXero
PatientXero - 2/27/2023, 12:50 PM
@undertheradar29 - the second game wasn’t nearly as good
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 2/27/2023, 2:47 PM
@PatientXero - First game was a 10/10 story with 6/10 gameplay, part two was like a 8/10 across the board. I find it fascinating how certain narrative choices in the sequel turned people off so hard on an otherwise amazing game O_o
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/27/2023, 3:57 PM
@PatientXero - was kinda hoping to see the first game spread over two seasons as well.

Think Joel's injury could've been a good way to end the first season, and the second season could then focus on David, Salt Lake City, and the flashbacks from the second game.

Guess they could still just use those flashbacks to make a second season though, since the show can also afford to follow other characters. Maybe Tommy joining the Fireflies or something like that can be added.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 2/27/2023, 11:42 AM
I'd like to know how they're doing in video game sales since the series started. It's obvious they remastered for a second time to catch this crowd. This is how you do a video game adaptation
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 2/27/2023, 12:54 PM
That wasn’t a clicker, Rohan. I believe he was close to being one but he was still a runner. Clickers can’t see at all and Ellie hadn’t seen a clicker before the second episode.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 2/27/2023, 3:54 PM
Trailer almost gives me the idea that James if gonna fill David's role from the game. Although that might as well be a misdirect.

Anyway, look forward to this episode a lot. This week's episode didn't really propel the story at all, but the next one should be essential to Ellie's and Joel's arc.
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