Episode 7 of The Last of Us decided to take us back to the past, three weeks before Ellie and Marlene’s talk in episode 1, just as Joel is bleeding out in the freezing cold. Ellie’s history at the QZ before her expedition to the Fireflies base had me invested in the bittersweet story of first love and loss.
Ellie’s moments with Riley were filled with innocent adoration, and it was nice to see that in a world where everything is broken. Of course, that ended with Riley infected and possibly dead, explaining why Ellie is so afraid to be left behind. By the end of the episode, she’s patched Joel up, but he’s not out of danger yet. What will happen in episode 8?
1. Episode 8 Synopsis/Speculation
In next week’s episode, Ellie will have to find a more permanent method to get Joel back on his feet, and she’ll meet David, the man who can get her the antibiotics needed to help Joel.
But, as game fans know, David and James are only wolves clothed in sheep’s hides since it’s their men that attacked Joel and Ellie in the first place. David wants revenge on Joel for killing his people, and he will use Ellie to finish the job his followers couldn’t.
We get a teaser of the convincing act David will put on in a promo for the upcoming episode, which paints James as the instigator. But even in the promo, it’s clear that David holds the high rank, so get ready to meet the final “enemies” of season 1 of The Last of Us.
Another evident factor in the trailer is how Ellie has transformed into a fierce protector who is hellbent on saving the only family she has, and we see little of Joel in the promo. How bad is his condition, and will Ellie manage to save him – we’ll have to wait till next week for these questions to be answered.
2. Episode 8 Release Date
Chapter 8 of the The Last of Us series, titled “When We Are in Need”, has been released on Sunday, Mar 05, 2023 at 6:00 pm PDT.
3. Season 1 Schedule
| The Last of Us Season 1 Episode No. | The Last of Us Season 1 Episode Title | Direction | Teleplay | Release Date |
| 1 | When You’re Lost in the Darkness | Craig Mazin | Craig Mazin & Neil Druckmann | January 15 2023 |
| 2 | Infection | Neil Druckmann | Craig Mazin | January 22 2023 |
| 3 | Long Long Time | Peter Hoar | Craig Mazin | January 29 2023 |
| 4 | Please Hold My hand | Jeremy Webb | Craig Mazin | February 5 2023 |
| 5 | Endure and Survive | Jeremy Webb | Craig Mazin | February 12 2023 |
| 6 | Kin | Jasmila Žbanić | Craig Mazin | February 19 2023 |
| 7 | Left Behind | Liza Johnson | Neil Druckmann | February 26 2023 |
| 8 | When We Are in Need | Ali Abbasi | Craig Mazin | March 5 2023 |
| 9 | TBA | Ali Abbasi | Craig Mazin | March 12 2023 |
4. Where to Watch The Last of Us
The Last of Us is streaming exclusively on HBO & HBO Max in the US.
5. Episode 7 Recap
The episode opens in an abandoned garage, with a bleeding-out Joel on the floor and a panicked Ellie. The older man asks her to leave without him, Ellie walks to the door, and that’s when we’re immersed in a flashback. The girls at the QZ taunt Ellie, and she earns a lecture with an officer and a black eye.
Later, in her room, her roommate Riley surprisingly drops in, and Ellie gives her a piece of her mind, and undeterred, Riley only says that she wants to show her something. Riley takes Ellie to an abandoned mall, supposedly crawling with infected, but they find it empty and turn on the lights.
While showing her the four, sorry, five wonders, Riley tells Ellie she was with the Fireflies and that this is goodbye. At first, Ellie storms off, but then she returns, and Riley explains she has no future at the QZ, and Ellie accepts it. But while they dance, Ellie asks Riley not to go and kisses her, and Riley agrees.
Their adorable moment is crashed when an infected rushes at them, and though they come out victorious, both find out they were bitten. Ellie rampages, and Riley sits quietly, telling the younger teen they have two options. But soon, they simply break down and cry while holding on to each other, and the scene returns to Joel.
It turns out that Ellie, who now knew what it was like to have a family and someone worth fighting for, for the first time after Riley, had stayed. She scavenges for a thread and needle and heads down to sew Joel back up.
6. About The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is an HBO TV series adaptation of the award-winning video game of the same name originally developed by Naughty Dog.
It is set in 2033, as a fungal infestation plagues humans, turning them feral and blind before finally finishing them off. The series follows Joel’s journey to escort an immune 14-year-old Ellie to the Fireflies, who hope to study her to procure a vaccine.
The cast comprises Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, both famed for their roles in Games of Thrones, along with Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, and Nico Parker. The show was renewed for season 2.
No Comments on The Last of Us S1 Episode 8: Release Date, Recap, and Speculation