Warning, spoilers. It is recommended that you watch The Last of Us Episode 8 before continuing reading this article.
After the heartbreaking Episode 7 adaptation of the “Left Behind” DLC, The Last of Us returns with a bloody penultimate chapter. In “When We’re in Trouble,” Ellie (Bella Ramsey) continues to watch over a critically injured Joel (Pedro Pascal).
While hunting in a snowy forest, Ellie meets David (Scott Shepherd), a preacher in charge of a group of survivors. Thinking she can trust him after he lets her get some penicillin for Joel, Ellie ends up trapped by this cannibalistic cult leader.
It is understood that the man responsible for Joel’s injury is part of David’s group and he is looking for revenge. Scary and evil, the preacher locks Ellie up and violently abuses her. The young girl manages to fend off the claws before finding a better fit Joel, who has broken a few skulls along the way to find what he now almost considers his daughter.
The “Real” Joel in Episode 8!
If this eighth episode of The Last of Us faithfully adapts a very painful part of the video game, it allows itself a new addition, which is still a note of the work of the video game!
One of David’s lineage and right-hand man named James is a fictional character. And he’s played by Troy Baker, the comedian who voiced and motion-captured Joel in The Last of Us video games.
For the series, Troy Baker completely switches register and thus portrays the antagonist. As he explained DeadlineThe fact that Neil Druckman (creator of video games) called in the TV adaptation was already a blessing:
“Neil was excited about this potential role. He told me he had a character in mind for me if I was interested. It would be fine if I wasn’t interested. And I said, ‘Man, if there’s anything for me. .’ To be honest, I thought I was going to be a clicker. So that’s the update. I was very happy.
And then, reading James’s score, I thought I’d set myself a good challenge. I like to play a villain to show you that he is not a villain. Because if I can make her love her for just a second, then I can hate her even more when I need to. I like this dance, it attracts me very much.”
Joel’s original translator, Troy Baker, is one of those people who knows the video game and its essence. That’s why it was easy and stimulating for him to find and add complexity to the antagonist’s place. Because each character that Joel and Ellie meet is a parallel or counterpoint to the relationship between the two characters:
“It’s about realizing that every character we meet throughout this story is in some way a reflection of Joel and/or Ellie. David is a reflection of Joel. It’s the wrong side of the coin, because here’s someone observing who they are. Close to the heart And who is willing to do whatever it takes.
So to me, James was a good guy and the world was tough on him. And if you look at these people, they came here to what they thought was the promised land, and they had a hard winter that made them the worst versions of themselves. And I think this episode is a good lesson in realizing that we’re all one day away from being the worst version of ourselves. “
And this new character, James, competes with Ellie because David wants to bring him into the group, almost as his equal. He sees in her a “companion” in his perverse and Machiavellian plan. This power struggle against Ellie and her complicated relationship with certain morals are among the features that most interest Troy Baker:
“And James knows he never would. When it came to firing a gun at a terrified 14-year-old girl lying in the snow, someone had to convince James to do it, and he didn’t want to. And it’s not because he’s afraid of getting in trouble with David, it’s because , that at the end of the day, he still has a sense of morality.
He’s attracted to David’s ego and tricks, but I don’t think James believes that for a second. His mentality is more like, “Whatever it takes to get us out of the winter, whatever it takes to get us to our actual promised land, I’m willing to do it.”
The Last of Us series is available on Prime Video.
Source: Allocine
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
