The Last Of Us: Who Are David’s Group? Episode 8 Villains Explained

The Last of Us episode 8 introduces David and his group to the story, as well as a new collection of villains for the HBO adaptation's penultimate episode. After The Last of Us episodes 6 and 7 focused on Ellie's efforts to save Joel's life after he was injured, The Last of Us episode 8 picks up the pace in an action-packed episode. The Last Of Us: Who is David's group? Keep reading for more detailed information.

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Given that Pedro Pascal's Joel was seriously wounded in The Last of Us episode 6's cliffhanger conclusion, David initially appears to Ellie as a blessing in disguise. The man offers to exchange a deer Ellie hunted for some Penicillin to treat Joel's infected wound. However, with Ellie's efforts to save Joel in The Last of Us episode 7 only reducing Joel's blood loss, the seemingly too-good-to-be-true trade deal quickly turns sour as David's true intentions and dark nature are revealed.

#1. David Leads A Religious Group.

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Before David (Scott Shepherd) and his group are revealed as the true villains of The Last of Us episode 8, the episode showcases David as a preacher chosen to lead a religious group. While David's followers are not overtly shown as religious, David later explains that they simply needed someone to lead them, something that David — and through him, God — can provide. David holds regular sermons, with a sign in the community common room that reads "When we are in need, He shall provide," with the first part lending its name to The Last of Us episode 8 titled "When We Are in Need."

Also: The Last Of Us 3 Story: Will There Be The Last Of Us 3?

#2. David’s Last Of Us Backstory Explained.

David's backstory in HBO's The Last of Us season 1, episode 8 is intriguing because he was not always religious. Despite his role as a community preacher, David admits that he was a teacher before the outbreak. He states he was a math teacher and taught children around Ellie's age.

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David reveals that he was originally part of the Pittsburgh quarantine zone following the outbreak, a nice nod to the original The Last of Us game, as Henry and Sam's tale takes place in Pittsburgh in the source material. David claims that after the Pittsburgh QZ was destroyed, he and a group departed and began gathering more people. Instead of settling in one spot for too long, which attracted raiders, they moved around a lot before settling in the town depicted in the episode.

#3. David’s Group Link To Episode 6’s University.

David's transformation from a friendly man to The Last of Us episode 8's main antagonist begins with the revelation that he is linked to the men from the previous episode's ending. David reveals that the men who attacked Joel and Ellie in Colorado were members of his organization and that Joel murdered the man who stabbed him. This causes Ellie to worry, as she fears David will exact revenge on her.

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David, on the other hand, is adamant that Ellie survive. Despite this, David and a group of men pursue Ellie to Joel's location, meaning to bring Joel to justice for killing the man at the end of The Last of Us episode 6. While David and James (original Last of Us game actor Troy Baker) return Ellie to their community alive, three other men remain behind to locate Joel. While Joel is still recovering from his injury, the Penicillin given to him by David enables him to kill one of the men following him. He then interrogates the other two guys to locate the town and rescue Ellie.

Also: Who Did Joel Kill In The Last Of Us? Updated News

#4. David’s Group In Episode 8 Is Cannibals.

The fact that David and his gang are cannibals is perhaps the most shocking revelation for anyone who hasn't played the original The Last of Us game. However, The Last of Us episode 8 makes it obvious that only a few people in the community are aware of this. The others are kept in the dark and told they consume meats like venison or rabbit, which is a minor departure from the first The Last of Us game. While David's cannibalism is revealed later in The Last of Us, episode 8, there are some clues earlier.

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One occurs in the first scene involving David's crew when a grieving young girl wonders when they will be able to bury her father, the same man Joel killed in The Last of Us episode 6. After exchanging glances with James, David declares that the earth is too cold to dig and that he will be buried in the spring. This is a clear indication that they will never bury him, but that the girl's father will be fed to a hungry community as game flesh. Another hint is James' reluctance to consume the meat, demonstrating his understanding of its nature.

#5. David’s Dark Nature Comes To Light.

Following the revelation of David's cannibalism when Bella Ramsey's Ellie discovers a human ear on the floor, another harrowing truth about his nature is revealed after The Last of Us episode 8. David hints throughout his conversations with Ellie that he is not the benevolent, good-natured leader he professes to be. David's facade begins to crumble as he admits his fixation with Cordyceps, stating that he admires its drive to secure its future through violence and that "it loves," and admitting that he has a violent heart.

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This is exacerbated after the episode when David attempts to sexually assault Ellie. "The fighting is the portion I like the most," he says after Ellie retaliates. This comes after David says Ellie is unique — after discovering her Last of Us immunity — and, having inappropriately touched her hands earlier, states that he will "keep" Ellie, treating her as an object he can possess rather than a person. All of this was hinted at in the original The Last of Us game but is emphasized much more clearly in HBO's adaptation, transforming David into the real villain of The Last of Us episode 8.
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