‘The Last of Us’ Recap: Season 1, Episode 8 — ‘When We Are in Need’

I’m really trying not to complete trash the show either. It’s got some great performances, creates tension well, and has high production value. I just think it’s never lived back up to the heights it created with the opening scene. And have turned away from a lot of that into other stuff that doesn’t advance the story at all. If it was 22 episodes or even 14-15 that wouldn’t be a big deal. With 9 it’s not working. The whole show/game is the development of the relationship between the two leads, and that seems to get cut short for side characters who die and never appear again. The performances this episode make you believe the relationship is there, but you don’t feel it because it hasn’t been earned..I’m definitely not going to be a spoiler guy, but I think a lot of your observations are spot on. I don’t have too much problem with him dispatching the guys because they kidnapped Ellie and he’s going to do anything to protect her. Leaving guys behind to get loose and come after you when you’re already outnumbered (and they were obviously sent there to kill you) doesn’t trip my moral apocalypse meter. (I will defend them that it’s quite possible they didn’t know they were cannibals, because he says he didn’t tell everyone…but the looks said they knew). Joel’s miraculous recovery was impressive though. But they definitely have gotten to the “‘good guys’ are killing Negan’s men in their sleep phase of the Walking Dead” way faster to get us to the “who are the good guys/are there any good guys?” phase. Though in this case, unlike Walking Dead, by design I believe. Whether that works for you or anyone is definitely a YMMV thing.