The Last Of Us' Revelation 21 Is The Chekhov's Gun Of Episode 8

This article contains spoilers for "The Last of Us" Episode 8, titled "When We Are in Need."

The penultimate episode of "The Last of Us" Season 1 closed out with a devastating bang, showing just how far Ellie (Bella Ramsey) has been pushed over the course of the series. Struggling to keep Joel (Pedro Pascal) alive after his gruesome encounter with raiders, Ellie finds herself bargaining with locals in the woodland area who happen to have medicine. The young survivor barters with David (Scott Shepherd), the leader of a local community on the verge of starvation. While the former teacher-turned-preacher initially appears to be a friend to Ellie, his vile intentions quickly manifest, traumatizing Ellie. 

As the episode continues, it's revealed that David has been intentionally lying to his community of followers by feeding them human flesh, making him one of television's many cannibalistic cult leaders. Though his initial demeanour posits him as a God-fearing (and loving) preacher, his hopes with Ellie prove that he's nothing more than a manipulative individual with sadistic fascinations.

What particularly makes David's arc as villain compelling is that the character's first lines of dialogue indirectly spell out his fate. The episode makes it a clear point to set up the character's downfall in the episode's opening. To make his fiery fate all the more deserving, it's fitting that his first line of dialogue is a Bible verse, which he uses to intimidate and control his followers with. His words, from Revelation 21, map out how exactly he will die. 

As "The Last of Us" Episode 8 opens, audiences hear David recite the opening words of Revelation 21 from the Bible. The section of the Bible, part of the Book of Revelation and the New Testament, discusses a new Earth. Without pointing out the obvious, "The Last of Us" takes place in a radically different world, one filled to the brim with infected. While David doesn't complete his recitation of Revelation 21, it does features a verse that ties into the cannibal's fate.

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death," reads Revelation 21, per Bible Gateway. This verse comes back to bite David, making it this episode's Chekov Gun. Those who pay close attention to this passage will realize that David meets the fate of the "fearful, and unbelieving..." by dying in part, thanks to a burning fire in the episode's final moments. Note the mention of a "second death," as David, literally, dies by Ellie's hands, and receives a metaphorical/religious passing in fire, one specifically afforded to him thanks to his unethical behavior.

David also fits the description of the type of individual the Bible verse is saying one shouldn't associate with. Definitely a murderer and liar, David makes it a point to mention to Ellie that most of his followers are unaware that they're eating human flesh. The cult leader also implies to Ellie that he doesn't necessarily practice what he preaches, coming across as an idolator, likening himself as a false god for his followers.