Why James Joined David's Cult In The Last Of Us, According To Troy Baker
This post contains spoilers for "The Last of Us" season 1, episode 8, "When We Are in Need."
When Groucho Marx resigned from the Friars' Club, he wrote the famous words, "I don't want to belong to any club that would accept me as one of its members." In the apocalypse, that sentiment should definitely apply to any cults looking to add people to its ranks. As a general rule, cults should be avoided at all costs, especially in a world gone mad from a deadly fungus that's wiped out most of the population.
In the penultimate episode of "The Last of Us," James (Troy Baker) is probably really starting to regret joining up as the second-in-command of the deranged cult leader, David (Scott Shepherd). All of James' doubts about locking arms with David — who has resorted to cannibalism to keep his flock alive — come to a head in episode 8, "When We Are in Need," as he's forced to stand behind David when they're both held at gunpoint by a desperate Ellie (Bella Ramsey).
The sense of desperation is palpable in episode 8 on both sides, leaving James to make a choice between being replaced by Ellie as David's lieutenant or taking her off the board completely. James' dedication to David's religious cult is evident, but he hasn't lost his humanity just yet. In an interview with Deadline, Baker spoke at length about how his character's internal struggle makes him a more compelling enemy:
"I definitely thought, 'If he's absent of a moral center, then he's just not interesting. He's just boring,' and the thing that I realize is that what James wants more than anything is to be the right hand of David. Not because he admires him or respects him but because he understands who he is."
The devil you know
Before things grew even more dire for the survivors of the Cordyceps outbreak, the religious community that David leads still had some semblance of a working society. At one point, David may have been considered a good leader, but desperation has caused him to lose his way. James has to make the difficult choice to take out Ellie as a threat and stick by David's side, no matter what the cost. Baker's explanation for why James stays in the cult is disheartening, but it's a logical reason given the circumstances:
"David is the Devil, and I definitely want to be on the right side of the Devil than the wrong side. So that's where James is positioning himself, and along comes this girl who can completely usurp that position, and that's what James clocks in David. In Ellie, David sees an equal, and that's what he wants. And James knows that's what he'll never be."
James stays more out of a desire to keep his status than any lasting dedication to David. He also sees how religion is being used as more of a method of control than a message of hope. "I think the thing James recognizes is that we've seen throughout history how people like David have [used religion] to rule and oppress people," Baker said. "When you strip people of all the tangible things like food, shelter, and warmth, the only things left are the intangible things like hope, faith, and belief, and those are the three weapons David uses against these people."
Baker's comments really drive home the harsh reality that comes bearing down in this episode, and how attempts to rebuild society can lead to complete ruin if the wrong people are leading the charge. The broken relationship between James and David makes the moment when Ellie and Joel reunite that much more meaningful: They're there for each other, and only each other.