Movies - TV
Why The Last Of Us Villain David Is Obsessed With Ellie At First Sight
By MICHAEL BOYLE
Spoiler Warning!
This story contains spoilers for
"The Last of Us" Episode 8.
Episode 8 of “The Last of Us” introduced audiences to David, a religious leader of a mysterious settlement near Ellie and Joel’s hideout. While David first appears as a friendly figure, he is later revealed to be a cannibal and disturbingly obsessed with Ellie, and as the show’s co-creator Craig Mazin explained, “David’s interest in Ellie is not merely paternal.”
From David’s past as a school teacher to his disturbing behavior toward the fatherless girl in his community, it’s clear that he’s a pedophile, and Ellie is his newest target. Mazin said, “He wants to own her. And I think it happens immediately. [...] I think he is intensely attracted to her force of nature, her power.” David even tells Ellie, “The fighting is the part I like the most.”
Co-creator Neil Druckmann explained, “He has broken all the people around him. Right? It’s like sheep. And here he sees a wolf, like him”; however, this mindset proves to be his undoing as he severely underestimates Ellie and is killed during their confrontation. Ellie killing David reflects a complete rejection of his twisted worldview, where he is a protector and owner of teenage girls.