| "When We Are in Need" | |
|---|---|
| The Last of Us episode | |
 Ellie (Bella Ramsey) is traumatized after killing David. Ramsey considered the moment a turning point for Ellie.[1] Critics praised their performance and the cinematography.[2][3] | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 8 |
| Directed by | Ali Abbasi |
| Written by | Craig Mazin |
| Cinematography by | Nadim Carlsen |
| Editing by | Cindy Mollo |
| Original air date | March 5, 2023 |
| Running time | 51 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"When We Are in Need" is the eighth episode of the first season of the American post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us. The episode was written by series co-creator Craig Mazin and directed by Ali Abbasi. It aired on HBO on March 5, 2023. In the episode, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) attempts to protect Joel (Pedro Pascal). She encounters a group of survivors led by a preacher, David (Scott Shepherd), who wants vengeance against Joel and shows interest in Ellie.
The episode was filmed in February 2022 in Alberta. Troy Baker, who portrayed Joel in the video games on which the series is based, guest starred as James; co-creators Mazin and Neil Druckmann considered his inclusion important due to his proximity to the games. The episode received positive reviews, with praise for its direction, cinematography, and performances of Ramsey and Shepherd, though some critics found its pacing rushed. It was watched by 8.1 million viewers on its first day. Ramsey was nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards for their performance in the episode.