James is a supporting character in the first season of HBO's The Last of Us.[1] He is a senior member of a group of cannibalistic survivors led by David.[2]
Biography[]
Background[]
James was a survivor of the Cordyceps brain infection outbreak. He made his way to the Pittsburgh quarantine zone but eventually left it in 2017 after it collapsed from a conflict between FEDRA and the Fireflies. Upon leaving the zone, he allied with former resident David and joined his group of survivors. He believed in David's faith that he could lead them to safety by following a Christian-inspired form of religion. They settled in numerous places over the years, but were attacked by raiders, leading them to eventually settle in the isolated resort of Silver Lake in the mountain range of Colorado sometime before the summer of 2023. James grew close to David, becoming one of his most faithful followers.
By the winter of that year, the deep snow and lack of animals to hunt led David to decide the group had to resort to cannibalism to survive. James, as one of David's closest followers, was privy to this, with the man complicit in David's actions to kill humans and butcher them to eat. During that winter, Alec was murdered by a "crazy man" traveling with a little girl. James sought vengeance on these people for what they did.[2]
Events of HBO's The Last of Us[]
James was present in Todd's Steakhouse in Silver Lake, listening to David's sermon as the group mourned Alec's death. When Alec's daughter, Hannah, asked if her father's body could be buried, David shared a look with James, the man shaking his head.
After the sermon, James assured David that his group remained loyal to him despite Alec's death but David insisted the doubt he sensed came from James himself. This claim led James to admit his faith had been shaken by recent events, especially the harsh winter. David tried to uplift him, remarking they should go hunting for deer together. The pair collected hunting rifles and traveled two miles from the resort.
In the forest, they came across a dead deer. James suggested they take it, hoping the person who shot it was not nearby. However, a little girl snuck up behind and aimed a rifle at them, ordering them to drop their rifles. James and David complied, the former letting David try to talk the girl down. However, David's demeanor changed, the man instead ordering James to help the girl by collecting two bottles of penicillin from their resort and bringing it back to her as she asked. Confused, James left.
When he returned, he found David had surmised that the girl was the one traveling with the "crazy man" who had killed Alex. Angered, James aimed his pistol at her but David insisted he lower the gun and let her run away. Frustrated, James conceded, but questioned David's decision, the man remarking they would track her to the crazy man to enact vengeance for Alec the following day.
The pair then grabbed the deer and dragged it back to the resort, revealing it to their group in Todd's Kitchen. James then watched on as David gave another sermon to the group and assaulted Hannah for speaking out of turn. He then ate with the group, hesitantly eating meat that he knew was not venison but actually human flesh.
The following day, James followed David with Josiah, Marco and Timothy to track the girl. While they searched a town, James spoke against David's desire to spare her, suggesting that perhaps God wanted her to die instead. At this suggestion, David stopped walking and glared at James, the man looking away shamefully. However, gunshots rang out, the group realizing the girl was on a horse and firing at them. James rushed through the streets, flanking ahead of Ellie's path and used his rifle to shoot the horse, sending Ellie crashing to the ground. James ran over to her and - at his group's insistence - prepared to execute her. However, David fired off his rifle, stopping James from killing her.
Sometime later, David informed James he had changed his mind and wanted to kill her to eat. James joined him in the kitchen, helping him restrain and pin Ellie on their chopping table. However, Ellie revealed she was infected. While initially doubtful, upon seeing Ellie's healed bite, James grew scared, letting Ellie go at the suggestion she may have infected David. This fear allowed Ellie to grab a meat cleaver and hack James in his throat, killing him.[2]
Appearance[]
James was a tall man with a thick brown beard. He was slim and well built, wearing jumpers, a fur coat while hunting and also wore a beanie cap when outside as well.[2]
Personality[]
James held a reserved and submissive nature. A religious man, he submitted to what he deemed as "God's way" and judged that to be following his leader David and serving his will where necessary. This led him to becoming a believer that cannibalism was necessary to survive, even if it brought him discomfort, and to see even his deceased friends and group members as mere food to sustain his own survival. His subservience to David was absolute, the man characterized as one of his most loyal "sheep", blindly following his desires - like sparing Ellie - even if he personally did not want to spare her.
Despite this, James did hold vengeance in his heart, having a blood lust for Ellie and a desire to also avenge Alec's demise, who had died by Joel's hands.[2]
Relationships[]
David[]
James was David's most loyal follower, enough that he considered him a personal friend. James was completely loyal to David, following all of his orders - ranging from practicing cannibalism, accepting his interpretations of the Bible and heeding his commands to spare Ellie even though he personally wanted to kill her. This faith was not absolute though, as James had grown doubtful in David's beliefs in recent months, brought on by the harsh winter and David's mercy.
Despite this, he was immensely loyal to the man, displaying guilt and even regret at challenging David's beliefs in God and desire to show mercy to Ellie and displaying a gesture of protection when Ellie threatened him.[2]
Ellie[]
James and Ellie immediately had an extremely hostile relationship with one another, with Ellie initially being distrustful of James and ready to kill him if need be. When the two first met, she even mockingly called him "Buddy-Boy".
Once James discovered that Ellie was associated with Joel - who had killed Alec - he held her at gunpoint, stating that she shouldn't be allowed to live after what she and Joel did to their group. James' anger towards Ellie was only withheld by his loyalty to David, as he obeyed the latter's orders to lower his gun and give her the penicillin, albeit with reluctance. Later, James willingly held Ellie down to help David butcher her, displaying no qualms with murdering the child.
However, when Ellie announced that she was infected and capable of spreading the infection to others, James expressed fear and hesitated to keep her restrained. However, this led to Ellie taking advantage of the opportunity to escape and wound up hacking his neck with a cleaver, killing him.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
- James is portrayed by American voice actor and musician Troy Baker, best known for providing the voice and motion capture for Joel Miller in the video game series.[1] In an interview with Deadline, Baker stated that fans will "hate" his character, but said "hopefully they'll understand me."[3]
Gallery[]
Official stills[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Romano, Nick (December 3, 2022). "The Last of Us trailer reveals new characters created for show, more monsters". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 HBO's The Last of Us episode 8: "When We Are in Need"
- ↑ Outlaw, Kofi (January 10, 2023). "The Last of Us Game's Original Joel Actor Says Fans Will Hate His New Character for HBO Show". ComicBook.com. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
