Naughty Dog's The Last of Us was released in between entries in its Uncharted franchise. Because of that, fans had no idea what to expect, as its trailer showcased a serious story that examined the human condition in a post-apocalyptic environment. Its biggest draw at the time was the creatures that players would encounter, all with horrific designs. These monsters would put players at a disadvantage due to their numbers, strength and speed. However, once the game was released, fans realized that the real dangers had nothing to do with the infected creatures they encountered.
Throughout the game, protagonists Joel and Ellie traveled across the country, hoping that Ellie's immunity to the infection could lead to a cure. Everywhere they went, the two encountered new people with their own stories. Many, like Sam and Henry, were tragic and human, showing what innocent people must do to try and survive. However, there are others who embrace their darker natures and used the harrowing situation to become truly despicable and terrifying people. One of these is David.
The Winter arc starts with Ellie in the middle of a hunt while tending to Joel, who was injured while escaping multiple bandits. She encounters David and James, who offer to trade some antibiotics for a share of the meat from Ellie's kill. Following this deal, the player and David work together to fight off the infected, with David earning enough trust to talk to Ellie. He explains his belief that everything happens for a reason, determining that fate brought the two of them together. Ellie's dismissal of that idea serves to reveal David's true nature.
David reveals that the bandits who attacked Joel and Ellie were his men. From there, David lets Ellie escape, hoping that he'll be able to get to Joel. This culminates in a lengthy segment where Ellie is forced to kill a number of David's men before being captured. Upon being taken to David's hideout, Ellie learns that his group of bandits are cannibals.
Just as David is finally about to kill Ellie, she escapes, taking out one of his men in the process. What follows is a harrowing chase and a boss fight where David, carrying a machete, stalks the young girl in a restaurant. The fight itself is nerve-racking, as David could quickly overpower Ellie. However, Ellie manages to kill David and continues to hack at his body repeatedly after his death. It takes the arrival of Joel, who followed the trail that led to David's compound, to calm her down.
The event haunts Ellie for some time after, and she is distant towards Joel for a while. David's manipulation and attempt to take advantage of Ellie's innocence to kill both her and Joel changes her, making it abundantly clear how dark the world has become. On the surface, David seemed like a decent leader who cared for his people -- but he was merely a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Under the surface, David was wildly manipulative and had no problem luring in you people, with Ellie being referred to as David's "newest pet." Eventually, karma came back on him, but this came at the cost of Ellie's innocence and her ability to trust the world as a whole. Even after his death at her hands, David's cruel actions and malicious intentions managed to profoundly traumatize Ellie, making him the series' sickest and most terrifying villain.
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