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The Last of Us: What’s the song at the end of the first episode and what does it mean?
The series’ showrunner explains why they picked Depeche Mode’s Never Let Me Down Again for the ending credits of the pilot episode.
As if they hadn’t already done amazing in so many aspects, the pilot for The Last of Us went ahead and ended with Depeche Mode. The first episode of the series sealed the deal with Never Let Me Down Again, the chosen song for the final moments of the beginning of the series. But while it has an immediate diagetic meaning for the plot, it’s not just because of nostalgia from the creators or their personal taste: there’s a deeper meaning for it. Craig Mazin, showrunner for the new HBO show, explained at length their decision on the official HBO Podcast.
“There is a grand tradition of 80s music in The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II, and 80s means trouble,” says Mazin. “I love that line, because one of the things that Neil has done so beautifully at Naughty Dog is hurt you for the things you love and taking things that are bright and beautiful and cheery and optimistic, and giving them this dark undertone.”
He dived into the real reason the song plays at the end: "A lot of 80s music is chipper and fun but with this, I was looking for an up-tempo 80s song that had a darkness to it lyrically. What "Never Let Me Down Again" is about is 'I'm taking a ride with my best friend' — he was singing about drugs, it was a song about addiction. Well, Ellie's about to take a ride with her best friend, and Joel is a dangerous man. Joel's about to take a ride with his best friend, he doesn't know she's his best friend yet. She's a dangerous little girl. Now, the point is, you're 'never gonna let me down'? They are gonna let each other down, and then they're not, and then they are, and then they're not. That thought was a really interesting way in.”
The director also let audiences know that the song will be heard again during the first season of The Last of Us, but that when it does it’ll be in “a very different way and in a very different context.” Don’t forget that you can already check when each of the remaining episodes will be released, and also find out how long each of them is.