The Last Of Us viewers pour one out for Callus the horse

Warning: this article contains spoilers for The Last of Us episode eight.

It’s been several days now since The Last of Us’ penultimate episode aired, and I still can’t stop thinking about it.

‘When We Are In Need’ is, at the time of writing, the series’ highest-rated and most-watched episode, and it’s no wonder why. It was as emotional as it was action-packed, as Ellie fought for her life against creepy cannibalistic group leader David while Joel rose from death’s door to brutally interrogate the hunters who were sent after him.

Take a look at the trailer for The Last of Us' season one finale below.

Viewers have been full of praise for both Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s performances, and many are still emotionally recovering from the “It’s okay, baby girl” line at the end of the episode. However, one four-legged hero sadly met a tragic end during the episode, which many on Twitter are devastated about.

I’m of course talking about Callus the horse - the loyal steed who Ellie and Joel borrowed from Tommy back in Jackson in order to continue their journey. Unfortunately, in their determination to capture Ellie, David and his group shot and killed poor Callus. While no real horses have been hurt in the show, it was still a pretty shocking scene, especially for fans who haven’t played the game (where Callus meets the same fate).

"Crying at The Last of Us because of the horse,” tweeted one fan. “WHYYY WOULD THEY SHOOT THE HORSE IN THE LAST OF US WHAT THE F**K I literally screamed,” another wrote. “Cannot believe they just shot the horse in The Last of Us [episode] eight, I am so upset,” said another. “The horse getting shot in The Last of Us was the saddest part of the series,” another tweeted.

The Last of Us never fails to be heartbreaking, does it? There’s no doubt that the finale of season one will be an emotional watch too - it’ll air on Sunday 12 March in the U.S. and Monday 13 March in the UK.