The 7th episode of The Last of Us TV series is titled Left Behind. It is a deep and emotionally turbulent look into Ellie’s past, intertwining overtones of survival and resilience. This episode is directed by Liza Johnson, and it’s the adaptation of the downloadable content (DLC) from the game under the same title, exploring Ellie’s life before meeting Joel and, in this sense, giving definition to the character of Ellie. The episode seamlessly navigates flashbacks with contemporary events, balancing action and emotion with poignant character vignettes.
Struggle in the Present Time
The episode takes off with Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) facing the aftermath of Joel’s severe injury from the last episode. In really bad shape, Joel is in, and Ellie seems to be losing hope. She is fighting hard, trying to scavenge the supplies she needs in order to keep Joel alive. In that sense, it gives the episode a sense of immediacy and emphasizes exactly how determined and resourceful Ellie is and, for what, she is fighting to stay safe.
Ellie’s Life
This section of the episode mainly features flashbacks into Ellie’s life before she met Joel. We get to understand who Riley is: she’s a best friend of Ellie’s, and maybe more importantly, her first love. Many flashback scenes are set at an abandoned mall where Riley undertakes a kind of journey with Ellie a rediscovery of fun, trying to present to Ellie resolutely an illusory reflection of the short respite from the tough reality that they’ve got. These moments will be charged with nostalgia, full of a sense of young, even childlike rebellion, in sharp contrast to the dangers of the world around them.
The Mall Adventure
This basically forms the meat and core of the episode. Their adventure in this mall is the point in which a new recruit to the Fireflies, a friend, is taken through the different attractions of the mall: a carousel, a photo booth, and an arcade. These are beautiful scenes sculpted in the most perfect way to try to capture that feeling of teenage friendship and longing for things to be normal. The joy and excitement of their night in the mall provide a poignant counterpoint to the ever-present threat of the infected.
Riley’s Revelation
The other thing, being a very imperative story element, is that during their time in the mall, Riley tells Ellie that she is leaving to join the Fireflies for good, leading to a heated, emotional confrontation between the two friends. This revelation adds complexity to their relationship, highlighting themes of loyalty, loss, and the desire for a better future. This makes the tension between Riley’s devotion to the Fireflies and Ellie’s feelings of abandonment palpable, adding more depth to their characters and their bond.
The Infected Attack
At the climax of the episode, the infected, led by the noise from the mall, finally attack Ellie and Riley. An action-packed thrilling sequence gives a thrilling experience as the two girls fight for their lives. Yet, despite their efforts, they are both bitten, leading to a heavy-hearted and tragic conclusion. This moment is such an important turning point in Ellie’s story, marking the beginning of her self-awareness regarding her immunity and the profound sense of loss that will come to shape her character.
Back to the Present
The episode goes back to the present day, with Ellie out to save Joel. The flashbacks explain just about everything she does and why she’s unwilling to give up on him. What she underwent with Riley and the lessons taught by living with her reinforce her resilience and determination. The episode ends on a hopeful note since Ellie is granted the strength to continue fighting for Joel’s survival.
Key People
Ellie
Bella Ramsey really gets to show off the acting she’s done in this episode. This episode gives the series a deep dive into Ellie’s past, showing what motivates her and the depth of her emotion. Ramsey captures the innocence, vulnerability, and fierce determination of Ellie, making her journey compelling and relatable. These scenes with Riley open up new layers to Ellie’s character, emphasizing the aspects of love and loyalty that she is capable of.
Riley
Storm Reid as Riley brings a performance that is outstanding in its warmth, charisma, and complexity. Riley is key to the episode, as much of what it consists of is the nuances of her friendship with Ellie and the young, fresh bond that is also a blossoming romance. The arc of Riley’s commitment to the Fireflies and what it stirs inside her adds depth to her character, making her a memorable, impactful part of Ellie’s story.
Joel
Pedro Pascal is more on the periphery of this episode with his Joel, but his presence is always acutely felt. Joel’s vulnerability and Ellie’s determination to save him bind him. Pascal’s worn-down Joel and Ellie’s role reversal from the original game contribute to that extended dynamic: mutual dependence and trust, defined by their partnership.
Heroes and Villains
Heroes
Ellie: Ellie is the central hero of the episode, with her resilience and determination driving the narrative. Her experiences with Riley and her attempts to rescue Joel exemplify the power and emotional intensity of her character. As she travels from a carefree teenager to a determined survivor, Ellie’s transformation is central to the episode.
Riley also becomes a heroine through this journey, courageous and loyal to Ellie, fleshing out her character. Riley’s influence over Ellie and their collective experiences will shape the self-definition of Ellie with regard to friendship, love, and sacrifice.
Villains
The main villain of this episode is the infected, whose intrusion and attack disrupt the short spans of happiness and normalcy that Ellie and Riley would have together. They are a constant reminder of the tough world in which they live, and the ever-present threat of violence and loss.
Ambiguous Figures
The Fireflies are painted in a more ambiguous light with Riley’s participation. While they are resistance against an oppressive regime, their means and the consequences of their actions come across as layered. Riley’s strong attachment to the Fireflies and her decision to part with Ellie represent the moral ambiguities and tough choices the characters have to make.
Funny/Interesting Moments
The Carousel Ride
One of the greatest, heartwarming moments from the series was the carousel ride. Ellie and Riley are in absolute joy and excitement as they ride the carousel. This captures the moment of childhood innocence and happiness salient to the protagonists’ character. This is a very well-shot scene and emphasizes the bitterness of reality in the larger picture.
The Photo Booth
The photo booth sequence is hilarious and nostalgic. It’s really adorable how Ellie and Riley play in the photobooth and try to pose around. The photos clicked are like snapshots of their friendship and of those very few moments of normalcy.
The Arcade
The final scene at the arcade is quite thrilling and exciting. The way Ellie and Riley are excited in their adventure of video games is just contagious. Through this scene, we get a better insight into Ellie’s character and why she has some longing for a normal teenage life.
Talking Points
Ellie’s Past and Relationship
Ellie’s past and particularly her relationship with Riley bring an important context to her character development in the story. The flashbacks shed light on the emotional experiences that formed Ellie and frame her understanding of love, loss, and survival. A lot of discussions take place regarding how these experiences shape Ellie’s current actions and decisions.
Themes of Friendship and Love
These are the core themes considered in the episode: friendship and love, most especially that of Ellie with Riley. Their relationship between the two and the emotional depth of their relationship bring forth different layers to the story. These often touch on issues of their being friends and how that shapes the character of Ellie as well as her interaction with other people.
Moral Ambiguity of the Fireflies
Riley becomes morally ambiguous by her association with the Fireflies. With Riley comes discussions mainly focusing on the issues of the ethics and morals regarding their actions and the very hard choices that its members have to make. The very fact of her participation in the Fireflies and another, much more difficult choice—her leaving Ellie—mark that personal conflict and sacrifice.
Emotional and Visual Storytelling
This is perhaps the biggest point of discussion when it comes to the episode. The way the flashbacks work, along with the atmospheric setting at the mall and moments of both joy and tragedy, is exquisite. A big part of discussions leads to the effectiveness of these elements to show the themes and emotions of the episode.
Impact of the Infected
More or less, the attack by the infected is brutal and a remainder of the world’s dangers, the danger that has to be appreciated, and the fragility of life. Most of the conversations are based on the impact of this event on Ellie and Riley and how it shaped the understanding of the meaning of survival and loss for Ellie. The role of the infected wreckers becomes a central theme to displace moments of normalcy and happiness.
The Broader Significance for the Series
The revelations and character development that take place within this episode do hold some wider implications for the series. Most important is the factor of Ellie’s past and her relationship with Riley for understanding the journey with Joel. This disquisition often goes into how this will represent the general story, the character arc, etc.
In short, subtitles Left Behind, the seventh episode of Season 1 of the series The Last of Us, is a dark piece of poignancy and evocative insight into Ellie’s past and the relationship she shared with Riley, the gift of the present, filled with flashbacks, giving a nice twist to the story, a friendship, love, and survival story vis-à-vis the two central characters. Played with just the right amount of intensity by Bella Ramsey and Storm Reid, they allude to the layers of complexity between their characters and the relationships that bind them. And with the series moving on, so will the implications brought on by this single episode, with hopefully the hold steady to keep an audience glued to the screens as Joel and Ellie unfold amidst this rich and complex web that is The Last of Us.
