Each week, “The Last of Us” on HBO continues to deliver episodes that pack an emotional punch. In the seventh installment, “Left Behind,” viewers are given a glimpse into Ellie’s past – specifically, the time before she met Joel and the incident that led to her being bitten. The episode picks up where the previous one left off: Joel has been stabbed and is badly hurt. Ellie takes him to an abandoned house and is faced with the choice of leaving him behind or trying to save him.
The show then flashes back to Ellie’s time at FEDRA school, where she was a rebellious student. After getting into a fight, she is sent to see Captain Kwong, who encourages her to straighten up and become an officer to help FEDRA. Ellie agrees, and we see her in her dorm, which is adorned with posters of sci-fi movies and comic books, and an empty bed that once belonged to a girl named Bethany. Soon, Ellie’s roommate Riley, who has been missing for three weeks, sneaks into her room and invites her on an adventure, promising her the best night of her life. The two spend the night exploring an abandoned shopping mall, enjoying the carousel, photo booth, arcade, and Halloween store. However, their night takes a dark turn when they get into a fight with a clicker and both end up being bitten.
Back in the present, Ellie decides to try and save Joel and frantically sews him up with a needle and thread. This episode stands out as one of the series’ best due to its effective use of Ellie’s past to contextualize the present and explain her struggle with saving Joel. It also showcases her personality, love for pop culture, and relationship with Riley, who is portrayed by guest star Storm Reid. The scenes in the shopping mall are particularly poignant, capturing the wonder and joy of childhood in a world where everything has been taken away. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers eager to find out what will happen to Joel and Ellie in the next installment.
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