After a short break, the final episode of Season 1 of The Last of Us returned with a self-contained episode. The seventh episode of this season, titled Left Behind, centers on Bella Ramsey's character, Ellie, and offers a somber meditation on coming-of-age romance within the show's post-apocalyptic setting, as well as delving further into Ellie's traumatic past. Left Behind is a much more heartbreaking standalone story than the season's widely acclaimed third episode, and it's the best chance for Ramsey to show off their acting chops before The Last of Us concludes.
The HBO adaptation of The Last of Us stays true to the games it was inspired by thanks to its creators, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, being avid gamers. Despite some changes made to add depth and improve certain aspects from the game, HBO's The Last of Us has proven it to be faithful to the original game. The numerous callbacks, references, and hidden details throughout The Last of Us, especially in episode 7, make this abundantly clear.
Tragic Lines For Riley
The final line spoken in The Last of Us is delivered by Riley in Episode 7. Aware that she and Ellie have contracted the virus, Riley informs the other girls that they can choose between two different courses of action. To quote Riley from the video game, "we can be all poetic and just lose our minds together"; this line is also used in the show.
Mall Bucket List
Ellie's fixation with Mortal Kombat II. In the second half of the episode, Riley refills the arcade's coin supply so that Ellie can play the game, and the two spend a considerable amount of time together doing so. When Ellie describes Melina's fatal blow in The Last of Us, episode 2, the game displays the same information that appears in episode 7.
Ellie and Riley's photo booth photos are a further reference to the The Last of Us source material. Most of the pictures are boring repetitions of the same "scary" poses the girls strike. The promotional poster for the DLC featured a photo of Ellie and Riley taken in a photo booth...
Shout Out To Game Mechanics
In both The Last of Us games, there is a mechanic where the player must repeatedly bang the controller against their hand to reignite their flashlight. In the seventh episode of The Last of Us, Ellie's flashlight breaks down as she makes her way through the mall. Ellie bangs the flashlight against her hand to make it work again, a neat and subtle reference that only fans of The Last of Us and Part II will pick up on.
The Last Of Us Part II Teased
Finally, there are two Easter eggs in Episode 7 of The Last of Us that feature the 1980s band A-ha and hint at Season 2. In The Last of Us Part II, the band's song Take On Me plays an integral role, serving as a connecting thread between Ellie, Joel, and her suitor prospects. In the seventh episode of The Last of Us, a cassette tape of A-ha can be seen in Ellie's room. Take On Me plays in the background as Ellie and Riley enjoy themselves at the mall, establishing a precedent for the song's association with Ellie's possible romantic interest in the second season when it is performed by Dina.
Is there anything we haven't found yet? Let's hear them below, and make sure you catch the season finale next week!