The following review contains spoilers for Episode 7 of The Last of Us.
Human connections have become the focal point ofThe Last of Usand this week’s episode is another beautiful addition to this recurring theme. While last week’s episode left fans wondering whether Joel is going to survive a brutal attack, the seventh episode of the HBO series not only answers that question, but also explains why Ellie refuses to leave his side even though he could potentially bleed out and die.
In the past seven weeks,The Last of Ushas developed therelationship between Joel and Ellieslowly and subtly. It began with Joel not trusting Ellie and wanting to hand her off to the authorities because she could be infected. However, over the weeks, several other supporting characters have touched their lives and strengthened their bond in ways that fans may not have seen coming. This week, the focus shifts to Ellie and her relationship with a friend named Riley, but it serves a purpose in the broader picture of the two main characters, their journey, and the father-daughter bond that they share.
RELATED:The Last Of Us: What Happened To Tommy After the Outbreak?
There have been moments in previousThe Last of Usepisodes where Ellie has spoken about losing the people she loves, specifically a friend. This weekintroduces viewers to her backstory and her friend Riley. Even though the episode is set weeks before Joel and Ellie even met, it showcases what made Ellie the person that she is and the circumstances that made her aware of her immunity. All of these are important in the long run, and will affect the story moving forward.
When the episode begins, viewers may assume that it’ll focus on Ellie’s struggle to choose between staying or abandoning Joel. Can she truly leave him behind? Afterweeks of seeing their relationship becoming stronger, one would hope that won’t be the case. But, instead, the episode completely shifts gears and goes back in time to a night when Ellie was more carefree and didn’t have to worry about somebody dying on her watch.
This week’sThe Last of Usepisodeis a rare one that is filled with hope and joy, even though it is temporary. For a good forty minutes, viewers will forget about the infection and its disastrous effects on the world. It is refreshing to see Ellie be a typical teenager that escapes from her room in the middle of the night to visit the mall with her best friend. This episode is once again a reminder that this series is not just about the end of the world, but is instead about emotions, relationships, and the bond between individuals. While it takes the focus away from Joel and Ellie’s journey, it is the perfect addition to this character-driven series. Viewers get a chance to get to know Ellie better and understand her loss.
The cinematography continues to be phenomenalas the typically dull scenery is replaced with bright lights of a carousel and splashes of color around an abandoned mall. The change in scene is so clearly visible in Ellie’s eyes as she takes in the magical scene before her. Ellie and Riley dashing through the mall, playing arcade games, and dancing to music in silly Halloween masks is such a refreshing change for a series that is otherwise shrouded in darkness, sorrow, and death. Of course this change is short-lived, and so viewers should cherish it while it lasts.
AfterEpisode 3 ofThe Last of Us, fans spoke about Bill and Frank’s story for weeks. This week’s episode is in some ways a condensed recreation of that story, and Bella Ramsey’s performance as a teenager who is exploring her sexuality is equally commendable. Ellie and Riley’s bond was sadly cut short due to an unwelcome Infected. Following that, the tone in the episode suddenly returns to one of grief, a theme that fans have gotten used to over the past seven weeks. This isn’t the first supporting character that has been killed off, and at this point, it doesn’t even come as a surprise anymore.
Seeing how Ellie lost Riley in this post-pandemic world makes her a lot more human, and also displays her similarities to Joel and his backstory. Their actions are both spurred by their losses in the past, and it seems like their aim is now to keep from losing each other. Back to the present times, Ellie is seen suturing Joel’s wound, and staying by his side even though he asks her to leave. This scene cements their relationship, and it is evident that neither character is ready to leave the other behind no matter what happens. It may have taken weeks to get to this point, but from hereon, viewers know that there is no separating Joel and Ellie, and they will be a force to reckon with.
This week’s episode ofThe Last of Usis another step towards understanding therelationship between Joel and Ellie. Though complicated, it makes absolute sense. They are the two main characters, and fans have seen them develop over the weeks. While they aren’t related by blood, they are bound for life. Ellie and Riley decided to stay together after being attacked and bitten by an Infected, because they were best friends. Joel has become a father figure for her.
On its own, this episode is a beautiful tale of two teenagers breaking curfew and enjoying their last night together. But, it is just the right addition to the plot ofThe Last of Us. While this may seem like a filler episode to many, it is loaded withcrucial information from Ellie’s life, which is important to understand the motivation that drives her forward. She has already lost enough in her life, and she isn’t ready to lose Joel just yet.
The Last of Usis streaming on HBO Max.
More:The Last of Us Creator Explains Why HBO’s Joel Seems Softer Compared to the Games
