‘The Last of Us’ Episode 7 Recap: Absolutely Heartbreaking

The Last of Us episode 7 landed on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, following Ellie and Joel (Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal) after a nasty encounter with a marauder left Joel stabbed and close to loss of life.

It interrupted their quest to convey Ellie to the insurgent group referred to as the Fireflies. They’re hoping to probably restore society by replicating her immunity to the fungal an infection that is turned a lot of the world into lethal monsters.

Before that, Ellie’s gotta cease Joel from bleeding to loss of life. The state of affairs reminds her of a darkish second from her previous, one which sticks intently to a memorable a part of the sport. Let’s soar into SPOILERS for HBO’s adaptation of the Sony PlayStation recreation.

Strained friendship

Much of the episode takes place within the time earlier than Ellie and Joel met, when she was residing (and never getting alongside) with different children within the custody of FEDRA, the Federal Disaster Response Agency, which runs quarantine zones with the remnants of the US army.

After she will get in a tussle with one in every of her friends, a FEDRA officer presents her with various visions of her future within the zone: Continue messing about, find yourself a grunt with crappy duties, and certain die in some random accident. Or… present somewhat self-discipline, develop into an officer, and dwell a reasonably comfy life. She opts for the latter, however she would not appear wild about it.

After she stays up late studying a problem of Savage Starlight (a fictional comedian ebook collection you can accumulate within the recreation), her sleep is interrupted by runaway greatest buddy Riley (Storm Reid). Turns out Riley deserted FEDRA take care of the opposing Fireflies, however she is not visiting to recruit Ellie. 

“Come with me for a number of hours and have one of the best evening of your life,” she orders her pal.

Hell sure.

’80s model enjoyable

After transient stops to take a look at a lifeless man, knock again somewhat of the pre-apocalypse alcohol he left behind, and admire Riley’s sidearm (highlighting Ellie’s fascination with journey and loss of life), the pair head to — the place else? — the mall.

It seems FEDRA unknowingly restored energy to the mall, giving Ellie an opportunity to get a style of old-school consumerism. And run on an escalator to the tune of Norwegian synth-pop band A-ha’s ’80s traditional Take On Me. (Ellie has a replica of the group’s best hits in her quarters.) This tune makes a memorable look within the second recreation. Its iconic music video additionally reveals a lady taking a comic book ebook character’s hand and getting pulled into an journey — Ellie has a equally transcendent expertise after metaphorically taking Riley’s hand on this episode.

Bella Ramsey is so good right here, with Ellie’s awkwardness concerning the Victoria’s Secret lingerie and stolen glances at Riley hinting at her emotions. Those seems get longer because the alcohol takes impact.

Wonders of the mall

Turns out the escalator was only a precursor to the true enjoyable. The pair hop on a carousel that performs a model of The Cure’s Just Like Heaven (particularly, one which sounds quite a bit like Rockabye Baby’s Lullaby Rendition). Songwriter Robert Smith stated this tune was impressed by the romance of a visit he took with girlfriend Mary Poole, who’d later develop into his spouse.   

“The thought is that one evening like that’s value a thousand hours of drudgery,” he advised Blender journal in 2003, which is probably going how the present’s characters would expertise this journey.

Ellie and Riley’s night continues with a visit to the picture sales space, the place they strike a number of poses and get actual cozy in shut quarters.

Flawless victory

Their subsequent vacation spot seems to be “probably the most stunning factor I’ve ever seen” — a neon-drenched arcade. Through some miracle, most of the cubicles nonetheless work and so they hop on iconic 1993 fighter Mortal Kombat 2 (a poster for this recreation can be seen over Ellie’s mattress, hinting at her fascination). HBO father or mother firm Warner Bros. Discovery additionally owns the Mortal Kombat franchise, synergy FTW.

In their first battle, the extra skilled Riley opts for purple-garbed cannibal Mileena and Ellie opts for thunder god Raiden — it ends with Mileena’s wonderful bone-spitting fatality.

Ellie’s vengeance is available in a later spherical, when she manages Baraka’s nasty impalement finisher. They expertise that traditional Mortal Kombat ultraviolence euphoria afterward and the sparks of romance get somewhat stronger. (Be warned although: Watching too many cartoonish fatalities can have a bizarre impact in your mind.)

More traditional puns

Riley’s subsequent shock reminds us of Ellie’s penchant for dangerous jokes, as she presents her pal with a replica of No Pun Intended: Volume Too.

• What did the pissed off cannibal do? He threw up his fingers.
• What did the triangle say to the circle? You’re so pointless.
• How does a pc get drunk? It takes screenshots.
• What do you name an alligator in a vest? They’re interrupted earlier than Riley can learn the reply, nevertheless it’s “an investigator.”

Ellie is briefly reminded of the fact of their state of affairs when she discovers explosives Riley ready. Riley admits that the Fireflies are sending her away to the Atlanta quarantine zone, and he or she wished to spend this one final evening hanging out with Ellie earlier than departing. Ellie is not in any respect proud of this however finally decides to proceed onto the ultimate surprise.

Halloween time

After sharing their emotions in a supercool costume store — because the outbreak occurred in late September 2003, it is nonetheless arrange for the spooky season — the pair don masks and dance to Etta James’ cowl of ’60s tune I Got You Babe (you would possibly know the Sonny and Cher authentic from the 1993 film Groundhog Day). The lyrics allude to younger folks defying their elders to pursue love — very like these teenagers are.

This is when the romantic rigidity peaks and Ellie decides to make her transfer, giving Riley a quick however passionate kiss. With their emotional and sexual playing cards on the desk ultimately, Riley agrees to remain and it looks like issues are gonna be OK.

Until a horrible contaminated assaults. Ellie manages to shank it, however they each uncover they have been bitten. This will finally result in Ellie discovering her mysterious immunity, however Riley is not so lucky. They each consider it is a loss of life sentence, however Riley desires to dwell so long as attainable.

“We can simply be all poetic and shit, and lose our minds collectively,” she says tearfully earlier than they embrace.

We do not see what occurs after this, however presumably Ellie was pressured to kill Riley as soon as the an infection took maintain. It’s seemingly Marlene discovered her afterward.

Jumping again to 2023, Ellie maintains the spirit of refusing to surrender hope — she’s decided to deal with Joel’s wounds slightly than abandon him. She finds a needle and thread, so she goes to work on stitching him up. 

Left Behind

The part lined on this episode wasn’t within the 2013 recreation at launch, it was added the next yr within the Left Behind downloadable content material pack and got here included with remasters on PS4 and PS5. 

The present sticks intently to the occasions of the sport, however the present-day part is way chunkier — it sees Ellie attempting to find meds in a shopping center as a wounded Joel lies unconscious. Avoiding contaminated and human marauders alongside the way in which, she discovers the meds in a army helicopter that is crashed by way of the mall’s roof.

During the flashback scenes with Riley, you play fictional recreation The Turning (which is principally Mortal Kombat) within the arcade… sorta. The cupboard would not work, so Riley has Ellie shut her eyes and place her fingers on the controls, after which Riley describes the motion. Theater of the thoughts, certainly.

They additionally battle with water weapons (a line within the present alludes to this) and share a quick kiss within the recreation. The flashback ends with Ellie and Riley fleeing the mall as hordes of contaminated chase them. Both find yourself bitten and resolve to await their deaths collectively. Riley succumbs to the fungus, however Ellie’s survival reveals her immunity.

Mother’s love

You can even learn a be aware from Ellie’s unseen mother on this chapter (one given to her by Firefly chief Marlene):

Ellie, 

I’m going to share a secret with you, I’m not an enormous fan of youngsters and I hate infants. And but… I’m gazing you and I’m simply awestruck.

You’re not even a day previous and holding you is probably the most unimaginable factor I’ve achieved in my life — a life that’s about to get minimize somewhat quick. 

Marlene will take care of you. There’s nobody on this world I belief greater than her. When the time comes she’ll inform you all about me. Don’t give her an excessive amount of of a tough time. Try to not be as cussed as me.

I’m not going to lie, this can be a fairly tousled world. It will not be straightforward. The factor you all the time have to recollect is that life is value residing! Find your objective and struggle for it.

I see a lot energy in you. I do know you will grow to be the lady you are meant to be.

Forever… your loving mom

Anna

Make me proud, Ellie!

Episode 8 of The Last of Us hits HBO Max subsequent Sunday, March 5.