Ryan Shoots First: The Last of Us (S1 Ep7) “Left Behind”

This week on The Last of Us we take a detour to explore a little bit of Ellie’s backstory as we see the Left Behind DLC from the game played out, naturally, this is also the name of the episode.

I will say I played the first game right as it was released and by the time the DLC came out I just never got around to playing it. I know the general story so it was fun seeing it play out on screen and not knowing each beat like I have the rest of the show. This was a perfect place to inject this side story as we see Ellie trying to save Joel after the attack last week. Since we are seeing the DLC that means we are introduced to Riley, Ellies best friend, and the reason she ends up in the place she is at the start of the game. Placing the story here though really informs the key decisions she will be making in the coming weeks of the show. We also see an Ellie that doesn’t know she is immune which means she’s given a whole other range of emotions to play with from what we have seen and Bella makes the most of it. 

One thing this show has nailed is telling amazing self-contained stories within the larger narrative. We saw it in episode 3 with Bill and Frank and here the story of Ellie and Riley is wonderful and absolutely tragic. A story we can all relate to in some ways and that allows us to put ourselves in the shoes of the characters. Thus when they feel pain we feel pain. While last week Pedro Pascal got his time to shine this week it is Bella Ramsey doing the heavy lifting. The maturity she brings and the way her character is throughout two different times is so different and yet the same. The spark and wit is there but also with a layer of naivety and hope she just doesn’t have when we meet her in episode 1. She was the MVP this week. By the looks of next week’s episode, she will be next week two as she takes another giant leap in her development and story. 

Observations

• Interesting change, we never saw them talk before he was just better. 
• Ok I like the change because we know Joel aint dead but the idea that she would leave back to Tommy is more believable 
• Naughty Dog Logo!
• I mean, this is pretty much what malls look like now, big whoop. 
• They really nailed the look and feel of an early 2000s mall.
• Found the Game Stop!
• The way Ellie looks at Riley with such admiration. It’s also so wide-eyed and hopeful. 
• Man, I miss Mall culture, nothing to do? Just go hang out at the mall. 
• Ohhh crap, stinking Mortal Kombat
• Man the fear on Ellie’s face as she doesn’t know she is immune yet.