The Last of Us Season 1 Episode 7 Review: Left Behind

The Last of Us Season 1 Episode 7, “Left Behind,” gives viewers a glimpse into what it’s like to be a kid in a word filled with cordyceps. There’s so much love and joy to be seen in “Left Behind” that it stands in stark contrast to where Ellie and Joel are in the present. 

“Left Behind” introduces us to Riley (Storm Reid) and gives them a magical night in an abandoned mall. The premise feels like it’s straight out of a teen movie, and for a moment it’s easy to forget that everything is not the same anymore. 

The wonders of the mall is such an adorable idea that brings together a touch of nostalgia with amusement. Who doesn’t love the idea of electric stairs, Halloween stores, or an empty arcade to pass the time.

Their amusement as they look through the shop windows and notice how some stores are empty but others aren’t is an interesting commentary on priorities. The sneakers over soap bit is a subtle way of questioning wants vs. needs and it stands out as they see full lingerie stores. 

Until now, we haven’t seen many children in this world, and more importantly, we haven’t seen two kids who are close but have different experiences. Ellie has never had anyone close, but Riley had a family and knows what it’s like to lose people. She knows that joining the Fireflies and going to Atlanta means that she’s going to lose Ellie.

Not only that, but when, or if, they see each other again, they could be on different sides. It’s a lot for them to deal with, but it also makes the attack in the Halloween store, hold that much more weight.

Bella Ramsey’s performance in the moment that Ellie realizes she wasn’t the only one infected during that fight perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to know that you’re about to lose the one thing you care about. 

Their moment on the floor of the Halloween store as they promise to ride out what comes together encapsulates the end of that bittersweet teen movie, vibe. 

The decision to juxtapose this story with Joel telling Ellie to leave couldn’t have been better for this episode. 

While we need to know about Ellie and Riley, we also need the bond between Ellie and Joel to get stronger. The series continues to lay track to strengthen this bond and it continues to grow now that Ellie has saved Joel twice. 

Overall, “Left Behind” is the character episode we needed to understand Ellie and strengthen her bond with Joel. It’s a heartbreaking episode full of fun moments that make us love these characters and wish that we could give them the world. 

There are only two episodes left in the first season of The Last of Us and as we see Joel and Ellie move further west, it definitely feels like we’re not going to see the arc complete in the next two hours.  

What did you think of this episode of The Last of Us? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

The Last of Us airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO and HBO Max. 

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

15 Supernatural Teen TV Shows to Sink Your Teeth Into if You’re Excited About ‘Wolf Pack’