Euphoria star Storm Reid makes her debut in the latest episode as Riley (Picture: HBO)
Warning: spoilers ahead for The Last of Us episode 7.
After last week’s The Last of Us, the big question on everyone’s lips was – is Joel alive?
In episode 7, it’s confirmed that Joel (Pedro Pascal) is indeed still breathing… but Ellie (Bella Ramsey) is in dire need of a miracle in order to make sure he stays that way.
The bulk of the latest instalment focuses instead on Ellie’s past when she was living in a Fedra school, having been raised there as an orphan with her best friend Riley (Storm Reid), who makes her debut on the show.
In the throwback through the protagonist’s memories, it’s revealed exactly how she was bitten before learning she was immune to the Cordyceps fungus, and why Riley sadly hasn’t been seen since.
Joel’s life hangs in the balance after raider attack
Joel doesn’t have the physical capacity to do anything as his life hangs in the balance (Picture: HBO)
At the end of episode six, it was uncertain whether Joel would survive after being stabbed in the stomach by an attacker when he and Ellie were on their mission searching for the Fireflies.
Having pulled the end of the baseball bat out of his abdomen, Joel was bleeding excessively when he and Ellie rode away, before collapsing and falling off of their horse.
While Ellie has managed to drag Joel into an abandoned house for safety in episode seven, she’s struggling to figure out how she can help him, while he urges her through his pain to travel back north to his brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna), seemingly accepting that his death is unavoidable.
But Ellie isn’t one to give up that easily, even when the odds seem like they’re against them.
Flashback to Ellie’s life at Fedra with best friend Riley
Ellie might have a black eye, but her opponent needed several stitches (Picture: HBO)
In a flashback to Ellie’s life in Fedra military school, she’s revealed to have had some issues with authority while being reared to eventually become either an inferior grunt or a superior officer, ruling the streets of the Boston QZ.
Ellie gets into a fight with another student, and it’s revealed that the reason behind her frustrated demeanour is likely because her best friend Riley has been missing for weeks.
One night, Riley sneaks into Ellie’s room, informing her that not only has she joined the resistance movement the Fireflies, but she also has an exciting night in store for her.
Ellie isn’t prepared for the night of thrills – and terrors – that lies ahead.
Riley takes Ellie on night of her life as romance blossoms
Riley reveals what she’s been up to since going AWOL at Fedra school
Having snuck out of Ellie’s room, Riley escorts her to the dilapidated mall, which Fedra apparently doesn’t realise is fully powered by their electrical grid.
Riley has amazing surprises in store for her friend, including a trip to the arcade, a ride on the merry-go-round, a fun-filled escapade up and down the escalator and a visit to a horror-filled costume shop.
Their night doesn’t go without hiccups, one of which occurs when Ellie discovers bombs that Riley has been helping to make for the Fireflies.
What makes matters worse is that Riley shares that the Fireflies are sending her away, and so they may never see each other again.
After enjoying a dance on the costume shop counter while wearing eccentric masks, Ellie gradually stops before urging Riley not to leave her, to which she agrees.
Ellie then reveals how she truly feels by giving Riley a kiss on the lips, with both of them recriprocating their feelings for each other.
But their moment of romance is interrupted by a foreboding disturbance, as an infected wades into their midst.
The truth behind Ellie’s bite and Riley’s fate is revealed
Elile finally reveals her true feelings to Riley (Picture: HBO)
After both of the teenagers get into a tussle with the infected, with Riley trying to kill it by shooting her gun, Ellie deals the final blow with her trusted knife.
Riley is horrified to realise Ellie has been bitten on her arm, while also revealing the bite that she sustained on her hand.
Believing that they’re both done for, Riley and Ellie weigh up their options, deciding against using the gun on themselves while facing what they believe is their inevitable fate – to lose their minds and join the swarm of infected.
As we all know, Ellie not only survives, but doesn’t become infected… while Riley is no longer around in the present day. We can only assume at this point what happened to her.
Ellie won’t give up on Joel as unbreakable bond grows stronger
From watching Ellie’s flashback, it appears that maybe what’s going through her mind is that while she perhaps couldn’t save Riley… she won’t accept not being able to save Joel.
Ellie desperately sifts through the drawers and cupboards of the house they’re in, eventually finding some black thread and a needle.
She runs back down to Joel, who has a tear running down his cheek after he presumably assumed Ellie had left him, just like he told her to.
The teenager grips his hand, their fingers interlocked as he tightens his grip, before she sets to work stitching up his wound.
Joel is in dire pain while Ellie tries to do everything in her power to repair his wound – but will it be enough?
The Last of Us is available to watch on Sky and NOW.
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Euphoria star Storm Reid makes her debut in the latest episode as Riley.
