Get the tissues ready, this is another heart wrenching one.
Following yet another heart stopping end with the conclusion of Episode 6, Ellie suddenly finds herself the one with all the responsibility, maybe more than she ever thought to be capable of. For Episode 7 titled “Left Behind” we get an insight into Ellie’s backstory, predominantly her time in the FEDRA military school and the night she spends with her friend Riley, a character that we first met in the Left Behind expansion from the game.
Ellie is your typical troubled and rebellious teenager. Throw in the end of the known world and being an orphan and you can expect that she is a little bit of an outcast. The FEDRA Brass sees something in her despite continuous run-ins with her peers and wants to see her become something once it comes time to graduate from the FEDRA military school. Ellie’s best friend and roommate had run away and been missing for three weeks but comes back for one last night on the town. That friend is the one and only Riley (Storm Reid). I have to admit, I was hoping we were going to see some of the relationship between Ellie and Riley and see where the show runners take this part of the story.
Riley in her time away has joined the Fireflies, the extremist group of freedom fighters and is returning to see if Ellie will join her. But not before one more night out doing exactly what they shouldn’t be doing. Riley has set up a bit of a surprise for Ellie in a long abandoned mall that she calls the four or five wonders.
Episode 7 once again taps into the humanity that is still present underneath all the destruction and military rule outside. Here we are, in the middle of a militarised zone with two friends just having a good night. Ellie’s wonder as she experiences all Riley has set up for her is a beautiful thing to watch. The chemistry between Ramsey and Reid is undeniable and well beyond their years and made this episode an absolute joy to watch.
Left Behind does take a step back from the pacing most of the series has been known for. It is refreshing to get a break from the fear of what’s next and spend an hour with these two running around and just acting like we all did as teenagers. Once again this episode didn’t disappoint and left me in shock by the time the credits rolled. At a little under an hour, it is one of the shortest in the series but hits just as hard as any other.
Available now on BINGE here in Australia with the entire series up until this point. If you’re waiting to dive in, don’t. This may be the closest we get to perfection for a long time.
