Before Ellie met Joel, before she truly understood what it meant to survive, there was Riley. This week, we dive into Left Behind, an episode that explores Ellie’s past, her first love, and the heartbreak that shaped her. We break down the emotional highs and devastating lows of Ellie and Riley’s night in the mall—from the excitement of the escalators, the photo booth, and Mortal Kombat II to the tragic encounter that changed everything.

We discuss the themes of love, loss, and finding joy in a broken world, as well as how the show adapts Left Behind from the game. Plus, we analyze the impact of Ellie’s fear of abandonment, Riley’s difficult choices, and the moment Ellie decides she’ll never leave someone she loves behind again.

And of course, we cover the Easter eggs, the changes from the game, and why it’s never safe to have fun in the apocalypse.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

02:21 – Joel’s Medical Crisis

07:03 – School Days

22:25 – The Mall at Night

33:30 – Photobooth + Arcade

42:26 – Riley is Leaving

48:40 – Halloween Store

1:02:57 – Ellie Helps Joel

1:09:40 – Episode In Review

1:16:10 – Spoiler Section

New episodes every Monday!

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Artwork provided by Olly Gibbs (www.ollygibbs.com)

Music provided by Epidemic Sound