Joel and Ellie have come a long way from being two strangers, and despite how much Joel denies it, he’s slipped past the idea that Ellie is “cargo.” His panic attacks stemming from his grief, recent losses, and the anxiety of keeping Ellie safe till they reach the Fireflies are wearing him down, but now this stab wound has me worried.
It may be a while until we know if Joel is dead and if he’ll be “left behind” since the next episode will dive into Ellie’s origins and her relationship with long-lost friend Riley and the Firefly leader Marlene. What can we expect from episode 7 of The Last of Us?
1. Episode 7 Synopsis/Speculation
I don’t have an official synopsis for you, but I do have a few ideas about where the next episode will take us.
HBO Max released a preview for episode 7 a few days ago, and just like episode 1 began with a flashback into Joel’s life at the time of the outbreak, we’ll get a look at Ellie’s life in the quarantine zone.
The upcoming episode will highlight the details of Ellie’s past and how growing up in the quarantine zone was not a cakewalk. The episode will also touch upon her relationship with Riley, a friend that ends up betraying her when she reveals she’s with the Fireflies.
Next week’s episode will feature the story of how Riley’s deception led to Marlene finding Ellie, thinking her as the cure for humanity and how the Firefly leader ended up knowing who she really was and delivering her to the QZ.
The showrunners have promised that the next episode will dig deep into the “profound connection” between Marlene and Ellie and how Riley left behind her closest friend to the Fireflies, and how it affected Ellie’s perspective of people.
The next episode will probably touch upon Ellie using her beginner-level survivor skills to protect Joel while he is down and will further strengthen the bond between the duo.
2. Episode 7 Release Date
Chapter 7 of the The Last of Us series, titled “Left Behind”, has been released on Sunday, Feb 26, 2023.
3. Season 1 Schedule
| The Last of Us Season 1 Episode No. | The Last of Us Season 1 Episode Title | Direction | Teleplay | Release Date |
| 1 | When You’re Lost in the Darkness | Craig Mazin | Craig Mazin & Neil Druckmann | January 15 2023 |
| 2 | Infection | Neil Druckmann | Craig Mazin | January 22 2023 |
| 3 | Long Long Time | Peter Hoar | Craig Mazin | January 29 2023 |
| 4 | Please Hold My hand | Jeremy Webb | Craig Mazin | February 5 2023 |
| 5 | Endure and Survive | Jeremy Webb | Craig Mazin | February 12 2023 |
| 6 | Kin | Jasmila Žbanić | Craig Mazin | February 19 2023 |
| 7 | Left Behind | Liza Johnson | Neil Druckmann | February 26 2023 |
| 8 | When We Are in Need | Ali Abbasi | Craig Mazin | March 5 2023 |
| 9 | TBA | Ali Abbasi | Craig Mazin | March 12 2023 |
4. Where to Watch The Last of Us
The Last of Us is streaming exclusively on HBO & HBO Max in the US.
5. Episode 6 Recap
Three months have passed since Joel and Ellie left Killer City after burying Henry and Sam, and they are still on the way to find Tommy. They come across an elderly couple, who seem friendly enough, but warn them not to move further past the river, better known as the River of Death.
Joel fears Tommy may be gone, but his conversations with Ellie about a post-cure future help him stay stable long enough till they arrive at the river. Masked men and women surround them on horseback, checking to see if they’re infected, but once Joel asks if they know Tommy, they head to Jackson.
Arriving at a decent settlement, a bubble of normal amid the apocalypse, Tommy and Joel reunite, and the younger Miller reveals his peaceful life with Maria, his wife. Joel tries to recruit Tommy as Ellie’s protector as he fears that he himself is not up to the job anymore, but Tommy reveals Maria is pregnant.
Joel still informs Ellie they will go their separate ways, but come morning, they leave Jackson, and Tommy, together. They reach the Firefly outpost to find it abandoned, but a few bandits pounce on them, mortally wounding Joel, and Ellie begs him not to leave her behind.
6. About The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is an HBO TV series adaptation of the award-winning video game of the same name originally developed by Naughty Dog.
It is set in 2033, as a fungal infestation plagues humans, turning them feral and blind before finally finishing them off. The series follows Joel’s journey to escort an immune 14-year-old Ellie to the Fireflies, who hope to study her to procure a vaccine.
The cast comprises Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, both famed for their roles in Games of Thrones, along with Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, and Nico Parker. The show was renewed for season 2.
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