The seventh episode of The Last of Us goes back into Ellie’s past and reveals that the first time she got bit, she wasn’t alone; her best friend, Riley, was by her side.
Marlene put Ellie in the orphanage when she was just a baby. She was later picked up by FEDRA. Marlene did all of this to make sure that Ellie survives, as she is the key to saving humans.
A lonely Ellie found a friend in Riley during her time at the Boston QZ and while training with FEDRA. Riley defended Ellie whenever she got into a fight with anyone.
Ellie, back then, wasn’t different than she is now. She always used to cause trouble, which often led the FEDRA officers to throw her in a place they call ‘the hole’.
One of the nights when Ellie was inside the hole, Riley snuck out and went missing for the next three weeks straight. When she returned, she came with a surprise. She had joined the Fireflies and had a night out planned for her best friend.
How did Riley join the Fireflies?
With Riley missing, Ellie felt alone again. The loneliness affected her performance on the field. She then got into a fight with a girl named Bethany and gave her fifteen stitches.
Captain Kwong talked some sense into Ellie after realizing that punishing her time and again isn’t working. Though Kwong had changed Ellie’s mind, that night, Riley returned and encouraged Ellie to come with her.
Upon inquiring where she has been, Riley reveals that she has joined the Fireflies.
On their way to their destination, Riley tells Ellie how she got a position in this rebel group. Apparently, the night Ellie was in the hole and Riley had snuck out, Riley was observed by a 40-year-old woman, later revealed to be Marlene.
Impressed by Riley’s skills, the woman asked her opinions on FEDRA. Upon learning that even Riley thinks of FEDRA as fascists who should be hanged for their crimes, the woman immediately asked whether she wants to join them. Riley said yes, and now she is a Firefly.
How old is Riley and what does that mean for her?
Throughout the seventh episode of The Last of Us, Riley and Ellie argue over who is actually making a difference: FEDRA or the Fireflies. While Riley continues to refer to FEDRA as fascists, Ellie, influenced by Captain Kwong’s words, defends them.
Ellie wonders if Riley really believes that the Fireflies can liberate Boston QZ. Riley says she does, as they have managed to do the same in other QZs.
Ellie attempts to convince her to come back by pitching that they will run FEDRA someday and make things better. Riley then explains that she could be running things in a few years, but not her.
Riley is turning 17 next month. That’s when the QZ gives workers their first assignments. Kwong over here has assigned sewage detail to Riley. After hearing that, Ellie realizes why Riley is running away from FEDRA.
Ellie and Riley’s relationship
Ellie and Riley call each other best friends. They don’t like it when one of them lies to the other or leaves the other hanging. Though they call each other best friends, during the hangout at the mall, it becomes clear that there is romantic tension between them.
The tension comes up close when they finish playing Mortal Kombat II at the mall. When Ellie learns that Riley has been stashing grenades at this mall, she deduces that Riley didn’t bring her here to have fun; she is just posted here.
Before Ellie could leave, Riley discloses that she is being sent to Atlanta QZ. It’s her last day in Boston. She asked Marlene if she can take Ellie, but Marlene said no.
Ellie questioned why Riley brought her here in the first place. Riley claimed that she wanted to see Ellie one last time and say her goodbyes. At that moment, Ellie expected something more from Riley; probably a confession that she loves her.
Ellie then proceeds to walk back home, but she quickly changes her mind and goes back to her friend.
Why does Riley want to be a Firefly?
Earlier in the seventh episode, it is revealed that Riley lost her parents. Riley desperately misses being part of a family and wants to feel that sense of belonging again. Joining the Fireflies made her feel that she belongs to them like a family.
Riley agrees that maybe the Fireflies aren’t what she thinks they are, but they chose her, and she matters to them. Ellie then reminds her that she mattered to her first.
Ellie accepts Riley’s decision. She calls her best friend again and says that she will miss her. The two wear masks and dance to Etta James’ ‘I Got You Babe’. After dancing for a few seconds, they remove the masks. Ellie begs Riley not to go and kisses her.
Does Riley die?
Riley and Ellie’s heartfelt moment gets interrupted by the arrival of an infected. Riley and Ellie battle the infected together. They manage to kill him, but, in the process, they both get bitten.
They now know that they can’t avoid their impending fate. Riley claims that they have two options. They can kill themselves and finish this off quickly, or they can wait for them to turn and enjoy the time they have left together.
The couple chooses the second option. Clearly, Ellie comes out of that mall alive, owing to the fact that she is immune to cordyceps. She gets rescued by Marlene. The Last of Us doesn’t show what happens to Riley.
Considering the fact that she got bit, she must’ve turned into an infected one, but whether someone killed her or not remains a mystery.
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