"what is it with her and guns" A therapist is also reacting to the show and her expert opinion was that Ellie has a severe need for control and the need to feel strong. To her a gun is the ultimate way of having both. She's 14, born and grown up around soldiers, so it makes perfect sense.
that is definitely true but let's not forget that in the game & in the show:she growed up in a literal shit world & also,she's just a child (older in the show but nevertheless a child)
Ellie mentions in the first episode that she was put in the "Fedra orphanage" as a baby. Marlene mentions that she was the one who put her there to keep her safe.
17:37 Go back and listen to what Riley said at the end. About not taking the easy route out. About staying present for however long they have. That’s what fuels her determination to save Joel. That’s what Riley taught her.
The flashback with Riley was 3 weeks before Ellie meets Joel. Riley was posted at the mall, where she was making the bombs and was due to leave for Atlanta the next day. Someone bit on the arms or hands will turn in 2-8 hours. (from a Cordyceps poster in the FEDRA center in Episode 1 where they euthanize the infected boy) My theory is they stayed together until Riley turned, then Ellie killed her. The next day Marlene and the Fireflies show up to get Riley to go to Atlanta and find Riley's body and Ellie also bitten. That's when the Fireflies took Ellie and chained her up to observe if she turns or not. They observe her for 3 weeks, then the events of the first episode happen. Marlene put Ellie in the FEDRA orphanage. It's explained in the game, so I'm assuming the show will explain it as well. As for Joel never experiencing someone else being his caretaker and protector, Sarah was his caretaker. In the very beginning of the first episode, she's the one who's got life under control, fixing his breakfast, reminding him to take care of his health, to dress properly, etc. Ellie is the first person since Sarah he's let take care of him. A lot of Joel and Ellie's relationship is mirroring the dynamic Joel had with Sarah. They also bantered and quipped with one another, knowing each other's boundaries and trusting one another.
My guess on what happened next in the flashback: Marlene and some more Fireflies showed up the next day to pick up Riley. (She was supposed to be shipped out of Boston.) They found Riley infected (and probably killed by Ellie), and Ellie bitten but not infected. The others wanted to kill Ellie as well, but Marlene stopped them (as she said in the first episode) since this was very odd and needed investigating. Makes you wonder, how many others have also been immune but killed on sight before you could notice that they didn't actually turn...
Couple things about Ellie: She's growing up in a violent world, in a violent environment. The world she's growing up in is fundamentally different than ours. She's never had any real family. Never had any real friends, aside from Riley. And that isn't a relationship she had for too long. She strongly wants to belong. She wants to have some power, some protection, she wants to pull her own weight, to matter, and to be of value. So her fascination with guns isn't necessarily her being psycho and having a bloodlust. To her, having a gun means having power, being secure, being useful (cuz of the place she grew up in). She has a fantasy of having this power (thinking back to that childish pew pew gun posing in ep 4). But the actual reality of what that means doesn't really hit her until she gravely injures Bryan. And then she has to compartmentalize that cuz you need violence to survive in this world.
So, the reason they chose to have Mortal Kombat 2 as the game Ellie and Riley play feeds into and foreshadows the events in the mall from this episode. Because in MK2 lore, Mileena (played by Riley) and Baraka (played by Ellie) are lovers, and the last scene we see of the game is Baraka killing Mileena by stabbing her. Then Riley and Ellie become infected, Riley turns but Ellie doesn't, and Ellie has a knife.
Great episode, in addition to immense character depth for Ellie, there was also a lot to learn and connect. Mileena's finisher was already a topic in episode 3 when Ellie and Joel found the non-working MK machine. Then she told Joel that she once had a friend who knew everything about it and she described to him how Mileena sucks up and spits out her opponent. If you pay attention, the episode shows you how the story with Ellie and Riley ends. They don't have to show that explicitly. Riley played Mileena in MK2 and Ellie played Baraka (last game). Baraka skewered Mileena with his blades as finisher. That was the metaphorical endgame. I think that's how Ellie killed Runner-Riley. That's why Ellie asked Joel in episode 2 what it was like for him to kill an infected, knowing that they once were human. I think she needed a comparison to her own feelings because she couldn't classify them. That's why she tortured and stabbed the stalker with her knife in episode 3. She first wanted to see if he felt something and then the anger broke through and she killed him because an infected bit Riley. Ellie kills Riley and because Riley didn't get in touch with Marlene the next day, she showed up at the mall and saw and took Ellie with her. She has prevented Ellie from being shot immediately by her people because of her bite, because she knows Ellie. As we learned in episode 1, it was Marlene who brought Ellie to Fedra Orphanage as a baby. . The escalator can also be seen metaphorically. No matter how much Ellie runs against it (sometimes everything stays the same, sometimes there are highs), it still goes further and further downhill for her. Last episode Ellie wanted a sip of whiskey from Joel and said "STILL gross". Here we see Ellie's first time. Also, we've learned that Ellie's first impulse is to leave when she feels pushed away or is pushed away or is disappointed in any way, but she keeps coming back. This is one parallel between Joel and Riley. Another parallel is, both are Ellie's protectors. And don't forget Ellie's greatest fear of ending up alone. In the end, she will try everything possible to save Joel, which she was not able to do with Riley. Ellie has lost Riley and Sam to the fungus. She is the cure. She wants her survival to have value. Here it is shown no matter Fedra or Fireflys, for both you are just a number. They tell you what you want to hear and what benefits them, to achieve the respective goals. The officer at the beginning may be really nice, but he's definitely manipulative. There are always only 2 options to choose from and both are manipulated into thinking there are not more. There is only one clearly good or one clearly bad choice. Leaving Fedra obviously does not exist as an option. But orphans are easy to manipulate, as you can see from Ellie, who simply repeats what the officer told her in the conversation with Riley. And also with Fedra da the people starve and kill each other, whereby Fedra officers lack nothing. The Fireflys are no different. Everyone comes in quickly, they made you feel you belong to a family and you are important to them. In fact, Riley is parked alone in the mall with bombs. These also kill civilians, as we saw in Episode 1 on Tess when one of these bombs exploded, killing two teenagers. Lives that are stuck. Eat or die. The series in general is all about the number 2. Bill and Frank, Ellie and Joel, Ellie and Riley, Sam and Henry, Joel and Tommy, Kathleen and Daniel, two choices, Mortal Kombat 2, joke book volume 2, red or green. T(w)ogethernes I actually thought Ashley Johnson (OG Ellie) would have her cameo here. Obviously, this was not the case, but it comes later in another memory. Most likely in the season finale. Next episode Troy Baker (OG Joel) will get his cameo. An important question was not answered. What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator. 😁 Your welcome.
Great episode. Never played the Left Behind DLC so I never knew the Riley backstory. Now I have more context for Ellie’s character. I’m not looking forward to the last two episodes because they definitely saved the most charged story elements for the end, as expected. The game ending was genius in the way it toyed with expectations and still managed a strong final chapter.
That’s the entirety of the flashback. In the game too, we don’t see Riley turn. There really wouldn’t be an appropriate place for a continuation to that one flashback based on what’s coming in upcoming episodes.
You aren't going to see anymore of the flashback. That is how it happens in the game too they leave it vague so you don't see exactly what happens but she did have to kill Riley (they allude more strongly in the game that she did actually have to kill Riley). The last 2 episodes have an insane amount they have to fit in so it will already be kind of rushed imo since they are only 50 minute episodes but we'll see.
As Isa said, there's literally only like 30 mins of story left in the game at this point. It only SEEMS longer because there's gameplay sections, both combat and a LOT of stealth, making you slow But even WITH the gameplay, it's only 2 hours more We're getting 1.5 hours for the tv show It's going to be absolutely fine
What happened to the Banshees of Inisherin reaction and are future Oscar movie reactions on the way? Totally cool about The Last of Us though. The acting by Bella in this episode is sensational, especially the moment when she realizes they've been bit.
I am still wondering if we later find out that unfortunately, Riley was Ellie's first kill when she turned and Ellie didn't turn. More Tears yet to be shed😭 Oh, and I was almost waiting for Ellie to tell Joel, "You're not getting rid of me that easy! I might be just cargo to you, but you're the closest thing to family I've got left!!!"
@@yanksrgreat I think so, to show how much Joel cared for Ellie and to show the more crass side of Joel to balance his current vulnerable side, plus it doesn't use much of the budget
Ellie was dropped off when she was very little at FEDRA by Marlene, as par Episode 1. The hand holding moment was very much solidifying their relationship that they've established in Jackson. I'm a little disappointed of this one, because of the removal of the arcade scene from the game, one of the most iconic and meaningful scenes that showed Ellie's vivid imagination (if you're curious: /watch?v=a8XgByLIe9w), which is very much a precursor to another very iconic scene in Part 2. With all the Left Behind references in the previous episodes I also kinda expected to see Ellie having to shoot Riley, but instead they just ended it pretty much like the DLC did, leaving the rest up to imagination. I don't think they'll show more of it, and if they do it won't have the same emotional impact after waiting a full week for it.
Nice reaction videos! I feel like you are so concerned with what will or could happen that you don't take time to fully appreciate and reflect on what happened, especially the acting and the powerful moments, character developments and what that means. It's like brushed off to just guess or speculate about "what ifs" straight away which is not that interesting (no offense :d). You're very analytical which is nice, but would love to get more of your take and immediate feelings on what you just watched after each episodes : )
Ugh. Such a beautiful scene ruined by Euphoria talk. Ellie longingly staring at her friend on the carousel was one of my fav scenes in the episode and I was looking fwd to your reaction to it.
"what is it with her and guns"
A therapist is also reacting to the show and her expert opinion was that Ellie has a severe need for control and the need to feel strong. To her a gun is the ultimate way of having both. She's 14, born and grown up around soldiers, so it makes perfect sense.
Ah, a fellow Truth Doctor fan, I see!
Also growing up in a severely fucked up & dangerous world.
Plus kids like guns, lets not get too deep here
that is definitely true but let's not forget that in the game & in the show:she growed up in a literal shit world & also,she's just a child (older in the show but nevertheless a child)
@shahanahsan05 that's what they said but in more basic terms
Ellie mentions in the first episode that she was put in the "Fedra orphanage" as a baby. Marlene mentions that she was the one who put her there to keep her safe.
See, the thing is - you've already got it figured. The writers leave it to the viewer (or player) to put two and two together, which I like.
Yep. It’s refreshing when shows/games don’t spoon feed us everything
17:37 Go back and listen to what Riley said at the end. About not taking the easy route out. About staying present for however long they have. That’s what fuels her determination to save Joel. That’s what Riley taught her.
The flashback with Riley was 3 weeks before Ellie meets Joel.
Riley was posted at the mall, where she was making the bombs and was due to leave for Atlanta the next day.
Someone bit on the arms or hands will turn in 2-8 hours. (from a Cordyceps poster in the FEDRA center in Episode 1 where they euthanize the infected boy)
My theory is they stayed together until Riley turned, then Ellie killed her. The next day Marlene and the Fireflies show up to get Riley to go to Atlanta and find Riley's body and Ellie also bitten. That's when the Fireflies took Ellie and chained her up to observe if she turns or not. They observe her for 3 weeks, then the events of the first episode happen.
Marlene put Ellie in the FEDRA orphanage. It's explained in the game, so I'm assuming the show will explain it as well.
As for Joel never experiencing someone else being his caretaker and protector, Sarah was his caretaker. In the very beginning of the first episode, she's the one who's got life under control, fixing his breakfast, reminding him to take care of his health, to dress properly, etc. Ellie is the first person since Sarah he's let take care of him. A lot of Joel and Ellie's relationship is mirroring the dynamic Joel had with Sarah. They also bantered and quipped with one another, knowing each other's boundaries and trusting one another.
It's already explained in the first episode that Marlene put Ellie there
Marlene putting Ellie there was explained in the first episode when she unlocked Ellie from the Radiator.
Tess took care of Joel. And did it for at least 13 years.
The actor who plays the FEDRA officer is so great. He plays a fantastic character in The Expanse as well.
My guess on what happened next in the flashback: Marlene and some more Fireflies showed up the next day to pick up Riley. (She was supposed to be shipped out of Boston.) They found Riley infected (and probably killed by Ellie), and Ellie bitten but not infected. The others wanted to kill Ellie as well, but Marlene stopped them (as she said in the first episode) since this was very odd and needed investigating. Makes you wonder, how many others have also been immune but killed on sight before you could notice that they didn't actually turn...
Couple things about Ellie:
She's growing up in a violent world, in a violent environment. The world she's growing up in is fundamentally different than ours.
She's never had any real family. Never had any real friends, aside from Riley. And that isn't a relationship she had for too long.
She strongly wants to belong. She wants to have some power, some protection, she wants to pull her own weight, to matter, and to be of value.
So her fascination with guns isn't necessarily her being psycho and having a bloodlust. To her, having a gun means having power, being secure, being useful (cuz of the place she grew up in). She has a fantasy of having this power (thinking back to that childish pew pew gun posing in ep 4). But the actual reality of what that means doesn't really hit her until she gravely injures Bryan.
And then she has to compartmentalize that cuz you need violence to survive in this world.
So, the reason they chose to have Mortal Kombat 2 as the game Ellie and Riley play feeds into and foreshadows the events in the mall from this episode. Because in MK2 lore, Mileena (played by Riley) and Baraka (played by Ellie) are lovers, and the last scene we see of the game is Baraka killing Mileena by stabbing her.
Then Riley and Ellie become infected, Riley turns but Ellie doesn't, and Ellie has a knife.
Pedro with a tear rolling down his face breaks me 😭
Great episode, in addition to immense character depth for Ellie, there was also a lot to learn and connect.
Mileena's finisher was already a topic in episode 3 when Ellie and Joel found the non-working MK machine. Then she told Joel that she once had a friend who knew everything about it and she described to him how Mileena sucks up and spits out her opponent.
If you pay attention, the episode shows you how the story with Ellie and Riley ends. They don't have to show that explicitly.
Riley played Mileena in MK2 and Ellie played Baraka (last game).
Baraka skewered Mileena with his blades as finisher. That was the metaphorical endgame. I think that's how Ellie killed Runner-Riley.
That's why Ellie asked Joel in episode 2 what it was like for him to kill an infected, knowing that they once were human. I think she needed a comparison to her own feelings because she couldn't classify them. That's why she tortured and stabbed the stalker with her knife in episode 3. She first wanted to see if he felt something and then the anger broke through and she killed him because an infected bit Riley.
Ellie kills Riley and because Riley didn't get in touch with Marlene the next day, she showed up at the mall and saw and took Ellie with her. She has prevented Ellie from being shot immediately by her people because of her bite, because she knows Ellie. As we learned in episode 1, it was Marlene who brought Ellie to Fedra Orphanage as a baby. .
The escalator can also be seen metaphorically. No matter how much Ellie runs against it (sometimes everything stays the same, sometimes there are highs), it still goes further and further downhill for her.
Last episode Ellie wanted a sip of whiskey from Joel and said "STILL gross". Here we see Ellie's first time.
Also, we've learned that Ellie's first impulse is to leave when she feels pushed away or is pushed away or is disappointed in any way, but she keeps coming back. This is one parallel between Joel and Riley. Another parallel is, both are Ellie's protectors. And don't forget Ellie's greatest fear of ending up alone. In the end, she will try everything possible to save Joel, which she was not able to do with Riley.
Ellie has lost Riley and Sam to the fungus. She is the cure. She wants her survival to have value.
Here it is shown no matter Fedra or Fireflys, for both you are just a number. They tell you what you want to hear and what benefits them, to achieve the respective goals. The officer at the beginning may be really nice, but he's definitely manipulative. There are always only 2 options to choose from and both are manipulated into thinking there are not more. There is only one clearly good or one clearly bad choice. Leaving Fedra obviously does not exist as an option. But orphans are easy to manipulate, as you can see from Ellie, who simply repeats what the officer told her in the conversation with Riley. And also with Fedra da the people starve and kill each other, whereby Fedra officers lack nothing. The Fireflys are no different. Everyone comes in quickly, they made you feel you belong to a family and you are important to them. In fact, Riley is parked alone in the mall with bombs. These also kill civilians, as we saw in Episode 1 on Tess when one of these bombs exploded, killing two teenagers. Lives that are stuck. Eat or die.
The series in general is all about the number 2.
Bill and Frank, Ellie and Joel, Ellie and Riley, Sam and Henry, Joel and Tommy, Kathleen and Daniel, two choices, Mortal Kombat 2, joke book volume 2, red or green. T(w)ogethernes
I actually thought Ashley Johnson (OG Ellie) would have her cameo here. Obviously, this was not the case, but it comes later in another memory. Most likely in the season finale.
Next episode Troy Baker (OG Joel) will get his cameo.
An important question was not answered. What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator. 😁 Your welcome.
Bella's acting in this episode was phenomenal, if she's not nominated for an award for this, I'll be a tad miffed
It's genuinely entertaining watching you overthink SO hard that you miss all the very obvious plot points and answers they give us haha.
Great episode. Never played the Left Behind DLC so I never knew the Riley backstory. Now I have more context for Ellie’s character.
I’m not looking forward to the last two episodes because they definitely saved the most charged story elements for the end, as expected. The game ending was genius in the way it toyed with expectations and still managed a strong final chapter.
We won't see more of the flashback (just lilke in the game). That's it for Riley's story.
You got it right with your theory at the end there.
The DLC was released on Valintine Day, a year after the game release.
Storm was in suicide squad too
love the sweatshirt
You should watch the first episode again many of your questions are answered there
Option 3 is be immune.
I think i'm trying to imagine Cassie wearing that
That’s the entirety of the flashback. In the game too, we don’t see Riley turn. There really wouldn’t be an appropriate place for a continuation to that one flashback based on what’s coming in upcoming episodes.
You aren't going to see anymore of the flashback. That is how it happens in the game too they leave it vague so you don't see exactly what happens but she did have to kill Riley (they allude more strongly in the game that she did actually have to kill Riley). The last 2 episodes have an insane amount they have to fit in so it will already be kind of rushed imo since they are only 50 minute episodes but we'll see.
There is only 25 mins of cutscenes left from the game. They have 90mins for the tv show. It's gonna be fine.
As Isa said, there's literally only like 30 mins of story left in the game at this point. It only SEEMS longer because there's gameplay sections, both combat and a LOT of stealth, making you slow
But even WITH the gameplay, it's only 2 hours more
We're getting 1.5 hours for the tv show
It's going to be absolutely fine
What happened to the Banshees of Inisherin reaction and are future Oscar movie reactions on the way? Totally cool about The Last of Us though. The acting by Bella in this episode is sensational, especially the moment when she realizes they've been bit.
Folklore shirt 🔛🔝
I am still wondering if we later find out that unfortunately, Riley was Ellie's first kill when she turned and Ellie didn't turn. More Tears yet to be shed😭
Oh, and I was almost waiting for Ellie to tell Joel, "You're not getting rid of me that easy! I might be just cargo to you, but you're the closest thing to family I've got left!!!"
you are not ready for next episode.
I'm looking forward for the interrogation scene
@@Kyss111 wonder if they keep you know as creepy as the game
@@yanksrgreat I think so, to show how much Joel cared for Ellie and to show the more crass side of Joel to balance his current vulnerable side, plus it doesn't use much of the budget
Ellie was dropped off when she was very little at FEDRA by Marlene, as par Episode 1. The hand holding moment was very much solidifying their relationship that they've established in Jackson.
I'm a little disappointed of this one, because of the removal of the arcade scene from the game, one of the most iconic and meaningful scenes that showed Ellie's vivid imagination (if you're curious: /watch?v=a8XgByLIe9w), which is very much a precursor to another very iconic scene in Part 2. With all the Left Behind references in the previous episodes I also kinda expected to see Ellie having to shoot Riley, but instead they just ended it pretty much like the DLC did, leaving the rest up to imagination. I don't think they'll show more of it, and if they do it won't have the same emotional impact after waiting a full week for it.
This just happened 3 weeks prior to meeting Joel...and they've spent 3 months togetger
Probably more like 4, since the time skip from Kansas City to Wyoming is already 3 months.
I don't think those were raiders.
Nice reaction videos!
I feel like you are so concerned with what will or could happen that you don't take time to fully appreciate and reflect on what happened, especially the acting and the powerful moments, character developments and what that means. It's like brushed off to just guess or speculate about "what ifs" straight away which is not that interesting (no offense :d). You're very analytical which is nice, but would love to get more of your take and immediate feelings on what you just watched after each episodes : )
Reading comments. Tess took care of Joel. For at least 13 years.
This episode will destroy you.
Get out the box of tissues.
Ugh. Such a beautiful scene ruined by Euphoria talk. Ellie longingly staring at her friend on the carousel was one of my fav scenes in the episode and I was looking fwd to your reaction to it.