The Last of Us , episode 7

The last of Us episode 7, left behind

I made my first Lesbian friend in 1994. I didn’t know she was a lesbian, and she was in the closet, maybe in denial, but if it was a closet, it had a bolt on the inside of it. We were in plays together and did all the 90s things: sarcasm, poor hygiene, bob Dylan and Terry Pratchett novels. I spent a lot of time crushing on her, and she spent her time in smelly jumpers and beer jars. 

She moved to London, and we were close for a while and then lost touch. I felt put out at the time and discovered a few years later she had come out. Facebook does that sort of thing. 

I’ve never spoken to her about the middle act. She’s happily married and a parent. There’s no need. We are as much where we are in life as who we are post-40 Frankly, as a mixed-race man who passes and is always vocal I find the whole thing difficult. But I pass for white and more importantly, I’m a heterosexual man, with loads of affirmations since I was little telling me what a great fucking thing I am, even if the other boys hate me. 

I suspect willow from Buffy had a role, and we are of that time and genre. But I can’t help but think about her watching this week’s episode and how much easier things could have been if everyone around her had been more supportive and not so sarcastic about ..bloody everything.

I usually hate to bait and switch episodes. But a flashback for Ellie and her life before Joel is so rewarding, defining, and dynamic that one almost forgets he’s at death’s door.

What has come across as a spoilt past shows how low society’s bar has become. Ellie has her moment where she is given theye-openery a mentor who sees her potential and is given the request, “if you’re not your little people”, and chooses to be a cop. It’s an eye opener to her history and the world.

It’s a small world of little luxuries and a lot of boredom that has been fought over as liberty is secondary to safety, but it gives a greater sense of FEDRA than the fireflies. Even as a cadet, Ellie wants some freedom.

Like Peter Pan, we are taken to a never-neverland; we go inside Narnia, where society can’t judge, comment, or pass a joke. And within that mall, the dark and the danger are unknown. 

Riley and Ellie are so pure fun for the hour. Bella can give so much of her confidence and vulnerability, and t shows how much she understands and how much she hasn’t seen. She is amazed by electric stairs. It helps the drama escalate later (sue me)

Riley is part Horrible and part Willy Wonka—tempting and teasing, although not completely in control of her situation and emotions. While initially being the more worldly, she is also keen for approval, setting up video games and all the world’s wonders as a tour and pitch for her life. I could not help but think of Night of the Comet meets big. And just a joy

Bonding over mortal kombat and flirting over lingerie is such a warm and teen build-up, given that this world is over 20 years old. I can’t help but leap to the 90s. And where I will end it.

No one is shot. No one is damaged. There is no witch hunter, some straight saviour comes and gives a rousing last two-minute speech at the end. It is an hour with two people you could or have been. They get to be young women and not young objects for older men. En.

My friend Cliff reads more than me, he’s an actor, it goes with the job. He wants to see less ‘be diverse; go directly to the morgue’ In the show. I feel with 7 episodes and the premise being as if anyone they meet will die, otherwise it’s multiplayer and dilutes the tag team. He pointed out there are other ways for characters to leave a bullet. 

But as the episode stitches up, the few loose ends about Ellie and Joel have lingered. I can’t recommend the show enough. 

And those who complain about gay girls being fucking funny and annoying and shouting and shooting and charismatic and smelly. Well, they are missing out, and it just makes me remember my friend from uni, and she should have had the space to be even moreso. But on a cheerful, my niece and her future as whatever she feels, yet at 8, she told me this about social media.

“It’s for hate girls, shouts at happy girls, telling them to get married so they can be miserable like them.”

WATCH THE FUCKING SHOW.