Critics from IGN and The Guardian noted the episode explains Ellie's foundational trauma and her intense fear of being left alone.
They play Mortal Kombat II after Riley breaks into a coin machine.
The flashback is set in the Boston Quarantine Zone (QZ) several months before Ellie meets Joel.
They take goofy pictures together, which Ellie keeps.
Interweaves two timelines—one where Ellie frantically tries to save a critically injured Joel in the present, and another detailing the night she was bitten while exploring an abandoned mall with her best friend, Riley. Key Story Beats (The Mall Flashback)
They ride it while sharing a bottle of alcohol.
