People still get weirdly heated about it. Whether you're talking about the original DLC from 2014 or the massive HBO adaptation, the last of us lesbian scene remains one of the most dissected moments in modern media. It wasn't just a "moment" for the sake of diversity points. Honestly, it was a structural necessity for Ellie’s character.
If you haven't played Left Behind or seen Episode 7 of the show, we’re talking about the kiss between Ellie and Riley. It happens in a derelict mall. There’s neon light, a dusty photo booth, and the crushing weight of an impending apocalypse. It’s beautiful. It’s also devastating.
The Mall, The Music, and That Specific Kiss
Context matters. You can't just look at the kiss in a vacuum. In the game, Naughty Dog spent hours building tension through mundane activities. Throwing bricks at car windows. Putting on werewolf masks. It’s the contrast that kills you. You have these two girls trying to be kids in a world that wants them to be soldiers.
When the last of us lesbian scene finally happens, it isn't some grand, cinematic explosion. It’s awkward. Ellie asks Riley not to go. Riley says she’s staying. The music—that signature Gustavo Santaolalla acoustic vibe—swells just enough. Then Ellie kisses her.
"I'm sorry," Ellie says immediately after.
That’s the most human part. The apology. It’s the fear of ruining the only friendship you have left. Riley’s response, "For what?", is legendary. It’s the moment of total acceptance before everything goes to hell. Neil Druckmann, the creative director, has mentioned in several interviews that Ellie’s sexuality was something the writing team realized during the development of the first game's DLC. It wasn't a retcon. It was a discovery.
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Why the HBO Version Hits Different
Storm Reid and Bella Ramsey brought a different kind of energy to the screen. In the show, the last of us lesbian scene feels more desperate. We know what’s coming. We know the bite is around the corner.
The show spends more time on the "Five Wonders of the Mall." By the time they get to the dance on the counter, the chemistry is vibrating. Some critics argued the episode slowed the pacing of the main Joel and Ellie plot. They’re wrong. Without seeing Ellie’s first love, you don't understand her survivor’s guilt in the main story. You don't understand why she’s so obsessed with not being left alone.
The Backlash and the Reality of 2014 vs. Now
Let’s be real. When Left Behind dropped in 2014, the "gamer" discourse was a dumpster fire. A vocal minority claimed it was "political."
But look at the numbers. The Last of Us Part II went on to be one of the best-selling PlayStation exclusives ever, leaning even harder into Ellie’s identity. The last of us lesbian scene in the first game was the foundation. It wasn't a niche side-story; it was the blueprint for the entire sequel's emotional stakes.
Expert narrative designers often talk about "ludo-narrative harmony." That’s a fancy way of saying the gameplay matches the story. In this scene, the "gameplay" is just being present. No shooting. No stealth. Just choice.
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Breaking Down the Cultural Impact
- It normalized queer protagonists in AAA gaming without making their sexuality their only trait.
- It shifted how motion capture is used for intimacy.
- It forced a mainstream audience to empathize with a teenage girl's internal struggle during a literal plague.
Halley Gross, who co-wrote the sequel, has spoken at length about how Ellie’s lived experience as a gay woman in the apocalypse shapes her world view. She doesn't have the luxury of "coming out" in a traditional sense. She just exists.
What Most People Miss About Riley
Everyone focuses on Ellie. But Riley Abel is the catalyst. Riley represents the Fireflies—the hope for a cure and a revolution. When Ellie chooses Riley, she’s choosing a person over a cause. That theme repeats through every single chapter of the franchise.
The last of us lesbian scene is actually a tragedy disguised as a romance.
Think about the timing. They kiss, they decide to be together, and within minutes, they are bitten. The transition from the highest high to the lowest low is what defines The Last of Us. It’s the "happiness is a death sentence" trope, but handled with such surgical precision that it doesn't feel cheap.
Technical Mastery in the Animation
If you watch the "making of" featurettes, the animators talk about the eyes. In the last of us lesbian scene, Ellie’s pupils dilate. Micro-expressions. These are things we take for granted in 2026, but back then? It was revolutionary. They used hand-keyed animation to supplement the mo-cap because the sensors couldn't quite capture the subtle quivers of a first kiss.
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It’s that attention to detail that makes the scene linger in your brain. You aren't watching polygons; you’re watching two terrified kids find five minutes of peace.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Writers
If you're looking to understand why this specific moment worked while other "representative" scenes fail, keep these points in mind:
- Earn the moment. Don't start with the kiss. Start with the brick-throwing and the bad jokes. Establish the friendship first.
- Subtext is king. The dialogue in the mall is 90% about batteries and posters, but the subtext is 100% about "I love you and I’m scared you’re leaving."
- Consequences matter. The kiss is what keeps them in the mall a second too long. It is directly tied to the tragedy that follows.
- Character over Message. Write a great character who happens to be a lesbian, rather than a "lesbian character." Ellie is a hunter, a jokester, a swear-word enthusiast, and a survivor. Her sexuality is a piece of the puzzle, not the whole image.
The last of us lesbian scene isn't just a piece of trivia. It’s the heartbeat of the series. It explains why Ellie fights so hard and why she loses so much. It changed the industry because it refused to blink.
To truly appreciate the depth of this narrative, re-play the Left Behind chapter with the developer commentary turned on. You'll hear Ashley Johnson (Ellie) and Yaani King (Riley) discuss the filming process. They spent days getting the rhythm of that scene right. It wasn't just another day at the office. They knew they were making something that would stay with people for decades.
Next time you see a debate about "forced diversity" in games, point to the mall. Point to the photo booth. That wasn't forced. It was the most honest moment in the entire franchise.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Understanding:
- Compare the Mediums: Watch a side-by-side of the game vs. the HBO show. Pay attention to the lighting. The show uses warmer, amber tones to signify safety, while the game uses cooler blues to remind you of the cold world outside.
- Read the Comics: Pick up The Last of Us: American Dreams. It’s a four-issue prequel comic that gives Riley’s backstory and explains how she met Ellie in the first place. It adds layers to the kiss that aren't in the game.
- Analyze the Soundtrack: Listen to "Left Behind" on the official OST. The track uses a recurring four-note motif that mirrors Ellie's heartbeat during the more intimate moments of the mall sequence.