The flashback is set in the Boston Quarantine Zone (QZ) several months before Ellie meets Joel.
Riley shows Ellie what she calls the "wonders of the mall": The Escalator: Ellie's first time seeing "electric stairs". The Last of Us: 1Г—7
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) The flashback is set in the Boston Quarantine
Critics from IGN and The Guardian noted the episode explains Ellie's foundational trauma and her intense fear of being left alone. The Last of Us: 1Г—7