Who Was the First Person Ellie Killed in The Last of Us, Explained

Ellie doesn’t give a clear answer to Dina’s question in The Last of Us’ latest episode, but the truth about the whole matter was revealed all the way back in season 1. We’re here to remind you who happened to be Ellie’s first victim and why it’s an especially traumatic experience for her.
The Last of Us ’ sophomore season now has moved to the point where everyone tries to live on without Pedro Pascal ’s Joel by their side, with the rest of the episodes potentially leaning into much more revelations about all the characters’ past.
The most recent episode 3 has already embarked on that mission, witnessing Ellie and Dina’s conversations as they travel together to Seattle.
Now that the show has yet to develop the romantic storyline between the characters, Dina is eager to know what Ellie had to go through years earlier, asking her about who was the first person she ever killed.
Even though eventually Ellie averts the direct answer, saying plainly that it wasn’t someone bad, there’s not much of a mystery in here — and the show’s first season holds the proof.
Riley Is the First Person Ellie Kills in The Last of Us
The series has already revealed some horrifying truth about Ellie’s past in its first season, also making it clear that she committed her first murder months before she met Joel.
Particularly, the instalment’s episode 1 comes as an extensive flashback into what Ellie’s life was like back in Boston military school and how she eventually met her future best friend Riley.
Having quickly bonded, Ellie and Riley sneak out to an abandoned mall one night, enjoying the place and its entertainment facilities like the children whose dream of ending up alone in an amusement park has finally come true.
However, the girls’ most memorable evening is soon interrupted when the infected invade the mall, resulting in both Riley and Ellie being beaten.
While for the latter it’s not much of a problem, the former becomes a huge risk for Ellie, and this is when she’s forced to kill Riley.
Why Ellie Doesn’t Tell Dina the Truth, Explained
Even though they’ve already spent enough time together to know more about each other’s past, Ellie most likely thinks she still needs time before opening up to Dina and being comfortable with it.
Having gone through a lot by Joel’s side, Ellie might have also learnt to be cautious about revealing her true feelings like Joel did, let alone a possibility of her still reeling from Riley’s tragic death.
However, The Last of Us’ original storyline suggests Ellie and Dina’s relationship will develop further, which will likely prompt the show itself to unravel more about Ellie’s life before the events of the game.
When Is The Last of Us Next Episode Coming?
The show’s season 2 episode 4 will arrive on Max on May 4. The following three episodes will be dropped on the platform every Sunday until May 25.