Warning: spoilers ahead for The Lasts of Us episode 7.
The Last of Us episode 7 took viewers on a wild ride through the past, as Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and her best friend Riley (Storm Reid) embarked on an adventure that ended in terror.
However, it appears an Easter Egg might have been snuck in that links back to the first episode, which possibly revealed the direction that the story was taking without many viewers realising.
In the TV show’s latest release, a flashback reveals how Ellie sustained the bite from an infected, which led to her finding out that she was immune to Cordyceps, when Riley – who has joined the Fireflies – sneaks her out of Fedra military school to go to the deserted mall.
While the pair argue over Riley’s intention to leave the Boston QZ with the resistance group, they end up both revealing their romantic feelings for each other when they share an adorable kiss in the shopping centre.
In a joyful scene, Ellie and Riley enjoy a ride on a carousel as the song Just Like Heaven plays in the background… but a secret code revealed in the season premiere has made fans think that the choice of music might have been a clue for the episode’s conclusion.
Shortly after smuggler Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie first meet, she deciphers the code that he has on his radio in his room within the Boston QZ, figuring out that if a song from the 1980s is playing, it signifies ‘danger’.
This was confirmed in episode three, when Joel and his smuggling partner Tess (Anna Torv) meet Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett) for the first time, during which they decide to work together to transport goods to and from the quarantine zone.
Frank comes up with the code for the radio, with 60s music meaning that there’s no new stock in, 70s meaning there is new stock and 80s meaning danger.
Just Like Heaven, the song playing when Ellie and Riley were on the merry-go-round, came out in 1987 – perhaps hinting at the danger that they were going to face at the end of their mall adventure, when an infected attacks them.
This Easter Egg was spotted by a Reddit user who goes by the handle @myboyatc, as they wrote: ‘As Riley and Ellie ride the carousel, the song playing is “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure. This song was released in 1987.
‘The code for music between Bill, Frank, Joel, and Tess used 80s music as the code for danger. Ellie and Riley are unaware of the impending danger in the mall.’
A-ha’s Take On Me also played when they first entered the shopping centre, which came out in 1984.
As upbeat as the 80s tracks are, in the world of The Last Of Us, they spell doom and despair.
After all, the flashback sequence in episode seven ends with both Ellie and Riley being bitten, with both of them assuming their fates are sealed.
Hot Property Picks from Metro
Cheapest UK city for first-time buyers revealed — but it's ‘bleak’ for some
What I Rent: As a Bake Off finalist, my £2,800 a month flat has more ovens than bedrooms
This Dorset beach hut is only 6ft wide and has no toilet — but will set you back £110,000
We bought a mouldy narrowboat on Facebook Marketplace — it saves us £10,000 a year in rent
Selling your home? Here's what viewers are really looking at
The Last of Us is available to watch on Sky and NOW.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Share this with