The series ‘The Last of Us‘ blends various genres, initially appearing as a typical post-apocalyptic tale featuring creatures akin to, yet distinct from, zombies. However, upon closer observation, it becomes clear that the show isn’t primarily focused on these monsters. Rather, it delves into the intricacies of relationships, love, and how these powerful emotions shape and transform individuals over time.
In the heart of “The Last of Us” lies a duo, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), who have endured much sorrow and adversity. They discover tranquility in their company amidst the chaos, yet their bond also introduces fresh obstacles. With few exceptions, the narrative primarily follows one of these characters, yet both games and the series span a significant period.
In essence, the TV series based on HBO starts in 1968, and by Season 2, it has moved into the 2020s. The show often jumps around in time, with some episodes quickly summarizing decades through a brief montage, while others delve deeply into a decade-long relationship over almost an hour. With various factions, cities, flashbacks, and glimpses of the future, the chronology can become somewhat complex. This guide aims to clarify all the significant occurrences you should know about.
Cordyceps evolves
In the original “The Last of Us” video game, the rapid spread of the cordyceps fungus takes everyone by shock. One moment, Joel and his daughter Sarah (portrayed by Nico Parker on screen) are going about their everyday lives, and the next, a neighbor infected with the fungus breaks through their back door, causing their world to be flipped on its head. In contrast, the HBO adaptation of “The Last of Us” sets the stage for the cordyceps outbreak right from the start in its opening scene.
The TV show commences by showing a segment from a 1968 talk show, where two biologists were the evening guests. On this show, they discuss cordyceps, a fungus capable of controlling insect brains and using their bodies for its own purposes. This sets up the main theme of the series, suggesting that warmer temperatures could allow cordyceps to infect mammals, potentially even humans. The evolution depicted in the show takes place between this talk show episode and 2003, when the story unfolds.
In Episode 2 of “The Last of Us”, we get a glimpse into how the global outbreak of the cordyceps fungus occurred. Initially, scientists uncover the fungus living within humans, and later on, it is revealed that the fungus had contaminated the world’s grain stockpiles. Tragically, by the time they figured this out, it was already too late to contain the infection.
Joel and Sarah face tragedy
The development of cordyceps plays a significant role in setting the stage for “The Last of Us” narrative, yet it doesn’t serve as the primary catalyst for the storyline. Instead, the pivotal moment that sets the plot in motion occurs when Joel encounters infected humans for the first time. In a matter of hours, Joel’s hometown transforms into an apocalyptic wasteland, leaving him with no other option but to evacuate his family from populated areas.
As a devoted fan, here I am, recounting my own experience in the first person:
Joel, Sarah, and my brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) hopped into a truck and embarked on a desperate mission to escape the town. Barrier after barrier, both physical and symbolic, hindered our progress as the military enforced a lockdown, with hordes of infected humans overrunning the streets. Eventually, Joel and Sarah and I became separated from Tommy, and we found ourselves fleeing for our lives on foot amidst the chaos. Our paths crossed with a soldier who had been instructed to execute anyone attempting to leave the area. It was then that fate took a grim turn.
Moments before Tommy arrives, the soldier shoots at Joel and Sarah. Regrettably, Tommy gets there too late – Sarah gets hit by a bullet amidst the confusion, bleeding profusely in Joel’s arms. The loss of Sarah marks the saddest moment in Joel’s life, propelling him on a journey that eventually ends with his own demise.
Welcome to the post-apocalypse
Beyond being a video game and TV series, what makes “The Last of Us” stand out among top post-apocalyptic films is its unique setting: the narrative unfolds several decades after a cordyceps outbreak leads to societal collapse. The show starts with a 20-year leap forward, showing us events from the night the infection strikes Joel’s town up until a bleak future where an authoritarian government rules over Boston – one of the few places left where people can live somewhat safely amidst chaos.
The franchise provides relatively scant information about the events spanning over two decades. Initially, we learn that the Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA) endeavors to control the outbreak at its onset. However, containment efforts prove unsuccessful, and as more individuals succumb, the remnants of FEDRA assume a governing role in cities nationwide by default.
In simpler terms, FEDRA strives to ensure safety for all, though opinions about their approach vary. Over time, a strict government led by FEDRA emerges, which sparks resistance from a band of rebels called the Fireflies. During the ensuing 20-year period, conflicts are primarily local issues; however, the ongoing battle between FEDRA and the Fireflies unfolds throughout the entire nation.
Ellie is born
In “The Last of Us,” it’s not the primary character who was present during the initial outbreak. Instead, Ellie, our protagonist, lived through the apocalypse, spending most of her childhood under FEDRA rule in Boston. Her narrative unfolds even before Joel’s encounter with her, though we are introduced to both at the same time in the series and game. In essence, Ellie’s story has roots that stretch deeper into the past than what initially meets the eye.
HBO’s series generally mirrors the game’s storyline closely, but occasionally introduces additional scenes or stories to enrich the universe and character development. One such instance occurred in the first season’s finale, where we witnessed Ellie’s birth scene. This was our initial encounter with her mother, Anna (portrayed by Ashley Johnson), who was nine months pregnant while fleeing from infected. As Anna was about to give birth, she got bitten. Despite this, she managed to deliver her daughter and name her Ellie. However, she then requested her friend Marlene (Merle Dandridge) to end her life before the infection could transform her.
In this particular scene, a bond is formed between Ellie and Marlene that isn’t present in the games. It also sheds light on Ellie’s immunity to the cordyceps infection, which plays a significant role in the story. This unique resistance within Ellie is due to an extraordinary chance, and since those who could explain the circumstances surrounding her birth have perished, the details remain unclear.
Joel and Tess build a life in Boston
For twenty years not depicted in “The Last of Us”, Joel constructs an entirely new existence. Much like many aspects of that era, particulars about his experiences remain scant, but we do witness the destination of his odyssey. Upon reconnecting with him in Boston, he’s a seasoned smuggler, clandestinely moving contraband into and out of the city, avoiding FEDRA, and earning a living for himself.
From a devoted fan’s perspective, it’s uncertain when Joel took up smuggling, but what I can confirm is that Tess (Anna Torv) is his partner in this illicit endeavor. If you pay close attention, there are hints suggesting they’re not just business associates. Tess demonstrates a level of toughness equal to Joel’s, and they both seem to watch each other’s back.
In Episode 3, we witness them reuniting with Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett). However, after some deliberation, they establish their base in Boston instead. Tess’s absence from the narrative doesn’t diminish her impact; she plays a crucial role, as evidenced by Joel’s decision to escort Ellie cross-country with her support. Even though her screen time is limited, she significantly contributes to the storyline.
Bill and Frank find love
In the game “The Last of Us,” an alteration in the narrative concerning Bill significantly enhanced the series’ acclaimed episodes. In the original storyline, Joel and Ellie seek assistance from Joel’s acquaintance, Bill, to gather supplies and transportation for their journey. Bill is portrayed comically in the game, offering minimal insight into his character. However, the show presents a more nuanced version of Bill that deviates markedly from this depiction.
In Episode 3, we delve into the life of Bill, a survivalist who seemed perfectly equipped to endure an apocalyptic scenario. Prior to the outbreak of the cordyceps infection, we observe his meticulous preparations. As the story unfolds, we witness how he effortlessly adapts to a post-apocalyptic existence. Despite finding joy in solitude, Bill’s peaceful lifestyle is disrupted when a man named Frank stumbles upon one of his traps on his property.
Bill and Frank develop a deep affection for one another, with Frank suggesting they connect with other survivors. They eventually form strong bonds with Joel and Tess during a contented decade together. However, as a disease progressively affects Frank’s mobility, he chooses to ingest a fatal dose of sleeping pills. Moved by this decision, Bill follows suit, passing away peacefully in Frank’s arms. Their love story stands out as one of the most poignant and beautifully crafted episodes in the series, serving to underscore the recurring theme in “The Last of Us” that love can endure even the toughest circumstances.
The WLF forms in Seattle
Although “The Last of Us” is primarily about an apocalypse, it surprisingly delves less into the details of how society fell apart. Given that the story takes place more than two decades following the initial cordyceps outbreak, we’re left with subtle clues and brief glimpses of what unfolded post-infection. However, the beginning of Season 2’s episode “Day One” offers a glimpse into Seattle’s fate after it was overrun by the infected.
Through some playful conversation among FEDRA troops, it’s revealed that FEDRA seized control of Seattle during a city-wide lockdown. Subsequently, we discover that FEDRA stripped citizens of their voting rights and governed the city with an iron fist, essentially functioning as an authoritarian regime. The extent of their cruelty remains unknown, but it is clear that their rule sparked numerous uprisings. In this particular episode, a FEDRA sergeant named Isaac (played by Jeffrey Wright) rebels against his own organization, joining forces with Seattle residents and slaughtering an armored truck filled with fellow FEDRA soldiers.
Isaac subsequently establishes the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), a powerful resistance movement armed with military might. This group manages to defy expectations and seize control of Seattle from FEDRA. When Ellie arrives in Washington, the WLF has been governing the city for almost a decade; however, it appears they are now engaged in a conflict against a fresh rebellious group called the Scars.
Riley gets killed at the mall
In Joel’s life, Sarah’s demise serves as a pivotal event; similarly, Ellie’s identity is deeply shaped by her losses. During the first season’s Episode 7, it becomes apparent that Ellie spent much of her childhood within a FEDRA school compound. Ellie isn’t your typical student and often has strained relationships with her peers. However, she does have one exceptionally close friend named Riley (portrayed by Storm Reid). Now, if you haven’t watched the show, you might anticipate that Riley is also a casualty in Ellie’s story.
One evening, Riley and Ellie surreptitiously leave for an abandoned mall located in Boston. For Riley, this location has served as her clandestine hideout for quite some time now. She astounds Ellie by demonstrating that the mall still receives power. The duo spends a delightful night perusing the old stores and enjoying themselves at the arcade. They even share their initial kiss during this rendezvous; however, their tranquil evening is disrupted when some contaminated individuals break into the building.
Riley and Ellie bravely fend off the infected hordes, only to suffer bites themselves. They choose to spend their remaining time together before transforming, but when Riley undergoes change, something unexpected happens – Ellie remains unaltered. In this very instant, Ellie discovers she’s immune to the effects of cordyceps, a cruel twist of fate that takes away her dearest friend and lover, Riley. This heartbreaking realization becomes the driving force behind Ellie’s determination to find a cure for the deadly cordyceps infection.
Joel and Ellie meet
In the TV series “The Last of Us,” Joel and Ellie travel across America, but this trip wasn’t initially planned. Early in the show, we encounter Marlene, an influential Firefly member who, unbeknownst to viewers at that point, was present during Ellie’s birth. Marlene aims to guide Ellie to a Firefly unit stationed in Boston Capital. Their ultimate goal is to transport Ellie to a Firefly facility located at the University of Eastern Colorado. Here, a team of scientists intends to exploit Ellie’s immunity to create a cure for cordyceps.
Trouble arises when Marlene gets shot during a fight in the Boston Containment Area. Though she isn’t mortally wounded, she requires immediate medical attention – which should have been provided while she was arranging for Ellie’s escape from the city. In a panic, Marlene asks Joel and Tess to take care of this task instead. Joel is hesitant, but Tess persuades him to do it. Regrettably, all Fireflies at the Capital are killed before Joel, Tess, and Ellie could reach them. The area was infested with Infected, and Tess sacrifices herself to protect Joel and Ellie, demanding that he continue the mission alone. Moved by her dying wish, Joel consents and starts plotting a way to travel from Boston to Colorado.
Joel and Ellie travel through Kansas City
Over time, Joel and Ellie find themselves traveling across Kansas City’s outskirts in their journey. As they navigate through the devastated city streets, they encounter a band of marauders led by a woman named Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey). In the midst of this attack, they seek refuge in nearby structures. There, they unexpectedly meet Henry (Lamar Johnson) and his younger brother Sam (Keivonn Montreal Woodard), who are trying to elude Kathleen and her gang. With the city being a dangerous place for them, the siblings choose to join forces with Joel and Ellie to attempt an escape from the urban chaos.
As Joel and Ellie journey through the city with their new companions, Henry reveals that Kathleen holds him accountable for her brother’s demise. In days when FEDRA governed the city, Henry had denounced her brother for criminal activities to receive medicine for Sam’s leukemia. Enraged by this betrayal, Kathleen rallied other disgruntled citizens and overthrew FEDRA, relentlessly pursuing Henry for retribution.
As a devoted viewer, I must say, in our desperate bid to flee the city, we indeed manage to do so, but not without stumbling upon an alarming horde of infected. This harrowing experience marks the debut of a chilling new type of infected – the bloater – on screen. Amidst the turmoil, Kathleen falls in the line of fire. The following day brings more heart-wrenching news: Sam has transformed after getting bitten, and with his brother dead, Henry takes his own life. Left with no choice, Joel and Ellie are compelled to resume our journey alone.
Jackson is a real safe haven
On their travels across Wyoming, Joel and Ellie stumble upon a place called Jackson. As fate would have it, a group of armed men intercept them, but once they determine they aren’t hostile, these men guide Joel and Ellie to the town instead. To their surprise, Joel encounters his long-lost brother, Tommy, in this very town, and for the first time since embarking on their journey, both Joel and Ellie experience a sense of true tranquility.
In contrast to the numerous potentially unsafe areas within the United States, it turns out that Joel’s brother resides in a secure location. Jackson, portrayed in “The Last of Us,” serves as an exceptional illustration of a thriving post-apocalyptic society. The town is fortified with a remarkable wall for protection and has successfully restored some luxuries from the past, such as electricity and movie screens. Families coexist harmoniously, and resources are distributed equitably to ensure the prosperity of the entire community.
Jackson feels so inviting that Joel and Ellie might easily make it their home right away, yet Ellie’s determination to discover a cure for cordyceps keeps her focused on her task. They eventually depart from the town, but they are confident that Jackson will be there for them once they have settled matters with the Fireflies.
Joel gets injured
Towards the close of Season 1’s “Kin” episode, Joel and Ellie complete their long trek across the country. They reach the University of Eastern Colorado, anticipating it would be bustling with Fireflies, but instead, they find an abandoned campus. As they venture through some of the buildings, they stumble upon a map revealing that the Fireflies have moved westward, to Salt Lake City. However, before Joel and Ellie can ponder over this fresh intel, bandits appear, leading to a fight during which Joel gets struck in the abdomen with a splintered baseball bat handle.
In a critical condition, Joel’s injuries were almost fatal, but fortunately, Ellie found an abandoned home for them to seek refuge in while she nursed his wounds and scavenged for medication. As weeks went by, Ellie negotiated with strangers from a nearby settlement for penicillin, trading a deer in exchange. She managed to get the medicine to Joel, but was captured soon afterward by the same people. The leader of this group, David, confessed that he had been secretly feeding his people human flesh during the winter to keep them alive.
Ellie tried to escape her captors, and just as she did, Joel regained consciousness and ventured out to search for her. A violent clash ensued between Ellie and David, culminating in Ellie killing David mere moments before Joel arrived on the scene. With their reunion complete and Joel back in fighting form, they bid farewell to Colorado and headed towards Utah.
The Fireflies manipulated the truth
When Joel and Ellie reach Salt Lake City, they face another unexpected attack by Fireflies, causing Joel to lose consciousness. Upon regaining awareness, he discovers Marlene has also reached the city from Boston. She informs Joel that Ellie was already given anesthesia and taken to an operating room for a procedure where a doctor will extract brain tissue to create the cure for cordyceps. The Fireflies hadn’t briefed Ellie about the operation, but Marlene tells Joel that it would prove fatal.
In that instant, Joel becomes enraged. He regards Ellie as his own daughter, and is utterly averse to losing another child. Fueled by anger, Joel wreaks havoc throughout the Firefly headquarters, killing almost everyone within the building. Upon reaching the operating room, the surgeon attempts to reason with him, but Joel retaliates by shooting the surgeon dead. When Marlene confronts Joel as he’s fleeing the building with an unconscious Ellie, he takes her life too, in a desperate attempt to thwart anyone from tracking them back to Jackson.
Abby and her friends go to Seattle
Unlike the initial scene in “The Last of Us Part II” where I, as Joel, am center stage, the second season of HBO’s adaptation starts by introducing me, or rather Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), to the audience. We’re outside a hospital in Salt Lake City, standing near the somber expanse of graves we had to dig after my actions led to Joel’s demise. It quickly becomes apparent that the consequences of my violent acts towards the Fireflies were far more grim and horrifying than I could have ever imagined.
Currently, it’s uncertain where he may have gone, as none of the remaining Fireflies have any idea. It’s also unknown if there are any other Fireflies in the nation, but whispers suggest a group of survivors thriving in Seattle. Abby and her companions journey to Washington, eventually linking with the WLF, yet she remains vigilant for any sign of Joel’s whereabouts throughout this time.
Joel and Ellie return to Jackson
Instead of truthfully recounting events in Salt Lake City to Ellie, Joel deceives her. Upon awakening, he tells her that there exist other immune individuals and that efforts to develop a cure have failed. He also claims that bandits assaulted Firefly’s base, compelling him to take her with him and flee. Despite harboring suspicions about Joel’s account, Ellie chooses not to voice them as they journey back towards Jackson.
After they’ve walked just a short distance from their newly found home, Ellie begins to reveal a bit more to Joel. She shares some reservations about his narrative and asks him to promise her truthfully. However, instead of admitting the truth, he persists with his deception. In both the original game and the first season of “The Last of Us,” Joel’s breach of trust toward Ellie marks the conclusion of their story. Ellie responds with a simple “Okay,” yet the audience is left questioning whether she truly believes him. As Season 2 unfolds, Joel’s lie significantly impacts his relationship with Ellie in the subsequent years, ultimately leading to his demise in Salt Lake City.
Finding some peace in Jackson
Upon our return from Salt Lake City to Jackson, the bond between Ellie and me was somewhat unsteady. Doubts about my tale had crept into her heart, and she was questioning if she could truly rely on me. For a while, these apprehensions took a backseat, and we both discovered solace and joy in our time in Jackson.
In the new town they call home, Joel and Ellie move into a house and adopt roles reminiscent of a family, with Ellie eager to guard Jackson’s borders against the infected and Joel cautioning her due to her youth. Although she craves some thrill, Ellie grows comfortable in Jackson, forming bonds with Dina (Isabela Merced) and Jessie (Young Mazino). Ellie even begins to explore romance and teenage life much like a typical teenager from our world.
With each passing day, Joel and Ellie grow more deeply rooted within their community. Joel, leveraging his pre-apocalyptic skills in construction, leads patrols and contributes to the development of Jackson for its newest inhabitants. Meanwhile, Ellie learns marksmanship from Tommy and carves out her own niche. However, over an extended period, a simmering unease arises between Joel and Ellie; rather than addressing it head-on, Ellie begins to distance herself, but secrets have a way of surfacing eventually.
War between the Scars and the WLF
As “The Last of Us” Season 2 leads viewers to Seattle, they’ll find themselves in a city immersed in conflict. Contrary to expectations, this isn’t the struggle between the WLF and FEDRA that was previously shown off-screen. Instead, the WLF are battling a faction resembling religious extremists. They don robes, reject technology, self-mutilate with facial scars, and worship a woman known as the Prophet.
In a somewhat mocking manner, Isaac labels this opposing group as the Scars, whereas followers of “The Last of Us Part II” recognize them as the Seraphites. The game doesn’t delve deeply into their religion, origins of conflict with WLF, or much about them in general. Players must search for hints and dig deep to construct their narrative. It’s likely that HBO’s “The Last of Us” will provide more details on the Seraphites vs. WLF confrontation than the games, but fans will have to be patient for this information. The second season provides minimal insight into the conflict between the two factions, yet it can be expected that the Scar/WLF war will significantly contribute to Season 3’s narrative.
Ellie learns the truth
In simple terms, Ellie isn’t easily deceived by Joel’s account of the events in Salt Lake City. Her skepticism is evident at the end of “The Last of Us” Season 1 and persists as she adjusts to life in Jackson. Five years later, these doubts have significantly strained her relationship with Joel, a situation that isn’t fully explored until Episode 6 of Season 2.
Upon her arrival in Jackson, Ellie initially wished to trust Joel’s tale and coexist peacefully with him. However, as time passed, she grew increasingly impatient with him. Due to her fear of confronting him about Salt Lake City, Ellie instead chose to express her dissatisfaction indirectly. This escalated to the point where she left the house and took up residence in the garage.
In the games, Ellie journeys to Salt Lake City to witness firsthand the consequences of the events. On the series, she gathers the strength to discuss with Joel what transpired the night prior to Jackson’s attack by infected. Joel discloses everything while expressing no remorse because his deep affection for Ellie drives him to ensure her survival. She confesses her struggles in finding forgiveness, yet now that the truth has been revealed, she says she’ll make an effort to move forward.
Abby comes to Jackson for revenge
In the aftermath of Joel’s attack on the Firefly base, we encounter Abby and her companions. At this juncture, it is evident that she has made up her mind to eliminate Joel. Her friends, though, appear more focused on their survival rather than revenge. They support her plan while urging her to guide the group towards Seattle, where they can later trace Joel. For the next five years, we do not re-encounter them.
In the second season of “The Last of Us”, there isn’t much detail about Abby and her companions’ adventures in Seattle, but it does reveal where their journey concludes. Somehow, she learns that Joel is in Jackson, and we witness her group approaching the town in the depths of winter. They’re unsure of what awaits them in Jackson, and panic sets in as soon as they catch sight of the town. The size of Jackson surpasses their expectations, causing Abby’s group to question whether they can even locate Joel within the community, let alone eliminate him without getting caught. However, Abby is unwilling to entertain doubts or hesitation. She’s resolved to storm the streets herself if necessary, in order to avenge her father’s death.
Ellie witnesses Joel’s death
As a devoted gamer, I eagerly followed HBO’s “The Last of Us,” always on edge for that one climactic moment. The gaming world was taken aback when “The Last of Us Part II” unveiled the shocking demise of Joel in its early stages, transforming the narrative into a heart-wrenching journey of vengeance for Ellie. Reminiscent of its video game counterpart, the second season of the show treads along the same path, albeit with a few subtle differences here and there.
In the series, Joel and Dina are patrolling together, while Abby keeps a watchful eye on Jackson from a distance, preparing for an attack that doesn’t occur in the games. As they approach Jackson, fires break out coincidentally at the same time. Despite his eagerness to return home, Joel decides to accompany Abby to her friends’ chalet to avoid the approaching harsh winter storm.
In a twist of unfortunate events, Joel’s misfortune allows Abby to accomplish her aim without setting foot in the town. Upon entering, Joel and Dina are drugged by Abby’s companions, who then shoot Joel in the knee. Abby reveals that her father was meant to operate on Ellie, and she subjected Joel to torture, beating him severely with a golf club. Simultaneously, Ellie was patrolling outside when she encountered Abby’s friends, visibly disturbed by Abby’s extreme vengeance. When Ellie arrives at the chalet, she finds herself brutally beaten and witnesses Abby murder Joel. His body is held onto by a shocked Ellie as Abby’s companions flee the scene.
Ellie and Dina leave for Seattle
If conditions had allowed, Ellie would have pursued Abby’s group, but her injuries were critical, demanding immediate, intense medical care in Jackson. It takes several months for Ellie to recuperate, during which time the people of Jackson are also working tirelessly to recover from a horrific infected attack. Once Ellie regains her strength, she’s eager to track down Joel’s killers right away. However, all significant decisions in the town are made through council votes.
At a gathering within their community, Ellie advocates for a group to pursue Joel’s killers, emphasizing her reasoning beyond vengeance – a yearning for justice and a desire to halt future acts of violence. However, the council rejects her proposition primarily due to financial constraints; they cannot risk losing any valuable community members during these challenging times when the town needs its able-bodied residents for necessary repairs.
Unruffled by this choice, Ellie opts to pursue Abby solo. Yet, Dina offers an alternative strategy. She approaches Ellie in her garage and shares that she’s devised a plan for both of them to reach Seattle and eliminate Abby together. With aid from compassionate townsfolk, Ellie and Dina collect provisions and escape the town the following morning.
Seattle isn’t what Ellie expected
The trip from Jackson to Seattle isn’t quick, and nothing could have fully prepared Ellie and Dina for the predicament they encounter upon reaching the bustling metropolis. As we previously talked about, by the time the duo arrives, Seattle has turned into a battleground where the WLF and the Scars frequently exchange gunfire. On their initial day in the city, Dina and Ellie come to understand that this assignment is riskier than they had anticipated.
Following their arrival in the city, the women soon discover symbols of the WLF at a close-by broadcasting station. Curiosity piqued, they explore the premises, only to stumble upon a gruesome scene: WLF soldiers, brutally slain by Scars, dangle from ropes with gaping wounds from neck to waist. Before Ellie and Dina could fully comprehend the grim sight, additional WLF troops appeared, searching the building for the Scars.
In a different setting, Ellie slays a solider from the WLF group while fleeing with Dina from the building. They stumble upon an abandoned theater and deem it as secure a location as possible for a temporary hideout. After finding refuge, Dina and Ellie confess their feelings towards each other, with Dina disclosing that she’s carrying Jesse’s baby. Overjoyed by this revelation, Ellie is eager to start a new relationship and assist in raising Dina’s child; however, she remains reluctant to abandon her quest for vengeance at the moment.
Cordyceps continues to evolve
In “The Last of Us,” the way cordyceps operates is often overlooked by fans due to its implausibility when analyzed scientifically. However, in the game’s version, cordyceps infects people via spores present in the air. The first season of the show alters this, establishing that the cordyceps infection does not spread through the air – at least until Season 2 introduces an airborne component.
In the second season of the series, the Workers of Liberty Front (WLF) are diligently working on transforming Seattle into a secure and comfortable city. One aspect of this project includes renovating an abandoned hospital for reuse. As they clean out the hospital, WLF soldiers stumble upon a shocking find in the basement. The hospital’s lower levels, shrouded in darkness and dampness, have become an ideal environment for cordyceps fungus to thrive. The fungus has spread across the walls, floors, and ceilings of the area. As soldiers delve deeper into it, they begin to cough and then transform. Upon realization that the cordyceps in the hospital has become airborne, the WLF takes immediate action to seal off the basement before the infection can spread further.
This fresh development in “The Last of Us Part II” might significantly alter the narrative as HBO proceeds with its adaptation. The second season placed a strong focus on airborne contagion, suggesting that this latest mutation of cordyceps could have far-reaching consequences. However, one point remains clear: the universe of “The Last of Us” just became even more perilous.
Ellie’s second day in Seattle gets darker
On my second day in Seattle, I had quite an eventful morning with Dina. We talked about her pregnancy again, and she made it clear that it wouldn’t change our mission one bit. She remained as determined as ever to find Joel’s killers. With this resolve in mind, we ventured into the city, only to quickly find ourselves smack dab in the middle of a conflict between the WLF and the Scars.
The two factions show no tolerance towards Ellie and Dina, causing them to flee from both groups. If not for the timely arrival of a familiar figure, Jessie who manages to fend off some of the infected pursuing them, their journey would have ended then and there. However, with Jessie’s intervention, he reveals that he and Tommy had decided to track them down after they departed. Now, Jessie aims to bring Ellie, Dina, and himself together once more, and expedite their escape from Seattle.
Dina got hurt as she fled from the Scars, leaving Jesse to escort her back to the theater. Meanwhile, Ellie chose to venture forward on her own, seeking one of Abby’s associates at the hospital. Eventually, she encountered Nora (played by Tati Gabrielle) and pursued her into the basement. As the flying cordyceps started transforming Nora, Ellie was rescued due to her immunity. Taking advantage of this reprieve, Ellie decided to interrogate Nora about Abby’s location instead.
Ellie’s third day in Seattle could be her last
On my third day exploring Seattle, I finally cross paths with Abby – not exactly the encounter I had planned. Jesse keeps urging me and Dina to go back to Jackson, but before we can set off, we need to find our buddy Tommy first. After leaving injured Dina at the theater, Jesse and I embark on a mission to locate him. As we journey, we pick up distant sounds of Tommy battling WLF troops. Jesse begs for my assistance in reaching Tommy, but just then, a thought strikes me – I think I know where Abby is, after piecing together the information I’d extracted from Nora during our brutal interrogation.
As a devoted fan, I’d rephrase it like this: Instead of Jessie, it’s Ellie who embarks on a vengeful journey. She swiftly heads to a local aquarium in search of Abby, but encounters Owen (Spencer Lord) and Mel (Ariela Barer) instead. With a gun in hand, she demands information about Abby, but Owen becomes aggressive. In self-defense, Ellie discharges her weapon, tragically taking the lives of Owen, Mel, and unborn Mel, all in a single shot. Overwhelmed, she rushes back to the theater where everyone eagerly awaits her return.
As a devoted fan, I must admit I was left on edge when Abby uncovered Ellie’s whereabouts in the city and made her way to the theater for a heated showdown. In the heat of the moment, Abby fatally shoots Jessie, leaving us hanging at the end of Season 2 with Abby aiming a gun at Tommy and Ellie. While Looper’s critique of “The Last of Us” Season 2 acknowledges that the climactic events unfold a tad too swiftly, as fans of the game, we eagerly anticipate delving deeper into the story in the chapters ahead.
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2025-05-26 04:34