Why ‘The Last of Us’ Infected Are the Ultimate Zombie Nightmare (Sorry, ‘The Walking Dead’)

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For more than a decade, “The Walking Dead” has been synonymous with the genre of ‘zombie’ television series. It featured all the familiar elements like an apocalypse scenario, groups of survivors, zombies, and so on. Although zombies were not the only peril the characters encountered, they provided enough content to keep the show running for 11 seasons. Today, “The Walking Dead” continues in various sequels and spin-offs. However, many would concur that its peak popularity has long since passed.

In the mere span of a few months since The Walking Dead concluded its run, another post-apocalyptic survival series has stepped into the limelight – The Last of Us. Similar to its predecessor, this show is set in a world overrun by the undead remnants of humanity. However, the creatures that populate these two worlds could not be more distinct. In The Walking Dead, an encounter with a solitary walker isn’t much cause for alarm. But come face to face with a clicker in The Last of Us, and it’s a different story altogether – it could well spell the end of your journey. While walkers aren’t always the primary danger in The Walking Dead, The Last of Us‘ clickers, along with runners, bloaters, and other such creatures, make exploring the world a near impossibility. So, what sets these differences apart? And why do I believe that these variations have contributed to The Last of Us‘ success in areas where The Walking Dead might have stumbled? As we eagerly await Season 2 of The Last of Us, let’s delve into these intriguing questions.

‘The Walking Dead’s Conventional Zombies

To rephrase, “The Walking Dead” was undoubtedly the most popular zombie series during the 2010s, taking over the zombie-centric entertainment landscape. At its zenith, it drew an impressive 14 to 15 million viewers each week, a figure that bested any other show on any channel, with the exception of perhaps the NFL and The Big Bang Theory. However, as is common with many shows, viewership eventually dwindled over time.

By the conclusion in 2022, “The Walking Dead” attracted only 1-2 million viewers, indicating that the fascination with zombies had waned. In contrast, “The Last of Us” emerged. At first glance, both series may appear identical due to their post-apocalyptic setting, bands of survivors, and undead entities threatening humanity. However, the way each show handles its undead is remarkably distinct, beginning with the method of infection.

In The Walking Dead, the reason behind the zombie outbreak remained unexplained until The Walking Dead: World Beyond. At first, we only knew that these walkers were undead and craved human flesh, a classic zombie trait. The show didn’t delve deeper into the cause because it didn’t need to, given the popularity of zombies in the 2010s. Portraying familiar zombies was sufficient to keep viewers engaged. Facing a horde of walkers could be deadly, but dealing with one wasn’t particularly dangerous. They were slow and unsteady, making escape relatively easy. However, not all zombie shows can follow the same formula if they wish to distinguish themselves in today’s competitive media market.

The Infected in ‘The Last of Us’ Are a Far Greater Threat

The TV series version of “The Last of Us” didn’t create its unique approach to the genre for the first time; it has been a part of the video game for over a decade. Many have praised “The Last of Us” as an outstanding example of a game-to-TV transition, and while the acting of Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey is commendable, the show’s overall atmosphere cannot be ignored. The infected in “The Last of Us” are more terrifying than the walkers from “The Walking Dead“, which can be attributed to the way they were infected.

From the start, it’s clear why the clickers look as they do – due to the mutated Cordyceps fungus. However, these aren’t your average zombies. They are not actually deceased. While undead zombies can be frightening, there’s a certain silliness to the concept that lessens their terror. These creatures are reanimated corpses with a desire for flesh, and they act independently without any external control.

However, imagine if something took over one’s mind while they remained alive? That would be a much darker idea.

Cordyceps exerts control over its hosts, transforming them into mindless, violent automatons. It’s uncertain if the fungal victims retain consciousness, as their brain could be completely destroyed or barely functional enough to have a vague understanding of the actions their Cordyceps-possessed body is performing. This adds an extra layer of terror to the idea that something, rather than nothing, has taken control of one’s body, making it truly terrifying.

These infected individuals aren’t the slow, lumbering zombies you might expect. They move swiftly, so if you encounter one without a weapon in remote areas, it’s wise to seek divine intervention.
Consider what happened to Kathleen during Season 1. Her group faced a horde of infected, but it was a solitary child that proved fatal for her. Living carelessly in open spaces can be lethal. These creatures have the ability to end your life, and that might actually be a more merciful outcome.

Experience being bitten, and the fungus spreads, transforming you into one of them. Enduring that danger for more than two decades is a living nightmare. Still, some manage to establish somewhat normal lives under lockdown, like Tommy, but the danger always lingers just beyond the door. The infected are never pushed aside when they’re outside their safe havens, as they pose the most significant threat at all times. They’re genuine, ever-present, and more ominous than traditional zombies could ever be.

The second season of The Last of Us premieres on April 13 on HBO and Max. Meanwhile, you can stream all seasons of The Walking Dead on Netflix.

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2025-04-13 03:32