Warning: This article contains spoilers for the premiere episode of The Last of Us season 2.
The Shocking Cliffhanger of Season 2 Premiere
The season 2 premiere of The Last of Us, titled “Future Days,” wraps up with a captivating cliffhanger. Set five years after the events of the first season, the story now unfolds in Jackson, Wyoming, where Joel and Ellie have settled into their new lives. In this period of relative peace, Ellie serves on the patrol squad, while Joel manages a construction crew that is expanding the town’s infrastructure to accommodate an influx of refugees.
During their construction efforts, the crew inadvertently breaks open a pipeline, revealing old, dried vines within. However, the true horror is unveiled just as the episode concludes, with a shocking twist: the vines are revealed to harbor strands of Cordyceps that begin to stir ominously. This adaptation has introduced a significant alteration to the infection narrative from the game, establishing a hive mind among the infected that connects them through an extensive underground network. The sighting of Cordyceps in the pipeline portends trouble for Jackson, suggesting that the infected may soon invade the town.
Implications of an Infected Attack on Jackson
Jackson’s Security Faces a New Threat
The awakening of the Cordyceps tendrils within the pipeline suggests a grim turn of events for Jackson. It signals that the nearby infected populations may be alerted to descend upon the town, creating chaos and destruction. The show’s portrayal of the infected as part of a hive mind means that an invasion can be expected from not a few straggling zombies but rather an overwhelming number of runners, clickers, and bloaters. We witnessed this fearsome dynamic previously in season 1, particularly during the swarming scenes in Boston and Kansas City, which highlighted the devastating impact of these hordes.
Teasers and trailers for season 2 have hinted at a grand action sequence in which a sizeable swarm of infected is poised to breach Jackson’s defenses. The town’s security is destined to be tested as guards attempt to fend off the advancing horde, while residents scramble to protect themselves. Notably, one trailer reveals Tommy wielding a flamethrower against a bloater, illustrating the imminent threat posed by the Cordyceps in the pipeline.
Adaptation Choices in The Last of Us: A Notable Departure
The Games’ Approach to Jackson’s Defenses
This introduction of infected threats to Jackson marks a significant departure from The Last of Us Part II video game narrative. In the game, while Tommy does express concerns about Jackson’s vulnerability, the story does not depict any infected breaching the town’s walls. Although patrols routinely confront hordes nearby, this rendition of the story introduces a thrilling new layer of tension, as the show diverges substantially from its source material by hinting at vine-related dangers.
This bold narrative choice indicates that The Last of Us TV adaptation is making noteworthy adjustments to enhance the storyline, setting the stage for potentially climactic confrontations in the episodes to come.