Horrifying Battle in The Last of Us Hides Sneaky Easter Egg

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In the second season of “The Last of Us,” we’ve already seen several significant events unfold, including a shocking death of a key character that many gamers had feared. However, the second episode, titled “Through the Valley,” offered much more than just one heavy moment. It deviated from certain aspects of “The Last of Us Part II” (2020), but these alterations could be seen as improvements by some viewers.

In “Through the Valley,” Jackson, Wyoming, encounters its gravest peril yet. Amidst a raging blizzard, hordes of the Infected burrow out from beneath deep drifts of snow and charge towards the town populated with survivors. This battle between mankind and the Infected is monumental, filled with nerve-wracking instances, ultimately leading to destruction. It also unveils some of the most astonishing gaming secrets that the series has offered so far.

Jackson Faces Its Most Dangerous Battle Yet

The Isolated Settlement Prepares for the Worst

In Season 2, Episode 1 titled “Future Days,” viewers catch a few sneak peeks of the chilling events to unfold. The initial indication appears when a particularly cunning form of the infected, more intelligent than usual, is introduced. In this episode, audiences witness for the first time the capabilities of a Stalker as one pursues Ellie relentlessly through an abandoned convenience store. This creature remains hidden, tracking its target, choosing the optimal moment to attack, and even leading Ellie into an exposed position. Remarkably, the Stalker manages to bite Ellie, but her immunity to the Cordyceps brain infection (CBI) prevents it from being fatal.

Future Days” reveals that Cordyceps has penetrated Jackson, but not in the expected manner. Unlike what one might assume, there are no Infected within Jackson’s boundaries and no one shows signs of a recent bite. However, the townsfolk are unaware that the fungus has spread through decaying pipes beneath their feet, masquerading as ordinary roots. As fans remember from Season 1, even minor disturbances to Cordyceps can signal your location to Infected beings.

Ellie and Dina share information about the Stalker’s intelligence with Jackson’s group, who graciously heed her advice. They uncover Cordyceps remnants within the pipes and debate an unsettling event where hordes of Infected utilized deceased Infected for insulation to prevent the living ones from freezing in the snow. Recognizing that the Infected are adapting to survive by hiding beneath the heavy snow surrounding the town, Jackson devises a contingency plan if they’re overwhelmed.

Tommy: So, you’re saying it was, what? Smart?

Ellie: I’m not implying it had the ability to perform calculations, but it didn’t charge at me. Instead, it behaved as we often do – hiding, strategizing, biding time, leading me on. Essentially, it was stalking me.

– Ellie reporting the Stalker to Tommy and Maria

Caught off guard by circumstances, I find myself hastening Jackson’s plan of action earlier than anticipated. When Abby tumbles down a treacherous, icy incline and stirs up a multitude of Infected, the Cordyceps within Jackson unwittingly lures this horde towards our town. With Tommy and his wife, Maria, at the helm, we swiftly readied Jackson for the impending invasion. We barricaded the main gates with heavy vehicles and equipment, while countless men and women took up strategic positions along the outer wall, armed with snipers and other firearms to neutralize as many Infected as possible. As a last-ditch effort, we even rigged barrels full of oil to launch out at the incoming horde, giving us the option to explode them.

During the conflict, untrained individuals – both young and old – seek shelter within secure structures with limited entry points. They reinforce and lock doors as effectively as possible, maintaining silence in the hope of avoiding detection amidst the fight outside. With all the chaos stemming from the ongoing battle, most of the Infected are unlikely to notice those who remain quiet.

The intriguing aspect of this scenario is that such events are absent in the video game. Instead, within the game world, Joel and Tommy embark on a patrol during a fierce blizzard. It’s during this outing that they encounter Abby for the first time. Joel saves Abby, and together with Tommy, they shield her from both Infected and the harsh weather conditions. This shared experience with Abby plays a significant role in why her future actions towards them feel so painful to the players.

In HBO’s “The Last of Us,” the scriptwriters expanded Tommy’s part significantly. Instead of going on patrol with Joel, Dina joins Joel instead. Caught in a blizzard, they encounter Abby. Meanwhile, Tommy remains in Jackson, making him present when the Infected attack the settlement. This setup allows Tommy to take on a larger role as one of Jackson’s leaders and defenders. The majority of the battle is presented from Tommy’s point of view, offering viewers an insight into how far Tommy will go to safeguard his people.

The Citizens Respond In the Most Video Game Way Possible

The Epic Battle Features Numerous Iconic Gaming Mechanics

It could be said with conviction that Jackson’s struggle against the Infected significantly improved the series, offering a stark reminder of the truly terrifying state of the world depicted in the game. Not even isolated communities of decent individuals are safe from the Infected; the fungus known as Cordyceps will always find a way to infiltrate. This conflict also brings characters like Tommy and Maria into sharper focus, making them more integral to the plot and highlighting their leadership roles. Without the contributions of Tommy and Maria, Jackson likely wouldn’t be thriving as it is today.

In a somewhat surprising twist, the invasion in question isn’t actually a part of the video game, yet it abounds with gaming references subtly and cleverly woven into its narrative. At first glance, the struggle to safeguard Jackson might seem like an ordinary fight. However, any seasoned gamer would quickly spot numerous familiar battle tactics from afar that are reminiscent of classic gaming experiences. Interestingly, some of these strategies echo those used in the ‘The Last of Us’ series, but they transcend the boundaries of just this particular game franchise. In essence, the Battle of Jackson serves as a tribute to gamers who have spent countless hours battling waves of enemies across various gaming generations.

Beyond what’s shown here, there are additional gaming references and homages to “The Last of Us” games scattered throughout the HBO series. For instance, in Season 2, Episode 1 – “Future Days,” Ellie uses a strategy common in survival games when she distracts a Clicker by throwing a glass bottle. Similarly, Abby’s struggle against the Infected and her desperate crawl under a collapsing fence in Episode 2 mirrors scenes straight from the video game. It’s impressive to witness the level of detail and care taken in recreating the Battle of Jackson, making it feel like watching an intense, epic battle from a beloved game.

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2025-04-25 00:41