Season 2’s Terrifying Scene: Infected in The Last of Us Evolve Beyond Belief!

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In a new chapter for HBO’s hit series “The Last of Us,” season 2 returns, taking viewers five years ahead from where we left Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in the first season. The story now revolves around a matured Ellie, who has become an integral part of Jackson community’s defense network at 19 years old. She is no longer just the protected cargo from the first season; Ellie has transformed into a proficient combatant, frequently joining patrols to monitor and protect against infected threats in the surrounding wilderness. This time leap provides an intriguing setting for the chilling opening sequence of the new season, which hints at a terrifying development in infected behavior that could change the series’ established lore. As the cordyceps pandemic approaches its third decade, the premiere suggests that the dynamic between humans and infected hosts is heading into a frighteningly unfamiliar phase, with the fungal antagonists displaying abilities that challenge everything we thought we understood about their constraints.

WARNING: Spoilers below for The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 1

In the opening of The Last of Us Season 2, we witness the evolution of Jackson into a resilient society, complete with security measures, farming, and social organizations. This setup is crucial for human survival as it enables them to maintain a semblance of normalcy despite the apocalypse. Surveillance of infected activity is vital within this system. The episode additionally emphasizes the ongoing impact of Ellie’s unique immunity, which is known by only a select group. Regrettably, Ellie’s special status has prompted her to make bold decisions that worry the leaders, especially Tommy (Gabriel Luna), who continues to feel accountable for her safety.

In this episode, we’re introduced to Dina (Isabella Merced). Her growing connection with Ellie sets off a chain of events leading them into risky situations frequently. Their playful interplay introduces an element of rivalry in their interactions, as they both encourage each other to act more and more daringly.

In the episode, Ellie is given permission to join a scouting team, promising Tommy she’ll obey the team leader. But what starts as a routine mission suddenly becomes thrilling when they stumble upon strange, bloody tracks crisscrossing their path. Instead of returning to Jackson as instructed, Ellie and Dina decide to explore the origin of the blood. Their impromptu deviation leads them to a horrifying sight where they uncover the remains of a fierce battle between a bear and a group of infected, with losses on both sides surrounding an abandoned supermarket.

Disregarding their patrol leader’s repeated orders to retreat, the duo persisted with their investigation, tracking the blood trail up to a supermarket’s second story. They cautiously climbed over an abandoned vehicle that offered entry into the building. Inside, they fought and defeated two Clickers, briefly reveling in their triumph. As they readied to reunite with their team, Ellie stepped onto a weakened floor, causing it to collapse beneath her, plunging her down to the lower level and splitting her from Dina.

As Dina looks for stairs to get to her, Ellie discovers herself isolated in a dimly-lit area, oblivious to the fact that she isn’t alone. The atmosphere becomes tense as the scene unfolds, with the camera subtly showing an infected sneaking up on Ellie from the shadows. This encounter seems unusual because the infected moves quietly and stealthily, hinting at something out of the ordinary. Once Ellie senses its presence, she intentionally makes noise to lure it out, anticipating the usual mindless charge of infected attacks. However, this infected breaks all previous patterns by withdrawing further into the darkness, setting itself up for a more cunning trap.

The sequence reaches its peak with a startling scene where the infected unexpectedly attacks Ellie from a different angle, timing it perfectly. This event significantly shifts our perspective on the infected danger, hinting at an evolutionary advancement in their intelligence that could have profound implications for the world within The Last of Us.

The Infected Are Getting Smarter in The Last of Us Season 2

Upon coming back to Jackson and sharing their experience with the community council, Ellie and Dina explain that they encountered an infected entity displaying strategic intelligence. This creature would retreat when at a disadvantage, hide, and carefully time its attacks for optimal impact. The gathering of the council provides a fitting platform for understanding this novel danger within the existing framework of The Last of Us. It underscores how significantly it contrasts with the previously known behavioral patterns of infected individuals.

As a devoted viewer of The Last of Us, I’ve noticed that throughout Season 1, the infected served mainly as environmental threats due to their strength, numbers, and unyielding nature, rather than their intelligence. Skilled survivors like Joel could navigate through infected-ridden areas by recognizing and utilizing these predictable behavior patterns. However, the stalker that Ellie encounters in the supermarket presents a striking contrast: an adversary capable of adapting and employing basic strategies. It seems that the cordyceps fungus is evolving to establish more complex connections with its hosts’ neural pathways, possibly tapping into higher cognitive functions that were dormant during earlier stages of infection. This evolution invites us to reevaluate our perspective on the infected, posing unsettling questions about what other abilities might be arising as the fungal network continues to adapt and grow within its human hosts.

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 hit Max and HBO every Sunday.

What are your thoughts on how the infected might continue to develop in The Last of Us? Feel free to share your ideas in the comments below!

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2025-04-15 18:14