The Last of Us: How Stalker Eyes Are Based on Real Science

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In the latest season of HBO’s The Last of Us, the terrifying new creatures known as Stalkers have an unnerving feature: their eyes reflect flashlight beams in a chilling manner. This creepy trait, it was revealed on the official The Last of Us Podcast after Season 2 Episode 5, “Feel Her Love,” is intentionally based on real-world science. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann explained this design choice for the stealthy Infected in the podcast. This subtle yet powerful visual element heightens their predatory nature and reinforces the show’s dedication to providing believable biological explanations for its horrors, a characteristic that has been a key factor setting apart the highly-acclaimed adaptation.

Craig Mazin described the effort put into creating the Stalker’s infected eyes, stating, “We went to great lengths on these. You might think they’re ghostly or shiny at first, but we wanted them to be as realistic as possible. We were careful to make sure their eyes reflected a faint light, similar to how animals like dogs or sheep do at night. However, we didn’t want them to resemble the Jawas from Star Wars, so we fine-tuned this detail to ensure it was barely noticeable.

Druckmann explained that the eerie glow of the Stalkers is reminiscent of a condition found in certain eyes, like cataracts. This ties back to a conversation they had months ago while developing the Stalkers. They wanted the cordyceps to behave in a way that mirrors this real-life eye condition, making it more terrifying as it suggests the fictional infection adheres to scientific principles from our world.

Season 2 Nears End, But The Last of Us Saga Far From Over

With just two episodes left in the second season of “The Last of Us,” it’s evident that the TV series is merely scratching the surface of the storyline from the game “The Last of Us Part II.” The video game, rich with emotion, surpasses the scope of the original installment and the first season of the HBO series. Acknowledging this depth, showrunners Mazin and Druckmann have consistently maintained that adapting the complex narrative of “Part II” would necessitate several television seasons. This strategy has already been validated by HBO with the official renewal of “The Last of Us” for a third season.

Although the creators of “The Last of Us” have stated they won’t extend the story beyond the second game, showrunner Neil Druckmann has hinted that even the entirety of “Part II” might need more than just the upcoming third season to fully portray on screen. This commitment to faithfully adapting Naughty Dog’s rich and expansive source material ensures viewers will see the adaptation delve further into Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Abby’s (Kaitlyn Dever) interconnected, heart-wrenching journeys.

The Last of Us Season 2 airs new episodes on Sundays, on HBO and Max.

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2025-05-12 11:16