The Last of Us season 2 has reminded audiences just how dangerous, unpredictable, and terrifying the infected can be. They are smart enough to survive a cold, harsh winter by burrowing under dead infected bodies. They are able to communicate via the hive mind, with cordyceps spreading like tree roots. They are able to stalk their prey like animals. And as if that wasn't enough, the show decided to bring in another element in the latest episode: airborne infection via spores.
For those who are familiar with the video games the television show is based on, this is nothing new. In the games, infection through spores is a known threat; characters have to wear gas masks wherever they go to deal with them, with only Ellie (Bella Ramsey) being immune.
However, in the television show, audiences are only introduced to the spores in the fifth episode of season 5, which begs the question: what happens now?
In the episode, Ellie encounters spores in the basement of a hospital run by the Washington Liberation Front, aka the Wolves, in Seattle. In a cold open at the top of the episode, we learn that several WLF soldiers were left to die in that basement after the spores were discovered, with all means of entry blocked except for one stairwell.
As luck would have it, this is where Nora, one of Abby's friends, would meet her demise when she enters the floor through an elevator shaft while escaping from a vengeful Ellie. It is here that audiences see the spores, breathed out the mouths of the very soldiers who were left to die here some time ago, their bodies now completely run through with cordyceps.
It is also here that we learn that Ellie already knew what Joel did to the Fireflies at the hospital in Salt Lake, having come to terms with it. This could mean either Ellie agreed with Joel's decision to save her and was simply angry because he lied to her all these years. Or that she was angry with him but allowed that anger to pass upon his horrific demise. Honestly, including the spores more often wouldn't be a bad idea.
It will be a reminder for audiences and the characters themselves to never underestimate the infected, as it seems they are here to stay.
New episodes of The Last of Us season 2 air Sunday nights on HBO and Max.
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