WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for HBO’s The Last of Us season 1.
The Last of Ushas set up an exciting and emotional story that, for someone who hasn’t played the games, could go in several directions with its second season on HBO.The Last of Usseason 1ended with Joel saving Ellie from the Fireflies at the cost of potentially dooming the entire world.The Last of Usseason 2is now set to take place in a harsher world ravaged by the Infected and the wicked remnants of humanity.
Though HBO’sThe Last of Usis based on an acclaimed video game franchise, not every Hollywood adaptation will stay 100% true to the source material. Since I have not played the games at the time of this writing, I don’t know exactly what to expect from the second season of the show. WithThe Last of Usseason 2 just around the corner, however, there are a few things I believe will happen.
6FEDRA Returns
America’s Totalitarian Rulers May Come Back
If the Fireflies see themselves as the rebels inThe Last of Us, then FEDRA is its evil Empire oppressing the survivors of post-apocalyptic America. While FEDRA was a major antagonist in the early part of season 1, the oppressive organization faded into the background as Joel and Ellie traveled further West and faced other obstacles.
While they don’t seem to have much of a presence near Jackson, Wyoming, I think FEDRA could make their return inThe Last of Usseason 2 as the series explores more of the different parts of the ruined United States.The Last of Ushas repeatedly explored characters and storylines far away from Joel and Ellie in the series.The show could depict more of FEDRA as they struggle to control the country’s surviving humans, similar to how FEDRA was usurped in Kansas City in season 1, episode 4.
5Ellie Is Revealed To Be Immune
Ellie’s Big Secret May Come Out And Change Her Life
Though Ellie is the only known human immune to theCordyceps zombie virus inThe Last of Us, she was encouraged to hide her latent infection from the world. This was done for Ellie’s own safety, as Joel feared what the world would do to her if they thought she was infected with Cordyceps.Characters like those in FEDRA showed no mercy when it comes to dealing with Infected, as they have been shown to immediately kill people, including children, who tested positive for the virus.
The Last Of Us Season 3 & Beyond Gets Bold Update From Showrunners: “We Know What We Need To Do”
Ahead of the release of season 2 on HBO, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann provide a promising update on The Last of Us season 3.
Should the truth come out inThe Last of Usseason 2, this would have a massive impact on Ellie and her relationships with everyone in the show, except for Joel and Tommy, who already know she’s immune. This could even make her an outcast among the people of Jackson, Wyoming. This truth could be exposed by Catherine O’Hara’s character, who seems to confront Joel about him murdering the Fireflies in season 2’s trailers.
4A New Breed Of Infected Appears
A New Evolution Of Cordyceps May Be Unleashed
The Last of Usseason 1 unleashed some truly terrifying versions of the Infected, from fast-moving footsoldiers to hulking giants. While Joel and Ellie barely survived their encounters with the horrific zombies throughout season 1, the show risks making these Infected attacks feel less frightening and more repetitive.
To keep the series fresh and surprising,The Last of Usseason 2 may introduce some new versions of these mushroom-headed monstrosities.The show could be hiding some monstrous new breeds of Infected among the massive horde attacking Jackson in the trailers for season 2. Cordyceps has already created Infected members with some extraordinary abilities, so it’s anyone’s guess what else this mutant fungus can produce after 20 years of growth and development.
3Jackson Gets Overrun With Infected
The Last Of Us Sets Up A Massive Infected Invasion
Thetrailers forThe Last of Usseason 2have teased an epic battle between the people of Jackson, Wyoming, and an army of Infected. While the community may be armed and ready for battle, it’s unclear if they could hold their own against an entire horde of Infected people banging at their door.
The previews for this battle invoke memories of the White Walkers' gruesome attack on Hardhome in HBO’sGame of Thrones, and that didn’t turn out well for the heroes.The Last of Usmay unleash their own version of this infamous battle by showing the Infected taking over Jackson and forcing the survivors to flee from their homes.Some of Joel and Ellie’s friends and loved ones may even become Infected as well, which could forever change the story in the series.
2Surviving Fireflies Go After Joel
Joel’s Past Will Finally Catch Up With Him
Season 1 ended with Joel killing Marleneand all the other Fireflies stationed at their lab in Salt Lake City. While Joel was trying to save Ellie’s life, he prevented them from potentially making a vaccine for the Cordyceps fungus that could’ve protected countless people from the zombie virus.
The Last Of Us Season 2 Is Teasing A Massive Deviation From The Game That Would Change Everything
The Last Of Us season 2 has teased some interesting video game changes, but one twist could completely flip the adaptation’s character dynamics.
Joel’s massacre surely dealt a massive blow to their organization in the season 1 finale, but I’m sure there are still a decent number of Fireflies remaining in the U.S. These survivors could learn about what Joel did, driving them to seek vengeance against him for killing their comrades and ruining what might’ve been their last hope at creating at saving the world from the Infected.
1Joel Tells Ellie The Truth About The Fireflies
Joel And Ellie’s Relationship May Forever Change In The Last Of Us Season 2
While Joel saved Ellie’s life by killing the Fireflies who wanted to experiment on her, he lied to her about them being killed by raiders. He also lied to her about the Fireflies failing to make a vaccine with other immune people to make it seem like they would’ve failed with her as well.
Ellie wants to believe Joel, but the trailers for season 2 indicate that she will see through his lies, with the dark truth finally coming out. Joel may have saved Ellie from death, but the latter did want her life to have meaning by helping create a Cordyceps vaccine, so she surely won’t be happy when she learns what Joel did. This could end up fracturing their father-daughter relationship in the series, which could endThe Last of Usseason 2 on an especially sour note.
