Top 10 Things To Remember Before The Last of Us Season 2

The first episode commences with a flashback to 1968. On a talk show, two scientists discuss the possibility of a global pandemic, pointing to fungi[a] as a potential cause. It’s suggested that fungus could infect a host’s brain, essentially turning them into a puppet. This seems unlikely to happen at the time, as fungi require higher temperatures to ensure. If the climate were to change, fungi could evolve, leaving humanity powerless without a cure. This theory becomes a reality in 2003. The Cordyceps virus is traced to an Indonesian factory where a fungi-ridden female employee with a bite mark was killed after attacking her co-workers. Uncertain who bit her, it’s recommended that the city be bombed to prevent an outbreak, but the virus inevitably spreads.

It isn’t long until the virus reaches Austin where Joel Miller, his brother Tommy, and daughter Sarah find themselves fleeing from infected Texans. They don’t realize it at the time, but this is a global catastrophe that’ll cost countless lives, Sarah’s included. Emerging from a car accident, Joel attempts to get Sarah to safety, only to be confronted by a soldier. During a heated standoff, Tommy shoots the soldier, but Sarah loses her life. In a way, so does Joel, who attempts to end it all amid his grief. Missing the shot, Joel goes on for another two decades against a collapsing society. While he survives, it isn’t until another young girl comes into his life that Joel finds purpose again.

By 2023, Joel teams up with another survivor named Tess, smuggling and selling goods. Hoping to reunite with Tommy, Joel and Tess attempt to acquire a car battery. Instead, they strike up a deal with Marlene, leader of a resistance group called the Fireflies. She tasks them with transporting teenager Ellie. Joel and Tess don’t understand what makes Ellie so special until they see a weeks-old bite mark with no traces of infection. Ellie is immune to the virus, which may be the key to a cure. Not even Ellie knows how her immunity is possible. In a flashback, though, it’s revealed that Ellie’s mother Anna[b] was bitten while giving birth. Marlene prevents Anna from making the change, but gives Ellie a shot at life.

Even with the knowledge that Ellie could help create a vaccine, Joel has reservations about completing their mission. Tess convinces him to press forward to get the supplies they were promised. The trio makes it to the Massachusetts State House, but the Fireflies they were supposed to meet have fallen. Joel’s instinct is to turn back until Tess reveals she was bitten. Ellie, meanwhile, would’ve turned by now if she weren’t immune. Seeing the bigger picture, Tess persuades Joel to get Ellie where she needs to go. With infected Fireflies still in the area, Tess stays behind, sacrificing herself so Joel can escape with Ellie. Although Joel is still a reluctant guardian, he’s now committed to making sure Tess didn’t die for nothing.

Earth is overrun with the infected - or “clickers” as they’re called. Humans may pose an even greater threat in this bleak new world, however. The Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA[c]) has taken over the government, essentially turning quarantine zones into prisons. Some groups oppose FEDRA’s military rule, but that doesn’t make them the good guys. Kathleen was a Kansas-based residence leader, commanding with cruelty until a clicker got her. Even worse was David, a cannibalistic preacher and predator who also got what he deserved. Although the Fireflies seek to cure humanity, their methods aren’t entirely ethical either. The closer Joel and Ellie get to their destination, it becomes clear there aren’t any heroes left. Just survivors who’ve been driven to do the unthinkable.

Passing through Kansas, Joel and Ellie ally with Henry, who once worked with FEDRA, and his deaf younger brother Sam, who has leukemia. Their truce becomes a friendship that ends in tragedy. After surviving a vengeful Kathleen, Ellie learns that Sam has been bitten. Rubbing her blood into his wound, Ellie hopes it’s enough to cure Sam. Alas, Sam inevitably turns, forcing Henry to shoot his brother before turning the gun on himself. Although a cure might be inside Ellie, Sam’s fate confirms that her blood alone isn’t enough. She needs to reach the Fireflies if humanity is going to stand a shot. Even if a vaccine can be achieved, Ellie will carry guilt over what happened to Sam and Henry forever.

After losing Tess, Joel considers passing Ellie on to fellow smugglers Bill and Frank. When the virus broke out, survivalist Bill found Frank in one of his traps. Although the paranoid Bill initially wishes to send Frank on his way, he opens his home and heart to him. Despite the world around them, the two build a beautiful life together. Ironically, if the world hadn’t ended, Bill probably never would’ve shown his true self to anyone. When Frank faces an incurable disease, they choose to end his life with Bill joining him. Once Joel and Ellie arrive, Bill and Frank are gone. Yet, Bill left a note that inspires Joel to protect who matters most to him. That used to be Tess. Now it’s Ellie.

Not long before meeting Joel, Ellie was confined to a FEDRA-run military school. One of the few friendly faces in Ellie’s life was Riley, who ditched FEDRA to join the Fireflies. Riley comes back for Ellie, taking her to a deserted mall. This is another goodbye, as Riley plans on following the Fireflies to Atlanta. Riley is convinced to stay upon seeing Ellie’s feelings, sharing a kiss. Unfortunately, their love story ends before it can truly begin. Both are bitten, deciding to spend their remaining time together. Although the viewer doesn’t see the aftermath, we know Riley turned while Ellie discovered her immunity. The trauma of losing Riley impacts Ellie in the present as she fights to save herself and Joel.

Finally making it to the Fireflies’ hospital, Joel faces an impossible choice. Marlene reveals that the only way to find a cure is to remove Ellie’s brain. There are no guarantees that this will result in a vaccine, but it seems to be humanity’s best bet. Ellie is unconscious during all of this, unaware that her death is the price for hope. It’s hard to say how Ellie would’ve responded had she been given the choice. Joel chooses for them both, however. He retrieves Ellie from the operating room and flees from the hospital. Joel kills anyone who gets in his way, including Marlene. Whether or not a cure was possible, Joel already lost one daughter. He refuses to lose another… no matter the repercussions.

Following the hospital incident, Ellie regains consciousness in the back of a car as Joel drives them out of the city. Joel tells Ellie that she isn’t the only immune person. The Fireflies tried extracting a cure from them, but it was deemed impossible. The hospital was then attacked, forcing Joel and Ellie to make a getaway. Of course, this is all a lie. Ellie senses that Joel isn’t sharing the whole story. Once Joel promises he’s telling the truth, Ellie accepts his word. Deep down, Ellie might know that Joel isn’t being honest. At this moment, though, it’s easier to believe her father figure isn’t capable of such a thing, the lives lost aren’t in vain, and Ellie is still alive for a reason.

Are you hyped for Season 2? Let us know in the comments.

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[b]https://www.yarn.co/yarn-clip/e35a29fa-370a-43af-95a0-dc50986336e0
[c]https://www.yarn.co/yarn-clip/fa1c017b-4c1a-45bd-865a-c6694c16fefd