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Audience engagement reached unprecedented levels during the inaugural season of HBO’s The Last of Us. If you were among the viewers, you likely understand the widespread appeal of this video game adaptation. For those who haven’t seen it yet, now is an ideal opportunity to familiarize yourself with the series before the upcoming Season 2.
The Last of Us is not simply about the zombie apocalypse, similar to The Walking Dead, but it also deeply explores human relationships and ethical conflicts alongside the horrifying presence of flesh-eating creatures. The narrative can be quite intense, so if you’re contemplating whether to watch, understanding The Last of Us’s plot and conclusion in advance may help you decide.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of this series, which has been hailed as “the best video game adaptation ever.” Major spoilers follow!
The Last of Us Plot Summary
The story of The Last of Us kicks off in 2013, amid a devastating outbreak of a mutant fungus known as “Cordyceps” that transforms humans into hostile entities referred to as the Infected. Players navigate the game as Joel (portrayed by Pedro Pascal in the series) as he attempts to escape the ensuing chaos alongside his brother, Tommy (Gabriel Luna), and his daughter, Sarah (Nico Parker). However, tragedy soon befalls them, leading to Sarah’s heartbreaking death in Joel’s arms.
Fast forward twenty years, and the world has descended into disarray. The Infected have evolved across various terrifying forms, while the remaining human population struggles to survive within authoritarian quarantine zones managed by strict military forces. Joel has taken on the role of a smuggler, working with his partner, Tess (Anna Torv), when they cross paths with the rebel group known as the Fireflies, who challenge the oppressive authorities. The Fireflies’ leader, Marlene (Merle Dandridge), offers them a significant reward to help transport Ellie (Bella Ramsey) from Texas to Boston. Eventually, Joel uncovers the reason behind the Fireflies’ urgency: Ellie is immune to the virus, and they believe she could be key to discovering a cure.
The narrative was brought to life by co-showrunner Neil Druckmann, who penned the original story during his college years in 2004. After his tenure as a writer at the gaming company Naughty Dog, he revisited the idea. “We aimed to create a story that deviated from the over-the-top elements found in Resident Evil,” Druckmann explained. “What if the focus shifted to intimate relationships and the complex love between a parent and child, showcasing both the beauty and tragedy that can emerge from it?”
The Last Of Us Ending
The first season adapts the storyline of the first Last of Us game. Throughout their journey to locate the Fireflies, Ellie and Joel encounter numerous obstacles, including a traumatic winter where Ellie confronts a cannibalistic faction and is forced to kill to survive. Their bond deepens, and Joel begins to view Ellie as a surrogate daughter. By spring, Joel successfully brings Ellie to the Fireflies in Utah, seemingly reaching a satisfactory conclusion.
However, the situation takes a dark turn when Joel learns the disturbing fate awaiting Ellie: to study her immunity, the Fireflies must remove significant parts of her brain, ultimately resulting in her death. Unable to face losing another daughter, Joel reacts violently, killing all the Fireflies in the hospital, including Marlene, and absconding with a sedated Ellie. Upon awakening, Ellie learns Joel’s fabricated story that the Fireflies had already tried and failed to find others like her.
This ending leaves Ellie grappling with significant survivor’s guilt; she is stripped of the purpose that propelled her journey. Though she doubts Joel’s narrative, she is also visibly reluctant to confront the possible truth.
The Story Doesn’t End There
The saga continues in The Last of Us Part II, which is set five years after the events of the first game. Joel and Abby, a pivotal new character (played by Kaitlyn Dever in the series), reside in a survivor community in Jackson, Wyoming. Everything changes when Abby enacts revenge and kills Joel, her motives rooted in a shocking revelation about her past linked to his actions years earlier.
Following Joel’s murder, Ellie seeks vengeance, as does her brother Tommy, who embarks on a mission to pursue Abby and her faction, the Washington Liberation Front. Ellie, along with her pregnant girlfriend Dina (Isabela Merced), joins the hunt.
The narrative disrupts the clear-cut distinctions of right and wrong by offering Abby’s perspective, portraying her as a more complex character before leading to a confrontation between the two. In a moment of clarity, Abby is dissuaded from killing Ellie and Dina by her companion, Lev.
Afterward, Ellie attempts to rebuild her life on a farm with Dina and their child, JJ. However, Tommy’s arrival with information about Abby reignites Ellie’s thirst for vengeance. Whereas Dina urges for peace, Ellie is drawn to California in pursuit of Abby and at one point nearly drowns her. But her recollections of Joel lead to a profound change of heart, prompting her to spare Abby, only to discover upon her return that Dina and JJ have left.
While this narrative arc is solidified in gaming lore, it is uncertain how much of it will be portrayed in Season 2 of The Last of Us. HBO has confirmed a third season is in the works, and co-showrunner Craig Mazin has hinted that the unfolding story might even necessitate a fourth season. As he stated to Deadline, “As long as the viewership remains strong and we’re able to continue production, the upcoming seasons will likely expand significantly.”
Fans of the franchise might not find this surprising. For context, the main storyline of the first Last of Us game averages about 14.5 hours to complete, while the sequel boasts a more extensive playtime of around 24 hours.
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