The Last of Us Spores Introduction Had One Major Flaw

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In the first season of HBO’s The Last of Us, one notable alteration was eliminating the presence of spores. In the video games, characters must wear gas masks when they move due to cordyceps being everywhere in the air. The fear of inhaling floating spores is ever-present for survivors. Although this adds to the horror, it didn’t fit well with a TV show that focuses on showcasing top-notch acting performances. However, the fifth episode of season two introduced spores into the storyline in a terrifying manner that doesn’t require actors to conceal their faces.

It seems that an unusual aspect in “The Last of Us” is that the characters appear less concerned about their survival than one might expect, given the circumstances.

In the fifth episode of season two, the narrative commenced with Hanrahan, a prominent figure within the WLF and the individual who accepted Jeffrey Wright’s character, Isaac, into their ranks after his defection from FEDRA, engaging in discussions with Sergeant Elise Park. Elise’s team had been assigned to safeguard a hospital for the organization. Hanrahan was present at this meeting upon Isaac’s instructions while he addressed the breached Seraphite treaty. There were concerns among Elise’s dedicated soldiers that Hanrahan might punish their leader, who was allegedly responsible for the deaths of fellow soldiers, among them a soldier named Leon.

Elise’s account completely exonerated her from any blame in an extraordinary, terrifying manner. She shared with Hanrahan their task of cleaning floors. The number of infected they anticipated finding wasn’t a concern. However, it was the basement that posed the real challenge, as they could only access it via a solitary stairway. This was also where older group members claimed “the initial cordyceps patients were admitted in 2003.

A day prior, Elise dispatched a team to inspect section B1 in the basement; they found it empty, not even signs of rodents. Earlier that morning, she sent another group to examine the following area. What they uncovered was potentially the most terrifying discovery since Infection Day, as depicted in Elise’s unsettling report.

Today, with anticipation of discovering similar findings, I dispatched a second group, placing Leon at the helm due to his exceptional abilities. Minutes later, he reported spotting cordyceps on the walls and floors, suggesting that infected individuals would likely be found next. Given their mission, I instructed him to continue. However, soon after, his radio crackled with distress as he struggled for breath, barely able to speak. Fearing he had been bitten, I inquired, “Leon, have you been bitten?” He replied, “It’s not a bite.” Instead, he warned, “It’s in the air.” Realizing it wasn’t airborne contamination through our ventilation system, as we would have been infected long ago under such conditions, I swiftly mobilized my backup team. We sealed off the only access to B2 and B1, following Leon’s instructions to isolate them.

In my opinion as a film critic, it’s clear that the basement in question remained uncontaminated by anything other than what was already there, and Elise was the only one infected prior to departing. This grim turn of events carries a significant emotional weight for Elise, given her valiant actions in sealing the fate of her own troops. What I didn’t know until now is that Leon, the brave soul she led into battle, is none other than her son.

Towards the end of the show, Ellie made her way back to the same Seattle hospital in search of Nora, an individual who had assisted Abby in killing Joel. A scene borrowed from The Last of Us Part II unfolded, with Nora escaping. However, she became cornered in a blocked-off corridor. With no means of escape, she leapt into a slightly open elevator shaft. The cable on the elevator then snapped, causing her to plummet down to B2. Ellie pursued her, but the frightened WLF guards did not continue the chase. It wasn’t long before Ellie understood why they had stopped following her.

In this fungal-infested nightmare known as B2, Ellie discovered Leon and other individuals ensnared by the cordyceps-covered walls, still alive. However, this place was far from comforting; it was a horrifying sight with each breath emitting the same spores that had claimed their lives. These floating fungi were omnipresent. Although Ellie’s immunity shielded her, Nora quickly fell victim to the infection. Within just a few minutes, Nora started coughing, struggling to breathe and move. Her thoughts and speech slowed down significantly. While we didn’t witness it, by the time Ellie finished interrogating her, Nora could barely speak. Her willpower and resolve had weakened considerably. Initially resistant to giving up Abby, Nora eventually handed over two crucial words to help Ellie track down their common enemy, Abby.

The tales of Elise and Ellie’s journeys in B2, as depicted on HBO’s series, made the wait for spores truly rewarding. Just hearing about Leon’s failed mission sent chills down one’s spine. But witnessing him trapped within the wall, and Nora’s fate mirroring a horror beyond what even Elise or Hanrahan could have envisioned, was more harrowing than words can express.

It’s worrying enough to know what lies beneath, yet they seemed surprisingly casual about the presence of spores. Hanrahan’s statement that the hospital was “a resource we can’t afford to lose” may not have been the best explanation for why WLF didn’t evacuate before burning it down. This perspective is more understandable in the game’s context, where humanity had long been coexisting with spores. In The Last of Us world, discovering cordyceps in the air should have prompted a much more urgent and appropriate reaction.

The floating fungi hadn’t reached the vents yet in the story. This fact also makes sense when we consider that it wouldn’t require every character to put on masks throughout the show, a thoughtful creative decision. However, it’s puzzling how no one knew about spores the morning they discovered them, and yet didn’t foresee their potential spread to higher levels or even outside. It seems strange for a competent leader like WLF, who clearly commands a capable team, not to treat this situation as an immediate crisis.

Despite the strong conviction that the hospital should continue running, even with a danger as dire as death’s dance lurking beneath their feet (a decision that seems quite irrational), shouldn’t they have at least sealed those elevator shafts permanently? Nora unfortunately stumbled into one because it was left open. They all seemed to believe an old elevator dangling on a corroded cable would offer unending safety? Or, mightn’t tiny spores still be floating around? What if a gap in the wall of a dilapidated building caused an updraft?

Among the standout aspects of “The Last of Us” season two is how casually characters discuss death and violence, much like discussing everyday occurrences such as weather. This casual approach to infected and violence gives their world a tangible, lived-in feel. Cordyceps and raiders are part of their everyday life, something they’ve become accustomed to. However, this is not the case with floating spores. They represent an entirely new kind of terror unlike anything else they’ve faced before. Forget zombie bites and firearms; these airborne spores can now prove fatal just by being inhaled.

It can be stated more casually and clearly like this: W.L.F. is managed by competent individuals. Their understated reaction to the shocking revelation of spores in HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ seemed unrealistic, undermining an otherwise effective introduction. The characters should react with the same fear we feel when encountering them.

Mike Walsh, one of the staff writers at TopMob, ponders over the aroma and flavor of those mysterious spores. To keep up with his updates, you can find him on Bluesky @burgermike. Additionally, if you’re interested in rankings for the Targaryen kings, he’s often found there too!

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2025-05-12 05:50