Unlocking Hidden Gems: Easter Eggs in The Last of Us Season 2 Premiere You Can’t Miss!

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Summary

  • Kaitlyn Dever was cast as Abby in The Last of Us Season 2, creating some controversy due to her body type but serving as a hidden detail.
  • A cut idea from The Last of Us Part 2 involving a live band playing “Little Sadie” by Crooked Still was revived for the premiere of the show.
  • Season 2 premieres of The Last of Us TV show include Easter Eggs from the games, such as Ellie encountering a new type of intelligent infected, similar to Stalkers.

Naughty Dog crafted an exceptional Easter Egg-filled game series with the Uncharted franchise. The story revolves around Nathan Drake, a treasure hunter, embarking on Indiana Jones-style escapades, occasionally making lighthearted jabs at other Sony games or references to external titles via clever Easter Eggs. Although not as adventure-focused, The Last of Us also incorporated some well-placed Easter Eggs.

In Max’s adaptation of The Last of Us, though not a video game itself, it still managed to delight fans with Easter Eggs throughout season one. Now that season two has premiered, we can spot numerous Easter Eggs scattered all over. Let’s explore where these references have been hidden!

Warning: Contents may include plot details from The Last of Us video game series, Season 1 of The Last of Us TV adaptation, and the upcoming Season 2 of the show. Proceed with caution if you haven’t experienced these yet.

6. Casting Kaitlyn Dever As Abby

A Naughty Dog Alumni

In the hit video game “The Last of Us Part 2”, Abby is a significant character. Following the conclusion of season one of the TV series, viewers speculated about who might bring Abby to life on screen. It was Kaitlyn Dever who was selected for this role in season two, which stirred up some modest debate because her physique doesn’t match the muscular build of Abby from the game. Despite differences in size, Dever has been collaborating with Naughty Dog for a while now, and her casting seems to be a subtle detail.

Fans who are devoted to Naughty Dog might not be aware that Dever performed motion capture for Cassie Drake in the closing moments of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, around 2014. At that time, discussions were underway about turning The Last of Us into a movie, and Dever was among those being considered to play Ellie. Although it took some time, Dever eventually got the chance to join the world of The Last of Us as Abby, making for an interesting backstage tale. This tidbit was briefly mentioned by Neil Druckmann, creator of The Last of Us, during a podcast recap for the TV series.

5. Crooked Still Reborn

Getting The Band Together

In my latest podcast episode, Druckman shared an intriguing tidbit about a discarded concept from “The Last of Us Part 2”. Originally, the dance scene between Dina and Ellie was envisioned with a live band, but due to practicality constraints, they opted against creating new characters solely for that one scene. Instead, a recording of “Little Sadie” by Crooked Still played, a tune dating back to the 1920s, adding a hauntingly beautiful touch to the moment.

In the second season’s premiere scene adaptation, I was part of the crowd that enjoyed a lively band performance, different from the original version. The band on stage was none other than Crooked Still, graced by the presence of Gustavo Santaolalla, the composer for the series. For the show, they were given an unique name, Brittany and the Jug Boys, which didn’t reference any specific thing but perfectly suited their musical style.

4. Joel And Dina Love Electronics

Forming A Bond

At the beginning of “The Last of Us Part 2” video game, characters Dina and Joel do not have any interactions. In the television adaptation, this is altered so that a person close to Ellie attempts to reconcile with Joel. To help facilitate this new strategy, the show’s creators reused some backstory from another character named Eugene, who appears in the game.

In the game’s initial stage, players accompany Dina and Ellie through decayed ruins. During their investigation, Dina compares some electronic components to her late friend, Eugene, who was skilled in electronics and once tutored her. The opening scene of season two mirrors this, as Joel instructs Dina on circuits. This is a subtle tribute to Eugene, but it’s just the start of many more connections to come.

3. Gail And Joel

Paying For Therapy With The Sticky Icky

In the game, Eugene appears in just two pictures and is mentioned in some notes, yet his character is not extensively developed. One of these images depicts Eugene alongside Tommy, both being Fireflies. The other shows a family with Eugene, but neither his wife nor child are named. Unfortunately, Eugene passed away at the age of 73, though this seems to have been altered for the series. In the first episode, his wife is introduced as Gail, who functions as Joel’s therapist.

She claims that Joel murdered him, but the specific details and extent remain unclear. It’s possible Joel transformed into a Clicker during this event, serving to question Joel’s character throughout episode one. In exchange for compensation, Joel provides Gail with some marijuana, hinted to have originated from Eugene’s supply. Later in the game, Dina and Ellie discover a hidden lab of Eugene’s, where he was cultivating that exact same cannabis stash. It appears Joel might have discovered it before them.

2. Ellie’s Risky Encounter

Stalkers Are Coming

In the second season’s debut episode, Dina and Ellie embark on a patrol similar to the game, albeit brief and less dramatic. However, the most significant reveal unfolds when Ellie encounters a new strain of infected human. This creature sounds distinct, avoids Ellie, and even lays a trap, suggesting it may possess some level of intelligence.

In a conversation with the Jackson council, Ellie describes the thing as persistently following her, akin to “stalking”. These stalkers are a swift type of infected that thrive on anger, which is the initial stage humans experience after transformation. A level above this is the Stalker, similar to those Ellie encounters in the series. Additionally, in the same scene, Ellie notices a dog painted on a wall that was once employee of the month at a store. This canine was utilized in “The Last of Us Part 2” as a disguise for a safe code.

1. Gameplay Homages

From Bottles To Sniping

Season two’s debut incorporates numerous references to the gameplay mechanics from the original series. In the initial game, Joel had the ability to craft shivs that instantly dispatched infected creatures, but these shivs would subsequently snap after use. Conversely, in The Last of Us Part 2, Ellie’s knife remained largely intact following stealth kills, and Abby was able to effortlessly break the necks of infected individuals, similar to snapping a chicken bone.

In the series, Ellie is seen utilizing her knife-wielding abilities with an intense flair. Moreover, she exhibits a technique in the opening episode where characters can pick up bottles in the game to divert the attention of infected by hurling them. Lastly, there’s a scene depicting Tommy instructing Ellie on sniping techniques. In the video game, this lesson unfolds as a flashback set during a different season and serves to illustrate how wind resistance impacts rifle performance.

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2025-04-15 07:26