You Won’t Survive: Cordyceps Just Evolved into Humanity’s Worst Nightmare

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Summary

  • The Last of Us Season 2 expands on the Cordyceps brain infection, addressing criticism.
  • Stalkers introduced in Season 2 are portrayed as a genuine threat, evolving beyond the games.
  • Cordyceps’ growing intellect sets up major conflicts for Ellie, hinting at more terrifying twists.

In the second season of “The Last of Us”, there’s a greater emphasis on how the Cordyceps fungus infection progresses over time. The creators seem to have addressed the feedback received during Season 1, where viewers felt that there were too few infected characters initially. Now, you’ll notice more infected than ever before, and the writers are delving deeper into a more captivating portrayal of this disease.

This week has been particularly challenging for viewers and long-time fans of The Last of Us, especially those who haven’t watched the recent episode “Through The Valley”. For those who have managed to steer clear of spoilers so far, this episode is a pivotal point in Joel and Ellie’s story. Those familiar with that significant moment will likely find themselves swept up in an emotional whirlwind, but it’s crucial not to lose sight of the larger fungal threat. In Season 2, the showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have been carefully building a more daring, terrifying portrayal of the Cordyceps infection. They’ve pushed the boundaries of the disease, with the cunning Stalker in episode one showing that this threat is developing beyond what players initially imagined was possible in this world.

As a movie critic, I found myself pondering over the omission of Stalkers in Season 1 of “The Last of Us,” a conspicuous absence given their significant role in the game’s narrative. These creatures, representing the second stage of infection, embody the speed of Runners and the ferocity of Clickers, making them a formidable adversary. The games have always left us wondering about the consciousness of the Infected, with characters questioning the long-term effects of Cordyceps on their sentience.

However, it seems that Season 2 is keenly exploring these questions by portraying Stalkers as more cognizant entities. Ellie, in her conversation with Maria at the end of the recent episode, hints at this intelligence when she suggests that while a Stalker may not possess human-like intellect, it is still capable of strategic maneuvers, leading and luring Ellie into a tactically vulnerable position. This intriguing development promises to delve deeper into the complexities of the Infected, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as we unravel the mysteries of this post-apocalyptic world.

What A More Intelligent Cordyceps Means For The Last of Us

A new and chilling development could serve as an intriguing stepping stone for a novel phase in the Cordyceps saga, uncharted in its original content: an intelligent strain of the brain infection. As the town of Jackson and the characters from The Last of Us have adapted to their grim reality, exerting some measure of control over their surroundings, this fungus strikes back to remind mankind that it is no longer the dominant force in nature’s food chain. If Cordyceps exhibits behavioral traits akin to humans, with advanced hunting or survival skills, only the most seasoned scavengers who have spent years battling the Infected will be able to withstand the encroaching tide of evolution.

The ongoing fungus episodes suggest that, even if we could cut off its food source for a long time, the fungus would adapt and overpower us. It seems inevitable and impossible to stop, and it’s here to last for a while. Places like Jackson, which are supposed to be safe, might always struggle to stay together. Contrary to what the games portray, this is a threat that could potentially cause Jackson to collapse. In the show, however, Jackson was not as secure as depicted in The Last of Us Part II. Residents of the town have faced the largest Cordyceps battle on screen so far. With its fungal tendrils seeping into the town’s foundations, any unsealed base will eventually succumb to the fungus’ relentless effort to spread.

The growing intelligence of the Cordyceps strain poses significant challenges for Ellie later in the season, creating complex dilemmas. The stalkers have brought out the humanity within the Infected, becoming a central theme in the narrative. As Ellie encounters a more self-aware and conscious version of the Cordyceps brain infection, it serves as a stark reminder that these monsters were once people. It also underscores the Fireflies’ inability to develop a vaccine from her immunity. Although she is not at fault, this realization intensifies Ellie’s feelings of guilt and regret over humanity’s fate – a world without hope of defeating this pandemic. For gamers who have played The Last of Us Part II, the danger posed by Cordyceps will only escalate, so viewers should brace themselves for more unexpected plot developments and chilling revelations as the TV show continues to explore new ways to portray this terrifying affliction.

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2025-04-23 17:54