In the world of HBO’s The Last of Us, a mutated version of the Cordyceps fungus began turning humans into zombie-like creatures 20 years ago. There is no cure or protective vaccine. As viewers, the only person known to be immune to the fungal infection is Ellie Williams (Bella Ramsey).
But why is Ellie immune to Cordyceps? Not even the two The Last of Us games gave one so far Answer to the origin of Ellie’s immunity – the series adaptation already. In the finale of the first season, the surprising explanation was now delivered.
Warning, spoilers follow to the finale of The Last of Us:
The Last of Us revelation: Ellie was infected before she was born
The 9th episode of The Last of Us begins with a flashback to the day Ellie was born. We get to see her mother Anna (played by game Ellie Ashley Johnson) for the first time, who takes refuge in a farm house when she is very pregnant. While she’s in labor, she also has to fend off an infected person.
Straight when Ellie is born, Anna discovers that she has recently been bitten. In desperation, she cuts the umbilical cord of her newborn daughter. But a small part of the Coryceps fungus has already made it into the immune system of the little ones. This reveals a later scene from the present.
HBO
Joel learns the truth about Ellie
At the Salt Lake City hospital, where the Fireflies plan to use Ellie’s blood to create a cure, Marlene (Merle Dandridge) repeats a doctor’s guess: Since her birth, a part of the cordyceps has been growing in Ellie’s bodywhich acts as a kind of chemical defense mechanism against reinfection.
The circumstances that led to Ellie’s immunity are very specific. So specific that it is extremely unlikely that other immune humans exist. No other people are known to be immune to Cordyceps in either the series or the games. This realization only makes the dramatic finale even more tragic.
To save the world, Ellie must make the ultimate sacrifice
Joel (Pedro Pascal) finally realizes the great sacrifice Ellie must make to create a cure. Because Cordyceps grows in the human brain. To be able to extract the chemical messengers from their brain is required an operation that would result in the death of the youth.
Unfortunately, we do not find out whether this could really succeed. Because Joel is not ready to lose his new foster daughter and kills all the Fireflies in the hospital to save her. He doesn’t tell her that Ellie might have been able to save the world, and the first season of the end-time drama ends with a devastating lie.
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