We’re nearing the end of The Last of Us season 1, and theories are spreading just as fast as Cordyceps.
One eagle-eyed fan is circling TikTok after revisiting the first episode and pointing out a crucial detail that narrowly went unnoticed. A scene in the season 1 premiere includes Joel (Pedro Pascal)’s daughter at school before everything descends into chaos. While sitting in class, Sarah (Nico Parker) looks over at a classmate whose bracelet keeps reflecting in the light.
Upon closer inspection, the student’s hand is twitching uncontrollably. TikTok reminds us that this is an early sign of the outbreak. A poster at the beginning of episode 2 confirms this, outlining the symptoms of Cordyceps: coughing, slurred speech, mood change and muscle spasms.
The Last of Us fans were chilled by the discovery. “I [for real] didn’t notice that. That’s freaky,” one person wrote under the clip. “I thought he was doing that because [he was] bored with the class. I never even considered that,” another added.
For others, it clicked immediately, and they pointed out even more details that eerily alluded to the disease unraveling before their eyes. “If you listen closely, you will also notice someone coughing,” a different person said. “The teacher says there is something due tomorrow but [tomorrow’s] Saturday, subtly hinting the teacher may be infected,” one user replied.
Joel’s original voice actor Troy Baker assured fans they’re not off base to make theories. In fact, there are plenty of more hidden meanings ahead. “True to form of the video game, there have been so many Easter eggs already throughout this show,” he said in a clip posted on HBO’s Instagram.
What’s more, Troy acknowledges another moment in episode 3 when Joel explains to Ellie that the disease likely mutated and contaminated flour or sugar supplies, causing the spread.
“What were the two things that he was supposed to eat on his birthday? Pancakes and cake,” he said. “And those were two things he didn’t get. Joel’s path could have been really, really different.”
Commerce Editor
Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She’s a graduate of the University of Florida’s School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
Comments are closed.