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The Last of Uspremiered to the tune of 4.7 million viewers and has continued to grow its audience since then. While it may not be spreading as quickly as a cordyceps infection, it’s safe to say that the show is a hit. Fans were recently treated to the news that The Last of Us has already been renewed for season two.
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If you’re here, you’re likely looking to dive into some extra information about both the game and the show. Well, you’ve come to the right place! We’re here to explain just how the infection began and spread in both the show and the game. While similar, both versions have their own unique take on the outbreak and fall of humanity.
Where Did The Infection Begin In The Show?
HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us shows us the beginnings of the infection in Jakarta, Indonesia. The fungi evolved due to global warming, and is now able to survive within humans.
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Ground zero of the infection also includes a flour factory, a place where the cordyceps can survive and spread. Episode two of The Last of Us introduces viewers to Ibu Ratna, an expert in the field, who instantly declares the situation helpless for humanity.
Where Did The Infection Begin In The Game?
The game isn’t as specific about the origin of the infection. The players know that the infection began somewhere in South America and involved infected crops.
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Because the scope of the game remains tightly focused on Joel and Ellie, we never see the origin of the infection like we do in the show. In episode three of the show, Joel tells Ellie more about the initial spread of the infection. It’s hard to say if Joe in the show knows more than Joel in the game, because Joel never shares what he knows about the beginnings of the infection in the show.
In the adaptation, the initial spread of the infection involved yeast-based products. In episode one of the show, we actually see Joel’s neighbor eating biscuits. Later in the episode, she is infected.
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We also see the early hours of the infection spread through bites as humans became violent and attack one another. Patient zero was never found, pretty much dooming humanity in the eyes of Ibu Ratna.
In the game, the initial spread of infection involves bad crops. It’s never specified which crops were responsible for the spread or how Joel and his family avoided them.
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In addition to bad crops, the infection spread through biting. This is largely similar to the show, though there’s never even a mention of a patient zero. As the infection spreads, spores also become an issue for humanity. Breathing in fungal spores can infect people, which is why Joel always carries a gas mask. This threat is completely absent in the show.
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