After all the raving early critic reviews of The Last of Us, fans are finally getting a taste of the much-acclaimed show. The premiere episode dropped today, and at a run-time of 90 whooping minutes, it did not disappoint in any way, shape, or form!
Episode 1 gave us the prologue of how a fungus can turn parasitic, set up Joel’s tragic backstory, and even introduced us to Ellie – humanity’s one sole hope against the zombie fungus. But how exactly does this premiere episode end?
The Last of Us Ep 1 ends with Joel and Tess cutting a deal with the Fireflies to smuggle Ellie in exchange for transport and ammunition. They later find out that Ellie was in fact infected by the zombie fungus, but appears to be immune to it.
That first episode was a total emotional rollercoaster! Let’s dive into what the ending means in more detail:
1. What is Joel and Tess’ deal with the Fireflies?
Joel and Tess made a deal with the Fireflies to smuggle Ellie to another Fireflies base in exchange for transport and ammunition.
As we saw throughout the second half of the episode, Joel’s brother, Tommy, has gone missing. Joel has been fervently looking for him and his ultimate plan is to get a car illegally and drive out to find him. However, the car battery he was counting on get stolen.
Following the trail of this very stolen car battery brings Joel and Tess to the Fireflies. Marlene realizes that their location is compromised and they cannot safely transport Ellie. So she cuts a deal with Joel and Tess to have Ellie delivered in exchange for what they want. Do they take this deal? Absolutely.
2. Why is Ellie special?
The Last of Us episode 1 reveals that Ellie was infected by the “zombie” fungus. However, her bite wound healed and she currently shows no symptoms. The Fireflies believe she’s immune to the fungus and want to use her to make a vaccine.
So there you have it — Now you know why Ellie was locked up in the room and made to count from one to ten. While it seemed ridiculous at first, it reflects how the Fireflies were evaluating her to see if she showed signs of transforming into a zombie.
This is also why they were planning on smuggling her to another Fireflies base, where they could use her DNA to potentially create a DNA.
Ellie is the one hope against beating the zombie fungus, which not only makes her special but also dangerously valuable — so much so, that all kinds of people may try to kidnap her, lock her and use her for their own selfish desires.
3. What song plays at the end of episode 1?
The song playing at the end of The Last of Us Ep 1 is Never Let Me Down Again by Depeche Mode. It is a song from the 1980s and as per Joel’s radio code, it signifies trouble.
Ellie’s conversation with Joel a little prior to this scene perfectly foreshadows that the episode will use the code to let the audience know that there’s a lot of troubling times to come.
The song could allude to a bunch of things: bad news about Joel’s brother, more conflict between the FEDRA and the Fireflies, or simply how Ellie being infected and yet immune is going to turn the world upside down. This is your cue to stay tuned!
4. About The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is an HBO TV series adaptation of the award-winning video game of the same name originally developed by Naughty Dog.
It is set in 2033, as a fungal infestation plagues humans, turning them feral and blind before finally finishing them off. The series follows Joel’s journey to escort an immune 14-year-old Ellie to the Fireflies, who hope to study her to procure a vaccine.
The cast comprises Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, both famed for their roles in Games of Thrones, along with Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, and Nico Parker. The show was renewed for season 2.
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