Warning: Contains SPOILERS for HBO's The Last Of Us and both games!
The Last of Us episode 1 is finally out, and there are loads of details, Easter eggs, references, and more that were easily missed. The Last of Us has been met with rave reviews from critics while also garnering immense popularity, with the series being one of HBO's most-watched premiers of all time. While many viewers of The Last of Us episode 1 may have played the game, there is an entire audience of people who didn't, meaning that some elements could have gone over their heads. However, whether viewers have played The Last of Us or not, there are still plenty of hidden details that they may have missed.
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic zombie story that follows a hardened survivor named Joel and a young child named Ellie as they travel across the United States in order to get Ellie to Seattle. Unbeknownst to many, Ellie is immune to the fungal virus that has infected the planet, with the Fireflies hoping that she can be used to create a cure. Episode 1 covers the game's epilogue and first few chapters, with Joel meeting Ellie and escaping from the Quarantine Zone. While the two still have their whole journey ahead of them, The Last of Us episode 1 has already dropped some hints at the story's future.
8 Joel's Guitar
Early in the show, Joel's daughter Sarah can be seen walking around the house before the outbreak occurs. In the background of one shot, Joel's guitar can be seen, referencing the game and hinting at a future storyline. In The Last of Us game, Joel eventually reveals that he wanted to be a musician before the outbreak, with him being a talented singer and guitarist. However, Joel keeps his singing and musical abilities a secret from Ellie, with him only revealing them later in the game.
This story is developed further in The Last of Us Part II, with the guitar setting up a story that could be told in future seasons. During the time jump between the two games, Joel begins to give Ellie guitar lessons, even gifting her a guitar at the beginning of the game. After Joel's tragic death, his guitar becomes a symbol to Ellie, telling her that Joel is always with her. Although Joel's musical abilities haven't been touched on in the HBO show yet, his guitar in The Last of Us episode 1 is a hint that the story will inevitably pop up somewhere.
7 Curtis and the Viper 2
In The Last of Us episode 1, Sarah borrows a movie from her neighbor to watch with Joel on his birthday. The fictional film Sarah picks is named Curtis and the Viper 2, and while it may seem inconspicuous, it's actually a reference to The Last of Us Part II. In the game, Ellie tells someone that she plans on watching Curtis and the Viper 2 with Joel. However, her plan is cut short due to Joel's murder. While the movie is nothing more than a simple nod, it shows the attention to detail and passion for the games that the writers for HBO's The Last of Us have.
6 The Infected's Tendrils
The first infected that Sarah sees in The Last of Us features a small detail that shows a huge change from the games. Before the premiere of The Last of Us, showrunner Craig Mazin revealed that spores wouldn't be in the series. In the games, spores are airborne particles that infect humans that breathe them in. However, episode 1 has already revealed the spores' replacement, with Joel's infected neighbor having tendrils come out of her mouth. As it turns out, HBO's Infected will spread the fungal virus through these tendrils, with the neighbor being the show's first confirmation of this.
5 The Truck Scene
During the initial outbreak, Joel, Sarah, and Tommy get in a truck and attempt to escape by driving out of town. This scene is almost a shot-for-shot remake of the sequence from the original game, with some shots even being perfectly timed with the game's version. The camera is positioned in the back seat of the truck, even making the scene look and feel as if it's gameplay. While The Last of Us' infection outbreak scene tells the same story as it does in the game, the truck scene shows just how accurate HBO's version is to the source material.
4 Lines Taken Directly From The Game
The Last of Us episode 1 actually pulls several lines directly from the game. The scene in which Joel takes Ellie back to his home near the end of the episode is the most obvious example of this, with Ellie and Joel's "What am I supposed to do?" exchange being ripped straight from the original. Ellie's "Your watch is broken" line is just another example of this. Later on, before Ellie reveals her status as infected, she is asked if she's a "bigwig's daughter," something she is also asked in the game. Having this many examples in just the first episode means that HBO's The Last of Us will feature no shortage of game quotations.
3 Marlene
In The Last of Us, Marlene is the leader of the Fireflies, a group of rebels opposed to FEDRA's actions. Marlene is played by actress Merle Dandridge in the HBO show, but that isn't the first time she's played the character. Dandridge also plays Marlene in both games, The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II. Having Merle Dandridge return is a nice nod to the games from the crew behind the HBO series, opening up the possibility for other game character actors to return in the show.
2 Escaping The Quarantine Zone
As Joel, Ellie, and Tess are escaping the Quarantine Zone near the end of The Last of Us episode 1, they are forced to hide from FEDRA soldiers, dodging their guns and lights in the darkness. The Last of Us' FEDRA escape sequence is a direct reference to Chapter 3 of the first game, which also follows the characters trying to escape the Quarantine Zone. Both sequences feature similar obstacles and camera angles, making the connection between the two even stronger.
1 The Clicker
The final hidden detail is incredibly hard to see on a first watch, but it is by far the most significant. Clickers are the main enemies in The Last of Us, with the fungal zombies' terrifying call being heard at the end of the first episode. While a Clicker isn't explicitly shown in episode 1, one can actually be seen in the episode's closing shot. During one of the lightning strikes, a hidden Clicker can be seen standing on the roof of a building to the left side of the screen. Although the Clicker is a hidden detail in The Last of Us episode 1, more of these creatures are sure to show up in the future.
New episodes of The Last of Us air Sundays on HBO.