Summary
The Last of Usuniverse is filled with menacing villains and terrifying creatures. Set in the post-apocalyptic world ravaged by the Cordyceps infections, this enthralling saga forces viewers to become a part of a chilling environment where survival is anything but guaranteed. The first season of the HBO series was based on the first game inThe Last of Usfranchise and ended on a somber note. Meanwhile, the ongoing second edition is based on the second game,The Last of Us Part II,and introduces a formidable villain. InSeason 2, viewers have already seen how civilizations have fallen, and the remnants of society live in fear, not just of each other, but of the infected.
It has already been established that the infected ones aren’t mere zombies; they are continuously evolving and have been divided into different categories. Runners are fast and aggressive, while Clickers strike with unrelenting violence. Bloaters are the strongest of the three and have the power to overthrow any danger that comes near them. However, there’s one more category of the infected that hasn’t been introduced in the HBO series. Known as the Shamblers, the terrifying variant of the infected is one of the most difficult foes to face, and escaping their wrath isn’t easy. Those who have played the second game would know about their terrifying nature. For those who haven’t, they might be witnessing the variant soon in the upcoming episodes ofThe Last of UsSeason 2, and should be prepared for what’s to come. So, let’s take a look at the Shamblers and how they are different from theother infected ones.
Who Are The Shamblers, And How Do Ellie & Dina Come Face To Face With Them?
Inthe second game inThe Last of Usseries,players get to learn about the existence of the Shamblers when certain members of the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) talk about the variant of Bloaters who have transformed into something more sinister because of the weather conditions in Seattle. As per the game, the constant rainfall and humid weather of Seattle played a significant role in their reconstruction. Initially, the existence of the Shamblers was based on a rumor. However, the game didn’t take much time to confirm that they were present, and also made the gamers realize one particular thing that made them such a force to be reckoned with.
During the game, one of the soldiers of the Washington Liberation Front encounters a new variant of the infected while patrolling in Seattle. In the process of killing the Shambler, the soldier realized that it had acidic spores on its body. Those spores make them look more terrifying than a Bloater, but they also use those sporesto release a cloud of acidic gas that hurts the players and blurs their vision. Yes, you heard that right. They can create difficulties for the players while they continue to move further in their mission.
During Ellie and Dina’s journey through Seattle, the duo took shelter in an abandoned subway where they went face to face with a group of infected people. Initially, they encountered several clickers before getting introduced to a Shambler. Conversely, some soldiers from the WLF reached the subway and ran into the infected. Chaos broke out as all three groups—Ellie and Dina, the WLF, and the infected—were caught in a brutal fight. Ellie and Dina managed to escape the subway, but the WLF soldiers couldn’t and were left to fight the infected. It was then that the WLF soldiers got to know about the terrifying nature of the Shamblers. During the fight, two members of the WLF were chased away by a Shambler, while another one was badly hurt when the creature sprayed its burning acid on him. Even though another soldier tried saving him with his weapon, the Shambler killed them both.
Will The Shamblers Be Introduced InThe Last of UsSeason 2?
In the third episode ofThe Last of UsSeason 2, viewers have already seen Ellie and Dina making their way into Seattle. The weather seemed to be very different from what they had been experiencing in Jackson, Wyoming. The weather is humid, and the city is overgrown with vegetation. On the other hand, the episode ends with a glimpse of the Washington Liberation Front and its members. Ellie and Dina don’t have any idea how big the organization is and the members it has. So, their journey won’t be as smooth as they would have wanted it to be.
In the teaser trailer for what’s about to happen in the fourth episode, it becomes quite evident that Ellie and Dina are finding a way to enter the depths of the city so they can kill Abby and her team. So, they take refuge in an abandoned subway that has been filled with the infected. In one of the sequences, Dina is seen counting the number of infected on her fingers by hearing their voices, and the duo quickly realizes that they are heavily outnumbered. The clip also makes it clear that the duo will come face to face with WLF soldiers and the infected ones in the subway, which is similar to what the gamers experienced while playingThe Last of Us Part II.
Introducing the Shamblers in Season 2 might turn out to be a game-changing moment for the series. The level of terror they bring with them could add a fresh layer of horror to the infected world, and their unpredictable, area-damage fighting style could raise the stakes during key action sequences. Moreover, the introduction of the Shamblers is equally important to raise the stakes narratively and showcase how the threat is evolving with time. This creates a sense of urgency and unpredictability for the characters, who now face an enemy that not only kills but also poisons the surrounding environment. For Ellie and Dina, who had entered Seattle thinking that they would kill their enemies and get out of the city, they would have to think about new strategies on how to overcome these threats and avenge Joel’s death.
Consequently, it would be interesting to see if the makers change the narrative and present something new to make the situation even more dangerous, making the world ofThe Last of Usfeel more alive—and more deadly—than ever before.
