The television adaptation of The Last Of Us has revived the zombie genre (featuring ghosts and the undead) on screen. Based on the acclaimed video game by the production company Naughty Dog, this series offers a uniquely haunting and immersive world where humanity grapples with extinction brought about by a severe fungal pandemic and particularly dangerous threats.
Unlike other zombie-themed narratives, the “undead” in The Last Of Us are not merely reanimated corpses; they are living humans infected by a type of parasitic fungus known as Cordyceps. Once a person is infected by this fungus, they quickly lose their cognitive abilities, becoming incapable of controlling their own bodies, and begin transforming into brutal killing machines driven by instinct. The longer the infection persists, the more severe the physical transformations become, ultimately resulting in a complete loss of humanity due to Cordyceps.
Though The Last Of Us is a work of fiction, the phenomenon of parasitic fungi and their ability to manipulate their hosts is scientifically grounded, particularly among certain animal species like the gray wolf. This serves as a significant source of inspiration for the creators of this video game/film franchise, crafting a unique zombie universe of its own.
Moreover, the infected individuals in The Last Of Us undergo various stages of transformation over time, with significant changes in their physical appearance and increasing danger levels. Notable stages include the Runner, Stalker, Clicker, and Bloater, with each level of zombie exhibiting distinct characteristics based on the state of infection in the reality of the narrative.
For instance, when a human becomes infected with Cordyceps in The Last Of Us, their body will experience uncontrollable spasms before completely losing consciousness and becoming a fully-fledged zombie. In reality, ants infected with Cordyceps also display similar behavior. The underlying cause is due to the fungal spores inside the ant’s body releasing a substance known as Aflatrem, causing the host to become disoriented and undergo continuous tremors that they cannot control.
To construct a comprehensive and varied zombie ecosystem, besides Cordyceps, the creators have referenced numerous other types of parasitic fungi found in nature. So what are these sources of inspiration, and how did they contribute to creating a distinctly haunting world in The Last Of Us? Each reader can follow along with the details in the video segment below.
