Does Ellie’s Blood Ever Make a Cure in The Last of Us?
No, Ellie’s blood never results in a cure for the Cordyceps infection in either The Last of Us games or the HBO television adaptation. The potential for her blood to yield a cure is a central conflict in the first installment, but Joel’s decision to rescue Ellie from the Fireflies’ surgery, which would have required her death, prevents any cure from being developed. The possibility remains ambiguous, leaving the audience to question whether a cure was ever truly feasible. The narrative focuses more on the moral implications of sacrificing one life for the potential salvation of humanity than on the scientific certainty of a cure.
The Unresolved Potential of Ellie’s Immunity
Ellie’s immunity is a cornerstone of The Last of Us storyline, serving as the primary driving force behind the initial journey. However, the game and show never definitively answer whether a cure could have been derived from her. The Fireflies believed that dissecting Ellie could allow them to understand her immunity and possibly create a vaccine or cure. However, the narrative explicitly tells us that the procedure would have been fatal for Ellie.
The ambiguity surrounding the cure is intentional. The story is not about finding a simple solution to a global pandemic, but rather about the complex relationships and moral compromises people make in extreme circumstances. Joel’s love for Ellie outweighed his sense of responsibility to humanity, leading him to make a controversial decision with far-reaching consequences. The second game focuses on the after-effects of Joel’s decision.
Exploring Ellie’s Immunity
The origins of Ellie’s immunity are tied to her mother, Anna, who was bitten by an Infected while pregnant with Ellie. Anna delivered Ellie moments after being bitten, and it’s theorized that the Cordyceps present in Anna’s system was transferred to Ellie via the umbilical cord. While some fans theorize that the colostrum that Ellie drank from Anna after her birth may have carried the antibodies that provided Ellie’s immunity. This exposure resulted in Ellie being born with a unique strain of Cordyceps that rendered her immune to other strains.
FAQs about Ellie’s Immunity and a Potential Cure
1. How did Ellie become immune to the Cordyceps infection?
Ellie’s immunity is believed to stem from her mother being bitten while giving birth. Cordyceps entered Ellie’s system at birth, resulting in her having a unique strain of the fungus that prevents other strains from infecting her.
2. Could Ellie’s blood infect others?
The consensus is that Ellie’s blood is unlikely to infect others with the same virulent strain of Cordyceps. There’s an example in The Last of Us Part II where Ellie is intimate with Dina and Dina does not get infected. The mutated strain she carries seemingly confers immunity rather than causing infection.
3. Why did Joel prevent the Fireflies from operating on Ellie?
Joel prevented the operation because he learned that it would kill Ellie. He prioritized her life over the potential for a cure, unable to bear the thought of losing another daughter figure.
4. Was a cure ever guaranteed if Ellie died?
No, a cure was never guaranteed. Even if the Fireflies had been able to extract a cure from Ellie, it was possible that the process would have failed. The game and the show emphasize the uncertainty of the situation.
5. Why did the Fireflies stop looking for a cure?
Within the lore of the game, the Fireflies did not give up immediately. However, there were signs that the technology needed to create a cure was gone.
6. Are there other immune individuals besides Ellie?
As far as viewers and characters know, Ellie is the only person who has proven to be immune to the Cordyceps infection and able to live a normal life. There are no other known immune survivors.
7. What would have happened if Ellie had died during the Fireflies’ surgery?
If Ellie had died, the world would have lost its best chance at a potential cure, but there’s no guarantee a cure would be found. Joel felt that he did the right thing by protecting Ellie.
8. Is Ellie aware of Joel’s lie about the Fireflies?
Ellie eventually learns of Joel’s lie. In The Last of Us Part II, she confronts him about it, leading to a rift in their relationship and the storyline of the second game.
9. What makes Ellie’s strain of Cordyceps different?
Ellie’s strain of Cordyceps is mutated, likely due to the circumstances of her birth. This mutation makes her immune to other strains and prevents her from developing the full-blown infection.
10. Why was a cure not found by the events of The Last of Us Part II?
By the time of The Last of Us Part II, no cure has been found, largely because Joel prevented the Fireflies from attempting to create one using Ellie. Resources and hope have dwindled over time.
11. How does the show handle the cure differently from the game?
The HBO show hews closely to the game’s plot, so there isn’t a dramatic difference in how the cure is addressed. The emphasis remains on the moral dilemma and Joel’s decision.
12. What are the chances of the Fireflies eventually finding another immune individual?
The chances of finding another immune individual like Ellie are portrayed as extremely slim. Her immunity is presented as a unique, perhaps even miraculous, occurrence.
13. Does Ellie’s immunity affect her physically or mentally?
Ellie’s immunity does have some effects. She has a scar on her arm from where she was bitten, proving that the Cordyceps tried to infect her. She also suffers from Survivor’s Guilt.
14. Why are spores omitted from The Last of Us TV series?
Co-creator Craig Mazin explained that the removal of spores was a deliberate choice. Adding the spores would make it clear that everyone would have to wear a mask all the time.
15. What is the Games Learning Society?
The Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org is a community of researchers, educators, and game designers dedicated to exploring the educational potential of games and game-based learning. The society provides a platform for sharing research, best practices, and resources related to game-based learning. They believe that video games can provide an exciting context for learning.
The Narrative Power of Ambiguity
The lack of a definitive cure in The Last of Us is not a narrative failure but rather a deliberate artistic choice. It allows the story to delve into deeper themes of morality, love, and sacrifice. The story also raises questions about the ethics of potentially sacrificing one human to save many. The story highlights the complexities of human relationships in a post-apocalyptic world, showcasing the difficult choices people are forced to make.