Why are there no zombies in Last of Us?
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The Last of Us universe does not feature zombies in the classical sense, but rather Infected humans who have been taken over by the Cordyceps fungus, a real-life fungus that has mutated to infect humans, making them violent and hostile. The Infected are still alive, albeit in a state of fungal-induced madness, and their goal is to spread the disease, not to feed on human flesh like traditional zombies.
Understanding the Infected
The Infected in The Last of Us are living victims who have been contaminated by the Cordyceps fungus, which alters their behavior and physiology, leading to a range of symptoms and stages of infection.
FAQs
The following FAQs provide additional information about the Last of Us universe and the Cordyceps fungus:
- Q: Did zombies exist in The Last of Us? A: The Last of Us takes place in a world overrun by Infected, but they are not traditional zombies. Instead, they are living humans who have been infected by the Cordyceps fungus.
- Q: Can the zombies not see in The Last of Us? A: In the Stage Four of the infection, also known as the Bloaters, the Infected are slow and cannot see, but their bodies have been reinforced by the fungus, making them highly resistant to damage.
- Q: How are The Last of Us zombies still alive? A: The Infected are still alive because the Cordyceps fungus infects living tissue, rather than reanimating the dead. This means that the Infected are not undead creatures, but rather living beings under the control of the fungus.
- Q: How does Joel not get Infected? A: Joel’s diet and lifestyle may have contributed to his resistance to the Cordyceps infection, although the exact reason is not fully explained in the series.
- Q: Can Ellie infect others? A: Ellie is immune to the Cordyceps infection and cannot infect others, although the exact nature of her immunity is not fully understood.
- Q: Is There A Cure For The Last of Us? A: The cure for the Cordyceps infection is a central plot point in The Last of Us, but it is not fully resolved in the series. The Fireflies believe that Ellie’s immunity holds the key to a cure, but their efforts to develop one are ultimately thwarted.
- Q: Could The Last of Us happen? A: While the Cordyceps fungus is real, the likelihood of it mutating to infect humans in the way depicted in The Last of Us is considered low by experts.
- Q: Why is Ellie immune? A: Ellie’s immunity is due to her exposure to the Cordyceps fungus in the womb, which somehow conferred immunity on her.
- Q: Can Last of Us zombies be cured? A: The Infected in The Last of Us are not cured, but rather killed or ** contained**. The *Fireflies* believe that Ellie’s immunity holds the key to a cure, but their efforts to develop one are ultimately thwarted.
- Q: Is The Last of Us fungus possible? A: The Cordyceps fungus is real, but the likelihood of it mutating to infect humans in the way depicted in The Last of Us is considered low by experts.
- Q: Are The Last of Us Infected still human? A: The Infected in The Last of Us are still biologically alive and human, although their behavior and physiology have been altered by the Cordyceps fungus.
- Q: Why did the Infected kiss Tess? A: The Infected in The Last of Us kiss their victims to infect them with the Cordyceps fungus, which is spread through spores and physical contact.
- Q: How did Joel know Ellie was immune? A: Joel learns of Ellie’s immunity from the Fireflies, who have been testing her and studying her blood.
- Q: How did Ellie survive the bite? A: Ellie survived the bite because of her immunity, which was conferred on her by her exposure to the Cordyceps fungus in the womb.
- Q: Why can’t Cordyceps infect humans? A: The Cordyceps fungus cannot infect humans in reality because of the high internal temperatures of the human body and the complexity of human biology.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Last of Us universe does not feature traditional zombies, but rather Infected humans who have been taken over by the Cordyceps fungus. The Infected are still alive, albeit in a state of fungal-induced madness, and their goal is to spread the disease, not to feed on human flesh. The series explores the consequences of a pandemic and the human condition in the face of tragedy and loss.