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“Fungi may seem harmless at first, but many species prove otherwise.” In the world of “The Last of Us,” it’s not a viral pandemic that poses the biggest threat to humanity, but a fungal one. The HBO adaptation of the popular video game series starts off with a new scene that sets the stage for this mushroom menace, emphasizing the idea that disasters don’t just happen suddenly – there are always warning signs.
The opening scene introduces the idea of the apocalyptic Cordyceps fungus as a more deadly threat than a viral pandemic, challenging the established norms of the zombie survival genre. In a 1968 TV interview, epidemiologist Dr. Neuman (played by John Hannah) discusses the potential dangers of a viral pandemic, but ultimately points to fungi as a greater global threat due to their ability to control minds.
Dr. Neuman’s warnings about the potential effects of climate change on fungal evolution serve as a chilling foreshadowing of the events to come. The scene sets the stage for the spread of Cordyceps infections to humanity, hinting at a future where billions of people could become puppets with poisoned minds, driven by a singular goal of spreading the infection by any means necessary.
The opening scene of “The Last of Us” TV series is a departure from the game’s beginning in Austin, Texas, instead opting for a more dramatic introduction to the world of the Cordyceps fungus. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann chose to start the series this way to engage both fans of the game and newcomers, setting the stage for the unfolding events in the post-apocalyptic world.
The choice to begin the series with this foreboding interview serves to intrigue viewers and set the tone for the story that follows. As the characters navigate the dangers of a world overrun by fungal infections, the threat of the Cordyceps fungus looms large, driving the narrative forward with a sense of urgency and mystery.
The opening scene of HBO’s The Last of Us sets the stage for a longer timeline
In the first episode of ‘The Last of Us,’ the show accomplishes what ‘Andor’ failed to do by successfully translating the game’s best mechanics to TV. The review confirms that ‘The Last of Us’ is just as great as fans hoped it would be. Season 1 covers the entire first game, and viewers are eager to see how it unfolds.
The opening scene, set decades before the global infection of Cordyceps, plays a crucial role in establishing the elongated timeframe of the outbreak. Creator Mazin draws parallels to real-life looming disasters like climate change and his previous project ‘Chernobyl,’ highlighting the tendency of people to ignore impending catastrophes.
Addressing the recent global pandemic, Mazin emphasizes that ‘The Last of Us’ aims to shift the focus from COVID-19 to a fictional fungal pandemic. By presenting fungi as a more complex and potentially devastating threat, the show offers a sobering reminder of the fragility of human existence.
‘The Last of Us’ can be streamed on HBO Max, with new episodes airing weekly on HBO.
