Why The Opening Scene In THE LAST OF US Episode 2 Is SO Important

Summary

In this video, the opening scene of The Last of Us episode 2 is analyzed, focusing on its importance in setting the tone for the show. It explains the origin of the cordyceps infection, revealed in Jakarta, Indonesia, two days before the outbreak in the United States. The video breaks down the rapid global spread due to contaminated crops and the impossibility of stopping the infection. The difference between the game and show origins is highlighted, along with the scene's emotional impact and its significance in understanding the bleak future ahead.

Takeaways

• 😀 The opening scene of *The Last of Us* episode 2 takes place in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 24, 2003, two days before the events with Joel and Sarah.
• 😀 Professor Ebi Ratna, a mycologist, discovers that the cordyceps infection has mutated and is now able to infect humans, something that was previously thought impossible.
• 😀 The infection, caused by rising global temperatures, spreads through contaminated flower and grain products that are shipped worldwide, making it nearly impossible to contain.
• 😀 The fungal infection in the show spreads incredibly quickly, causing devastation across the globe in a matter of days.
• 😀 There is no vaccine or cure for the infection, and the only option to contain it is to destroy Jakarta to prevent further outbreaks.
• 😀 The scene emphasizes how little time was available to respond to the outbreak, illustrating the global threat and helplessness of the situation.
• 😀 The infection was revealed to be thriving in a flower and grain factory, a perfect environment for the fungus, explaining its rapid spread.
• 😀 The infection's origin in the show is located in Jakarta, whereas in the game, it starts in South America. The show's choice of location makes more sense given the real-life cordyceps fungus, which affects insects in Asia.
• 😀 The opening scene is crucial for setting the tone of the series, illustrating how quickly the infection spreads and the bleak future for humanity.
• 😀 The scene highlights the importance of early intervention and how even a small window of opportunity can prevent global devastation.
• 😀 The opening scene serves as a powerful, haunting reminder of the infection's origin, its unstoppable spread, and the catastrophic impact it has on the world.

Q & A

What is the significance of the opening scene in *The Last of Us* Episode 2?

The opening scene in Jakarta, Indonesia, is crucial as it reveals the origin of the cordyceps infection, showing how quickly it spread and the global implications. It sets the tone for the series, highlighting the dangers of the outbreak and how it was too late to stop it.

What role does Professor Ebi Ratna play in Episode 2?

Professor Ebi Ratna is a mycologist who examines the first human infected with cordyceps in the opening scene. Her findings reveal that the infection, once thought impossible to spread to humans, has begun to thrive due to changes in Earth's temperature.

How does the show explain the spread of the infection?

The infection spread rapidly because it originated in a flower and grain factory in Jakarta, where the conditions were perfect for the fungus to thrive. The exported products from this factory were consumed worldwide, leading to a global outbreak.

What major difference between the game and the show is highlighted in this scene?

In the game, the infection starts in South America, but in the show, it originates in Jakarta, Indonesia. This change was made because the real-world cordyceps fungus affects insects in Asia, making it a more logical setting for the outbreak.

What was Professor Ebi Ratna's conclusion about stopping the infection?

Professor Ratna concluded that the only way to prevent the widespread devastation was to destroy the city of Jakarta, killing anyone potentially infected. However, by the time of her examination, it was already too late to contain the outbreak.

How does the opening scene reflect the theme of the series?

The opening scene reinforces the series' themes of hopelessness and survival. It emphasizes how quickly the infection spread and how humanity had no chance of stopping it, setting up the bleak future that characters like Joel and Sarah face.

What is the importance of the professor's findings in the context of the world of *The Last of Us*?

Professor Ratna's findings are important because they explain how the infection spread so quickly and the inability to find a cure or vaccine, even 20 years later. This highlights the unrelenting nature of the infection and the collapse of global civilization.

Why was the flower and grain factory in Jakarta such an important location for the infection?

The flower and grain factory was the perfect environment for the cordyceps fungus to thrive, providing the necessary conditions for it to grow and spread. As the factory's products were exported worldwide, it became the primary source of the infection's rapid global spread.

What does the opening scene in Jakarta reveal about the timeline of the infection's spread?

The opening scene shows that the infection was already spreading globally by September 24, 2003, just two days before the events with Joel and Sarah in the United States. It emphasizes how quickly the outbreak escalated.

What role does the scene in Jakarta play in the broader narrative of *The Last of Us*?

The Jakarta scene provides critical background information on the origin of the infection and the futility of finding a cure. It sets up the context for the ongoing struggle of the characters in the post-apocalyptic world and establishes the dire consequences of the outbreak.