The following article contains spoilers for Episode 1 of The Last of Us.
The Last of Us has been trending on social media since its premiere episode aired on HBO Max, and many fans are excitedly pointing out the various Easter eggs from the game that make an appearance in it. The series is the perfect way for hardcore fans of the game franchise to revisit Joel and Ellie’s story, but what makes it better is when they spot something quirky that non-gamers will not be able to recognize.
Many fans were skeptical when The Last of Us adaptation was announced, but the premiere episode has many feeling slightly reassured. The series allows them to see the franchise in a whole new light, while pointing out the minor details that connect the adaptation to the games. Whether it's Ellie’s iconic ponytail, Joel’s construction boots, or Marlene’s double tank top, there are many small details that the creators have paid attention to and visibly included in the series. But apart from these commonly found items, there are some Easter eggs in the premiere episode that only keen-eyed fans will be able to spot.
There are many scenes in The Last of Us’ premiere episode that are an exact replication of the ones in the game. Fans would very easily be able to point these out, and even find side-by-side images online. But, here’s a look at some of the Easter eggs that they may have missed.
Sarah’s t-shirt
This might be the most obvious Easter egg. In the prologue section of the episode, Sarah is seen wearing a t-shirt with a portrait of the Halican Drops band. This is the exact shirt that Sarah wears in the game during the prologue, and the cities listed on the back end up being the ones that Joel and Ellie visit during their journey.
The DVD
As part of the prologue, Sarah celebrates her father Joel’s birthday and gifts him a repaired watch, with obvious sentimental value, and a DVD of a fictional movie titled “Curtis and Viper 2.” While this film isn’t a part of Sarah’s gifts in the first game, it is mentioned in The Last of Us 2 as one of Joel’s favorite franchises. Ellie goes on patrol with her friend Dina and talks about how she plans to watch the film with Joel because it is an 80s action movie that “he’s really into.” It was a smart nod to make it a part of the HBO series.
The birthday card
Apart from the gifts, there is one other item that Sarah has for Joel’s birthday. A birthday card is seen sitting on her desk when she first wakes up in her bedroom. The same card, with an animated dinosaur on the cover, was a part of The Last of Us game, and similar to the series, Sarah forgets to give it to her father. The card was spotted by Naughty Dog developer Alexandria Neonakis, the individual who designed the card for the game.
Joel’s wrench
The wrench is a weapon of choice for Joel in The Last of Us game in many instances. In the series, when Joel and Tommy arrive outside their neighbor’s home, which Sarah is seen escaping from, Joel uses a wrench to attack the infected woman. Many viewers have asked why he drops the weapon instead of holding on to it. In the game, players were only allowed to use certain melee weapons a few times before having to discard it. It’s a game of survival and that means players have to find objects that help them along the way, and this includes weapons.
The getaway ride
After Joel and Tommy pick Sarah up from home, the three try to escape town. That entire getaway drive is an Easter egg on its own. The entire sequence is filmed exactly like the game, with viewers seeing things from Sarah’s perspective. In the game, Sarah sits in the backseat, and players control her at that point. They are able to look around and observe their surroundings. The camera work in the series makes it seem like a simulation and gives viewers the feel of being in the game.
The avoided crash
In The Last of Us game, Tommy’s car is hit by a speeding vehicle as the family tries to leave the city. The creators decided to change this up in the series, and included a crashing plane, but there is a nod to the original scene in the game. There is a moment in the getaway where Tommy’s vehicle is almost T-boned by another truck, but the driver manages to stop just in time. Fans of the game would have expected the crash to occur at that moment, but it was an interesting turn of events when an entire plane crashes close to their vehicle and flying debris hits their car.
Riley
When Ellie and Marlene are having a conversation about the Fireflies, before the protagonist learns of her immunity, Ellie refers to the group as “terrorists.” At this point, Marlene asks her, “was Riley a terrorist?” At this point in the series, viewers have not met Riley and have no idea who she is. But, those who have played The Last Of Us: Left Behind DLC would be aware of Ellie’s friend Riley and their story before the events of The Last of Us. It is already known that actor Storm Reid has been cast to play Riley in the series and their backstory will be explored.
The Last of Us is streaming on HBO Max.