The Last of Us Season 2 unveiled a significant plot development in its fifth episode. The Cordyceps fungus is no longer exclusively transmitted through bites; airborne spores are also a method of infection.
Although this might not surprise fans of The Last of Us game, as spores have been a part of the gameplay since its inception, the scene introducing spores in the series also suggests the presence of a formidable enemy from The Last of Us Part II: the Rat King.
What is the Rat King in The Last of Us Part II?
The Rat King is a boss encountered in the latter part of The Last of Us Part II, notorious for being the most grotesque creature in both games. It is inspired by the real-world phenomenon of rat kings, where rats become entangled by their tails. In the game’s universe, replace rats with the bodies of the Infected and tangled tails with the Cordyceps fungus to understand how this monstrous fusion is created.
How does The Last of Us Season 2 hint at the Rat King?
In The Last of Us Part II, the Rat King resides in the basement of the hospital controlled by the WLF, which is introduced in episode five of the series. Although it is not encountered in this episode, and with only two episodes remaining, it is unlikely to appear in Season 2, the show subtly references its existence.
In the episode’s opening, Hanrahan, played by Alanna Ubach, discusses with WLF soldier Elise, portrayed by Hettienne Park, why she decided to seal off the hospital basement, sacrificing several soldiers. Elise cites spores as the reason but also mentions the unexpected absence of Infected in the basement since the outbreak began.
Elise notes to Hanrahan that the basement was completely empty, even devoid of rats. This specific mention of rats appears to be a nod to gamers that the show’s creators are considering the Rat King. The emptiness of the basement serves as an ominous reference to what might unfold. Over the 25 years since the outbreak, the basement could have become overgrown with fungus, and if the initial Infected bodies remained there, undisturbed, they might have merged into the monstrous entity known as the Rat King.
The basement floor may not be as vacant as it seems. The bodies might have fused into one giant enemy, unseen by the characters. The missing rats could have even merged into the Infected Rat King or served as food. Whenever the Rat King emerges, it is expected to be a terrifying encounter.
New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 air on HBO and Max Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
