The Last of Us Season 1 gave us an emotional rollercoaster wrapped in a post-apocalyptic horror bow. And if you’re anything like us, you’re still not over some of the moments. With Season 2 premiering on April 14 on JioHotstar, it’s time to brush up on everything that happened in the first season so you’re fully prepared for what’s next. Here’s a no-nonsense, drama-soaked recap of The Last of Us Season 1.

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It all began with an outbreak in 2003

The show begins with a mass fungal infection caused by a mutated form of Cordyceps fungus. During the chaos, Sarah (Nico Parker), Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) daughter, is killed. This heartbreaking moment sets the tone for everything that follows 20 years later. Fast forward to 2023, Joel lives in a quarantine zone (QZ) in Boston managed by FEDRA (Federal Disaster Response Agency) and works as a smuggler with his partner Tess (Anna Torv). As events unfold, Joel and Tess are tasked with taking Ellie (Bella Ramsey) out of Boston to the Fireflies (a rebel group opposing FEDRA), hoping they’ll develop a cure through Ellie as she is immune to the infection. As they try to smuggle Ellie out, Tess is bitten by an infected, and she sacrifices herself so Joel and Ellie can keep moving.

The Bill and Frank detour

Episode 3 veers off course beautifully with a tender, heartbreaking story about Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett) – two survivors who build a life together in a fortified town. As the episode ends, we find out that the couple died natural deaths together in peace.
As the story moves forward, Joel and Ellie face off with rebel leader Kathleen (Melanie Lynskey) and her vengeful militia in Kansas City. We meet brothers Henry (Lamar Johnson) and Sam (Keivonn Woodard), who are trying to escape. It ends in utter tragedy when Sam is infected; Henry kills him and then turns the gun on himself.

Ellie and her story

After twenty years, Joel reunites with his brother Tommy in a seemingly safe, self-sufficient town. Joel opens up about his declining mental health to Tommy and asks him to take Ellie to the Fireflies, as he’s afraid that he can’t keep her safe. But later, he changes his mind and takes Ellie with him. They reach the base of the Fireflies only to find that they have vacated it and have relocated to Utah. Just then, they are attacked by a group of raiders, and Joel is stabbed.
Amidst all this, Ellie is reminded of her best friend and lover, Riley (Storm Reid), who dies after he’s bitten by an infected. In the present, Ellie crosses paths with David (Scott Shepherd), a cult-like leader who tries to manipulate and assault her. Ellie saves herself in a harrowing scene, and Joel arrives just in time to help her.
Towards the end, we get a glimpse of Ellie’s story through her mother. We find out that Ellie’s mother, Anna (Ashley Johnson), was in labour when she was bitten, which is why Ellie was born immune.

The Last of Us Season 1 ending

The season finale brings Joel and Ellie to the Fireflies, who finally have what they need: Ellie’s immunity. But there’s a catch – the surgery that could potentially lead to a cure will kill her. Joel, unable to lose another “daughter”, goes full dad-mode and massacres the Fireflies to save her. He lies to Ellie, telling her they have found others like her and that no cure is possible. He also kills Marlene (Merle Dandridge), who was a close friend of Ellie’s mother.
This is all for The Last of Us Season 1 recap. Will Ellie uncover the truth? And will the Fireflies come back to exact their revenge on Joel? These questions remain to be answered in The Last of Us Season 2, streaming 14th April onwards on JioHotstar.

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