Summary
Spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2 and Episode 1 spoilers.
After what felt like a hundred years for many fans ofThe Last of Us, season 2 is finally here. Since the returning season will aim to be a faithful adaptation of Naughty Dog’s sequel,The Last of Us Part 2,naturally, fans of the game are hoping to see quite a lot of cool and fun Easter eggs throughout its second run. However, players of the game didn’t quite expect to witness such an adorably wholesome one to be included so early on, leaving them yelling at their TV’s Leonardo DiCaprio meme style.
Season 2 ofThe Last of Uspicks up the narrative of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in Jackson, Wyoming, five years after the events of the season 1 finale, where the show left the pair on their way to the town after an awkward conversation.The Last of Usseason 2’s first episodemay have only been an hour long, but so many key moments and references have already been pulled straight from the game. Some ofThe Last of Usseason 2 Easter eggsinclude Ellie and Dina’s dance scene and Ellie’s journal, but one hidden detail has fans of the franchise overjoyed that it was actually included.
The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 1 Includes an Adorable Dog Named Employee of the Month
When Dina and Ellie head off into the Greenplace Market (which is another Easter Egg) to explore clicker noises inside together, Ellie comes across a notice board with a bunch of employees of the month displayed before falling through the floor.In the month of July, an adorable dog can be seen being awarded Employee of the Month, which is a callback to the game where Ellie must solvethe ‘Good Boy Combo’to open a nearby safe that opens a ton of loot using the combination code date found on the dog’s profile.
Of course, this subtle yet impactful Easter egg has sent fans ofThe Last of Usthrough the roof with excitement and also anticipation at what else Season 2 could hold since the creators are willing to include a small but very cool reference like this to appease gamers. On Reddit, one fan said, “When they showed the wall I was like pls show the dog, please show the dog,” while another stated, “Only way they could have put a cherry on top would be Ellie looking at a safe.” One overjoyed fan explained that they were so thrilled, that they shouted at their TV when the dog’s picture appeared in the scene, “I’ve never yelled at a TV before, but this is what did it hahaha.”
Eagle-eyed fans may have also seen a few other callbacks to the games in episode one, like the iconic moment between Dina and Ellie while they were dancing, in which Dina says the exact same dialogue from the game to Ellie, “Oh Ellie, I think they should be terrified of you”, as well as when Dina and Ellie explore the market, Ellie picks up an empty bottle to lure the clicker out as in the game, players use bottles a lot in combat situations, and not forgetting Ellie’s room in the show is littered with the sameSavage Starlightposters that she has inThe Last of Usgame.
A new episode ofThe Last Of UsSeason 2 will now premiere on HBO every Sunday until May 25.
