isn’t just another zombie story. It’s based on a real fungus called cordyceps, which infects insects like ants. Although humans can’t currently catch cordyceps, the idea that it could happen someday is what makes the game and show so compelling and scary for audiences.
As a huge fan of The Last of Us, I’m already getting excited for Season 3! The story takes place twenty years after the initial outbreak, and it centers around Joel, who has to escort a teenage girl named Ellie across the country. The really interesting thing is Ellie’s immunity – she’s not affected by the infection, and a group called the Fireflies believe she holds the key to a cure. With the new season on the horizon, I thought it would be a good time to quickly recap why Ellie is immune and what that actually means within the show’s world.
Is the Cordyceps from The Last of Us Real?
Cordyceps has been used in traditional medicine, particularly in China, for over a thousand years. Its name comes from the Greek word for “club” and the Latin word for “head,” describing its unique shape. There are more than 250 different known species of this fascinating fungus.
I find Cordyceps absolutely fascinating, even though they’re famous for being parasites. What’s truly incredible is how they can essentially take control of a host, like an ant, making it move like a zombie. The fungus forces the host to climb to a high spot, which is actually a clever way to spread its spores and infect more creatures. Honestly, it’s not hard to see why the creators of The Last of Us were so inspired by this bizarre and unsettling process – it’s the stuff of nightmares, but also really cool!
Why Is Ellie Immune in The Last of Us?
Ellie’s existence is remarkable. The discovery that anyone can be immune to the cordyceps infection offers a glimmer of hope for a future beyond the devastation. Her immunity wasn’t something she developed later in life; it happened at birth. While fans had guessed at the reasons for her resistance, the show finally confirmed how it occurred.
Ellie’s mother, Anna, was attacked by an infected creature while giving birth. During the fight, Ellie was born just as Anna was bitten. Anna immediately cut the umbilical cord, but not before the infected touched Ellie. Because the cordyceps fungus had already begun to grow inside Ellie at birth, it mistakenly identifies her as part of itself, rather than a host to be controlled.
When Did Ellie Learn of Her Immunity to the Cordyceps?
Ellie grew up unaware she was infected. She only discovered the truth one night while with her best friend, Riley. Riley had left their boarding school and was about to be moved to Atlanta.
Riley and Ellie shared a fun night together at an old, empty mall, growing closer as friends. Their connection was cut short when they were attacked by an Infected, and both were bitten. They planned to stay together until the infection took hold, but Riley turned faster, leaving Ellie with the heartbreaking choice to end her best friend’s – and possible love interest’s – life.
There Are No Known Side Effects to Ellie’s Immunity
Ellie’s immunity is special, but it doesn’t give her superpowers. All it really means is she won’t turn into one of the infected. She can’t control or even talk to the infected, and she has no connection to the massive fungal network beneath the surface.
Ellie is, in most ways, a typical teenager. The problems caused by her immunity aren’t physical illnesses, but rather how other people treat her. Some might try to exploit her, while others judge or exclude her. This is why she hides the fact that she’s immune. For Ellie, her immunity can actually be a burden – and a risky one at that.
Ellie Disguises Her Bite Mark with a Chemical Burn
Ellie works hard to hide the fact that she’s immune. She typically does this by wearing long sleeves. But between the events of The Last of Us Part I and the present day, she takes a more drastic step: she intentionally burns her bite scar with chemicals.
I’ve noticed how clever Ellie is about covering up her past. The scar on her arm actually looks more like an old burn now, which gives her a simple explanation whenever someone asks about it. She even got a tattoo over the area to really hide the original mark. Honestly, she doesn’t seem to mind that she can’t use the bite mark to prove her immunity anymore, and it’s good to know she has other ways to do so if she ever needs to.
Only a Few People Know of Ellie’s Immunity in The Last of Us
As a total cinema fan, I’ve always been impressed with how well Ellie managed to hide the fact she was infected. It was a closely guarded secret – after she got it, only Marlene and a small group within the Fireflies knew, mostly the scientists working on a cure. Joel and Tess found out when they were tasked with getting her to Salt Lake City, but sadly, Tess didn’t make it out of Boston with them.
Once Joel’s brother, Tommy, and his wife, Maria, discover Ellie’s immunity in Jackson, Wyoming, the information remains largely a secret. Those who originally knew about Ellie are gone, and it’s mostly kept within the Miller family. However, in Season 2, characters like Abby and Dina learn about it, and it’s likely even more people will find out in Season 3.
Ellie Tries and Fails to Cure Someone with Her Blood
Ellie understands how vital her immunity is. When Sam was bitten, she frantically tried to save him by sharing her blood, hoping it would prevent the infection. Sadly, it didn’t work, and Sam still turned. This was a devastating experience for Ellie – she lost a friend and began to question if a cure was even possible.
Even if it didn’t fully succeed, helping Sam brought him comfort during his last moments. The scene highlights this, showing how rare a success like that would have been in medicine. Ellie’s willingness to try, despite the odds, demonstrated her bravery and caring nature.
Ellie Hasn’t Been Able to Spread Her Infection in The Last of Us
Although Ellie carries the cordyceps fungus, she can’t spread it to others. Both the video game and the TV show have confirmed this – she’s been shown kissing people without transmitting the infection.
He died before he had a chance to turn into an infected. Since Ellie seems healthy, the fungus likely isn’t trying to spread because it already has a stable host, keeping it dormant. David probably wouldn’t have turned anyway, but the possibility of infection remains an interesting idea for future stories and games.
The Infected Do Not Recognize Ellie as One of Them
As a huge fan of post-apocalyptic cinema, I’ve seen a lot of shows like The Walking Dead where characters try to blend in with the zombies – you know, covering themselves in guts or wearing zombie skin as a disguise. But what I find so compelling about The Last of Us is that there’s no easy trick like that. The show doesn’t give you a way to just walk among the Infected, which makes the tension and danger feel so much more real.
The Infected generally don’t attack each other, seemingly recognizing members of their own kind. However, they see Ellie as a regular human, which is important for maintaining the tension and danger that defines the series. If they recognized her infection, it would significantly reduce the threats and drama. While Ellie’s infection could evolve to change this, right now she remains vulnerable and at risk whenever she’s near the Infected.
Ellie Can Be (and Has Been) Bitten Multiple Times
The second episode, called “Infected,” took a small turn from the original game’s story. In this episode, Ellie was bitten again. This second bite happened around the same time Tess was infected, allowing Joel and Tess to be certain that Ellie was truly immune.
Everyone wants Ellie to stay safe, because the infected are still dangerous and can easily kill her. Getting bitten too many times could also cause a new, worse mutation, potentially making her turn into one of them. In the game, Ellie is bitten twice, including once while Dina is with her.
Ellie Can Inhale Spores Without Turning in The Last of Us
As a huge fan of The Last of Us, one thing that really struck me in the game is how Joel slowly starts to believe Ellie might actually be immune. Even after Tess dies, he’s still hesitant. But then they stumble into this incredibly creepy, spore-filled subway station, and that’s when things shift. Joel has to wear a gas mask to protect himself from the spores, but Ellie doesn’t need one! It’s a really powerful moment because it confirms what he’s been suspecting – she can’t be bitten again. It’s a visual confirmation that her immunity is real, and it’s brilliantly done.
The show initially differed from the game because the live-action version left out spores, mainly because of how they would realistically function. For gameplay purposes, an airborne fungus made more sense than the story’s original concept, which focused on showcasing Ellie’s immunity as she pursued revenge for Joel’s death.
Detectors Read Ellie’s Infection as Active and Dangerous
Even though Ellie seems healthy and effectively hides her infection, it’s still possible to detect it. FEDRA has sensors that can identify cordyceps, and during the pilot episode, “When You’re Lost in the Darkness,” a FEDRA soldier used one of these sensors to confirm Ellie was infected.
Detection methods aren’t always reliable. In the Jackson community, they use dogs to try and find cordyceps infections. We see this in the episode “Kin,” where Joel and Ellie undergo testing with one of these dogs. Joel fears the test will reveal Ellie’s infection, but he’s relieved when he hears Ellie happily playing with the dog, indicating she’s likely clear.
A Cure Could Potentially Be Made “Using” Ellie
What really makes The Last of Us tick is the hope for a cure. It gives Ellie a reason to keep going, something she desperately needs, and it feels like it could give meaning to all the losses Joel and she have suffered along the way – people like Riley and Sam. When they finally reach the Firefly lab at the hospital, Marlene lays it all out: Ellie has unique receptors that show she’s immune to the cordyceps fungus, and they might be able to extract those receptors and actually create a vaccine.
Because the cordyceps fungus controls the brain, creating a cure would require Ellie’s death. Unable to bear losing her, Joel chooses to save Ellie, effectively sacrificing any chance of a cure and dooming humanity. The repercussions of this decision heavily impact the events of Season 2, and tragically, Joel dies before he and Ellie can rebuild their relationship.
Ellie Might Not Be the Only Person Immune in The Last of Us
So far, Ellie is the only person we know of who can’t get infected. The Fireflies, who are trying to find a cure, haven’t met anyone else like her. Even though there are still millions of people out there, it’s possible others with this immunity exist.
Currently, the story hasn’t hinted at anyone else being immune like Ellie, and their existence is just a guess among fans. It’s possible we’ve already met another immune person without realizing it. However, as the story unfolds, it seems increasingly likely that Ellie isn’t the only one. For now, she’s still unique.
Everything We Know About The Last of Us Season 3 So Far
Season 1 of The Last of Us showed that great TV shows could be made from video games, proving that Arcane‘s success wasn’t a one-time event. However, Season 2 slowed down and didn’t explore the deep, thought-provoking themes as well, which hurt the show’s progress. Viewers are optimistic that Season 3, planned for release in 2027, will bring the show back to its former glory.
Viewers will experience the story from Abby’s perspective and witness her personal growth. While she won’t be featured as prominently in Season 3, Ellie is still determined to confront her, and their encounters are sure to be intense and memorable.
Several actors are taking on expanded roles in The Last of Us, like Spencer Lord, Ariela Barer, and Tai Gabrielle. There have also been some casting changes: Jorge Lendeborg Jr. will now play Manny, previously Danny Ramirez’s character, and Catherine O’Hara’s role as Gail is being recast following her passing. Joining the cast are Patrick Wilson, Jason Ritter, and Clea DuVall, who will portray members of the Seattle Seraphites, a new religious group featured in Season 2.
The script was finished well before filming started in March 2026, and production is expected to wrap up in November. This timeline points to a 2027 release, though it might be towards the end of the year. Fans are especially eager to see how Ellie’s story develops in Season 3, as her unique immunity continues to drive the plot and the search for a cure.
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2026-03-24 02:17