The smarter infected in The Last of Us could change everything in Season 2

The Last of Us season 2 premiered on HBO and right off the bat, during episode 1 named Future Days, fans catch a glimpse of a new variety of infection, which, unlike others in the show, is much more sophisticated.

With season 1 showcasing a variety of psychotics, including Runners and the terrifying Bloaters, season 2 continues building the narrative with the addition of stealthy, calculating variants known as Stalkers.

This is not simply a new enemy type, but it shows a change in the feel and rhythm of the story. Not only does this add new dimensions of conflict to the evolving plot, but the blend of these elements transforms the already existing infection into something that is much more dangerous than just monsters.

---

The supermarket scene that changed the show's trajectory

Everything starts with a normal patrol. On a scavenging trip Ellie and Dina follow a bloody trail to a supermarket, which, by the way, is full of Easter eggs from The Last of Us Part II video game. That being said, Ellie and Dina encounter and take out an infected in the supermarket's upper floor, a typically run of the mill encounter. But what comes next is much darker.

After this encounter, Ellie falls through the floor and lands on the bottom floor of the supermarket. There, she finds herself in the aisles of the dark store with no other company except for herself. But as she quickly learns, this isn’t true. A cat and mouse game soon unfolds where Ellie finds that she is being stalked more than being charged at and attacked.

This infected doesn’t act like the others. This one is different. Unlike the rest, it doesn’t scream or start sprinting. It lies in wait. It follows Ellie without her even knowing, slow and silent while hatching a plan. Like a human!

Ellie later points out in a council meeting that she considers it “smarter than the others” for these very reasons. Recognition is instant for video game fans, the Stalker - the foe has officially arrived.

---

What are Stalkers in The Last of Us lore?

In the life cycle of the infected, Stalkers are the second stage of infection. Runners are the newly infected; fast and aggressive, while Clickers, with their hardened fungal plates and the ability to echolocate, represent a later stage where sight is lost but toughness increases.

Bloaters, the rare and monstrous final stage, are infrequent in the wild. In a word, they are grossly overweight brutes.

But Stalkers? They’re something in between. Maneuverability and stealth are not lost on them, but instead enhanced by an unsettling amalgam of strategy and instinct.

In The Last of Us: Part II, they’re most famous for their signature ambush attempts where they lurk in the darkest corners and wait for the perfect moment to launch an attack. And they are not devoid of reasoning—far from it, in fact. And that threat is now apparent in the show.

---

Why Stalkers are the worst of the infected

Stalkers are perhaps the most threatening infected with regards to survival. They combine the agility of Runners and the strength of Clickers. This makes them difficult to detect and nearly impossible to kill. Furthermore, unlike Clickers, Stalkers can see.

This allows them to lurk in the shadows until the perfect moment. Unlike Runners, they do not charge forward without thinking; they observe, plan, and only strike when they are certain they will win. In gameplay, they transform the survival horror experience. Instead of players being able to sneak up on foes, the player becomes the prey.

In the TV series, the arrival of Stalkers means that infected can no longer be assumed to give warning in the form of growls or screams. There is now a new type of threat that is quiet, intelligent, and horrifyingly patient.

---

How Stalkers, the smarter infected could reshape season 2’s narrative?

Incorporating Stalkers is not merely about adding to the range of variants. It’s about heightening terror. The first season of The Last of Us had woven an intricate tapestry of primal feelings of anger, emotional storytelling, and frightening action since its inception. However, season two’s attention on Stalkers shows a commitment towards the overarching, perpetual threat that marked the video game, and bringing it to center stage.

In season 1, a large part of the audience was disappointed with the portrayal of the infected. Their concerns have been addressed with the Stalkers introduction. They make every dark corridor, every abandoned structure, and every pause a lot more perilous.

Provided that the show intends to follow the game’s narrative, we can expect more horrifying set pieces that include Ellie slinking through an office building shrouded in darkness and brimming with Stalkers or Abby traversing a sunken hotel infested with wall-mounted infected that spring out unannounced.

Adding to the threat and horror, the existence of “intelligent” infected will invite an interesting set of problems regarding the Cordyceps infection. Could the virus be evolving? Are some infected retaining too many human features? And what does this entail for Ellie who is already an outcast because of her immunity?

---

What lies ahead: More than just survival

The Stalker’s introduction serves as an excellent reminder that The Last of Us is more than a post-apocalyptic drama. It is psychological horror at its best. These more advanced infected elevate the terrors within the show, pushing it towards more unsettling territory and blurring the lines between man and monster.

After quite some time, the infected will most likely be back in the limelight but this time not just as the ‘obstacles’ but as evolving risks that put all survivors' knowledge to the test and their lives at greater risk than before. With the addition of new characters such as Kat, who will deepen Ellie’s narrative, the intertwining of emotions and horrific elements is bound to be unpredictable.

Season Two is still in its infancy, but one thing is clear: the changes are coming, and fast.