The following article contains spoilers for Episode 3 of The Last of Us.
The Last of Usis back with another interesting episode, and several hidden details that keen-eyed fans of the game will be able to spot. This week saw the series take a different path and explore the backstory of one of the game’s most crucial supporting characters. But, even though the story mainly focused on Bill, a survivalist who has managed to create an entire base in an abandoned city, the episode has several callbacks to the game and original plot.
This week’s episode ofThe Last of Usdoes not include a lot of action, and is in fact a standalone hour-longjourney of Bill and Frank’s lovestory. But, that doesn’t mean that Joel and Ellie are forgotten. Their story moves forward and the subtle hints and Easter eggs only makes things more interesting for hardcore fans to watch.
RELATED:The Last of Us: What Is the Song in Episode 3?
Every week, fans try to spot the various Easter eggs in the episodes. From theMortal Kombat 2arcade to Bill’s iconic blue and white truck,Episode 3 ofThe Last of Usbrings in several Easter eggs and references to the original game material.
The arcade
Towards the beginning of the episode, Joel and Ellie arrive at an abandoned store, where the former has stashed some supplies. While Joel is searching, Ellie comes across an arcade ofMortal Kombat 2. “I had a friend who knew everything about this game,” says Ellie. This was a reference toThe Last of Us: Left Behindwhere Ellie and Riley come across an abandoned arcade area at the mall. Ellie pretends to play a game called “The Turning,” which has a fight similar toMortal Kombat. Her character, who Riley names Angel Knives, is an “unstoppable, claw-wielding, yet drop-dead gorgeous” assassin.
The crashed plane
Joel’s shirt
Towards the end of the episode, both Joel and Ellie find clothes in Bill and Frank’s home and change. Theshirt that Joel chooses to wearlooks almost identical to the one the character wears in the game. Keen-eyed fans will also notice that it is the same shirt that Frank wears during the scene where he and his partner Bill are discussing some changes in their community, including inviting some friends over for a meal.
Ellie’s t-shirt
Similar to Joel’s shirt, Ellie wears theexact replica of the t-shirtthat the character is seen wearing in the game. A red t-shirt with an image of coconut trees located on a beach, with a setting sun in the background.
The rules
Just before leaving Bill and Frank’s home, Joel lays down the rules for Ellie to follow for the rest of their journey. “You don’t bring up Tess ever,” he begins, and goes on to tell her that she needs to keep her “condition” a secret and follow everything he says. “What you say goes,” confirms Ellie. The scene plays out word-for-word inThe Last of Usgameand Joel sets the exact same rules before heading out West, the only difference is that it doesn’t occur in Bill’s home, but out in the open instead.
Bill’s truck
Bill’s Chevrolet S-10, a pickup truck, plays a relevant role inThe Last of Usgame. Players use it to escape from a few infected while grabbing the car battery that Joel is looking for. The truck in the series looks identical to the one in the game, and clearly a lot of thought has been put into bringing the different props and accessories to life in the adaptation.
The window in the final shot
This is one that fans ofThe Last of Usgameswill instantly recognize. The menu screen in the first game is a very similar shot of a window, with light filtering through, overgrown shrubs climbing the walls, and the curtains moving slightly with the breeze. Director Peter Hoar has confirmed since the episode released that the scene was an intentional callback to the game. The shot is also quite similar to the final shot ofThe Last of Us Part IIwhere the camera focuses on an open window, through which Ellie is seen walking away. The series replaces that with Joel and Ellie driving away in Bill’s truck.
The Last of Usis streaming on HBO Max.
More:The Last of Us Fan Recreates Scene Featuring Joel, Ellie, and Tommy Using LEGOs
