The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 2 Unveils Cordyceps’ Terrifying Evolution: What It Teaches Us

The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 2, titled “Through The Valley,” delivers a gut-wrenching chapter in HBO’s post-apocalyptic saga, pulling back the curtain on the Cordyceps brain infection’s chilling new traits.

Airing on April 20, 2025, this episode not only breaks hearts with its emotional weight but also deepens our understanding of the fungal menace that has ravaged humanity.

From tactical intelligence to hive-mind coordination, the Cordyceps in this episode emerges as a more cunning predator than ever before. Let’s explore what this episode reveals about the nature of this apocalyptic fungus.

How Does Cordyceps Show Tactical Intelligence in The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 2?

In The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 2, the Cordyceps infection takes a horrifying leap forward, displaying tactical behavior that elevates its threat. Ellie encounters a Stalker, a second-stage infected, that lures her into a vulnerable position with calculated precision.

As she explains to Maria, this Stalker wasn’t “book smart” but showed strategic cunning, leading her into a trap. This suggests the fungus is developing rudimentary intelligence, a stark contrast to the mindless aggression seen in Season 1.

This shift aligns with fan reactions on X, where users like @craig_g753 noted the infection’s ability to “think” tactically, making it “1000x more terrifying.” Such behavior implies the Cordyceps is adapting to human resistance, potentially learning from encounters to refine its hunting strategies.

Why Are Stalkers So Dangerous in This Episode?

Stalkers, introduced in The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 2, combine the agility of Runners with the ferocity of Clickers, making them uniquely lethal. The episode showcases their enhanced threat as they infiltrate Jackson, exploiting weaknesses in the settlement’s defenses.

Unlike the game, where Stalkers were a secondary concern, the show portrays them as a genuine danger, capable of coordinated attacks. Their presence in the pipes, as seen in Episode 1, foreshadows the horde that storms Jackson in this episode.

The Stalkers’ ability to operate with intent—luring prey and exploiting vulnerabilities—hints at a fungal evolution that could outsmart human settlements. This development raises questions about whether the infected retain some consciousness, a topic debated in the games and now amplified in the series.

How Does the Hive-Mind Nature of Cordyceps Impact Jackson?

The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 2 underscores the Cordyceps’ hive-mind connectivity, a trait introduced in Season 1 but expanded here. The fungal tendrils in Jackson’s pipes, first glimpsed in Episode 1, act as a network, transmitting signals to nearby infected. This connectivity draws a massive horde to the settlement, overwhelming its defenses. Posts on X, such as @PortalTLOU’s, predicted this attack, noting the tendrils’ role in attracting the infected.

This hive-mind capability means disturbing one patch of Cordyceps can awaken dozens of infected miles away, as seen when Ellie’s encounter with a Stalker triggers a larger assault. The episode reveals the fungus’s relentless drive to spread, using its interconnected network to coordinate attacks, making safe havens like Jackson increasingly untenable.

What Does This Episode Suggest About Cordyceps’ Long-Term Threat?

The revelations in The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 2 paint a grim picture of Cordyceps as an unstoppable force. The fungus’s growing intelligence and hive-mind coordination suggest it could outcompete humanity, even in fortified settlements. The episode’s depiction of Jackson’s fall—despite its robust defenses—echoes the showrunners’ intent to portray the infection as an existential threat.

Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have leaned into this evolution, making the infected more horrific than in the games.

The episode also hints at the fungus’s adaptability, potentially developing new stages of infection. If Cordyceps can evolve tactical instincts, as seen with the Stalkers, it may continue to counter human strategies, rendering long-term survival increasingly precarious. This aligns with the series’ theme that nature, not humanity, is the apex predator.

Is There Hope Against Cordyceps After This Episode?

The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 2 offers little optimism for defeating Cordyceps. Ellie’s immunity, a focal point of Season 1, is briefly mentioned, but the episode shifts focus to the immediate threat of the infected.

The lack of a cure, emphasized by Dr. Ratna in Season 1, looms large, and the fungus’s evolution in this episode suggests it may be impossible to eradicate.

However, the episode’s emotional core—Joel and Ellie’s bond—hints at hope through human resilience. While the Cordyceps grows smarter, humanity’s capacity for connection and sacrifice remains a counterpoint, though the physical battle against the fungus seems increasingly futile.

Some Closing Thoughts:

The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 2 redefines the Cordyceps brain infection as a cunning, interconnected, and evolving threat, transforming it from a mindless plague into a strategic predator. The episode’s portrayal of Stalkers, hive-mind coordination, and Jackson’s downfall underscores the fungus’s relentless drive to dominate.

As Joel and Ellie face an uncertain future, the lessons from this episode linger: Cordyceps is not just a disease but a force of nature that may outlast humanity.

Tune in to HBO and Max for new episodes Sundays at 9 PM EST to see how this terrifying saga unfolds.