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The Last of Us Season 2 is kicking things off with some intense storytelling, especially with the introduction of a terrifying new infected creature in the very first episode. This addition instantly raises the stakes and keeps viewers on edge.
In the episode, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) head out on patrol with others from the Jackson community. During their trip, they veer off to check out an abandoned market. While exploring, Ellie falls through the ceiling and lands inside the empty store below—only to quickly realize she’s not alone.
Lurking in the shadows is a strange, infected creature. The show builds suspense skillfully, with glimpses of the infected crawling over shelves before Ellie starts quietly tracking it through the store. The tension breaks when Dina shoots the creature, but the danger leaves a lasting impression.
Back at Jackson, Ellie recounts the experience to Tommy and the council. When Tommy asks if she thinks the creature was intelligent, she replies, “I’m not saying it can do math or anything, but it didn’t run at me. It did what we do — took cover, planned, waited, lured me in, stalked.”
According to GamesRadar, this creature is known as a Stalker — a type of infected straight from The Last of Us video games. IGN explains that Stalkers are in an early stage of infection, making them faster, stealthier, and more strategic than other infected types. They tend to ambush their prey, hiding in the shadows and waiting for the perfect moment to strike, which makes them incredibly dangerous and hard to detect.
The introduction of the Stalker sets a dark and suspenseful tone for the season, hinting at even more unpredictable threats to come.