Stalkers: The New Infected of The Last of Us Season 2 Explained

The Last of Us Season 2 started with an episode that unfolds 5 years after Joel rescues Ellie and prevents her from being killed to try to understand her immunity and use her as part of a possible cure. Life seems to be normal for both of us, and Joel‘s main concern is that Ellie is mad at him. Meanwhile, Ellie is determined to prove that she is an adult, capable of defending herself and of helping to protect everyone in Jackson. So, Ellie, interpreted by Bella Ramsey, joins a patrol leaving town to check nearby areas and ensure there is no danger. What the group finds is the body of a bear that was attacked by several of the infected, who appear to have hunted it, but Ellie also makes a discovery when she decides to enter an abandoned building. There, she discovers an infected woman who does not attack her instantly but hides in the shadows, moves stealthily, rounds her, and finally attacks her when she least expects it.

Stalkers: the New Infected in The Last of Us Season 2

The first episode of The Last of Us Season 2 takes place 5 years after Joel rescues Ellie and prevents her from being killed to try to understand her immunity and use her as part of a possible cure for the future. Everything seems to be in order there, and Joel‘s main concern is that Ellie is upset with him. Meanwhile, Ellie is determined to prove that she is a mature adult with the ability to defend yourself and help others. This leads her to join a patrol that leaves town to check nearby areas and make sure there is no danger.

What is on the way are the remains of a bear that was attacked by several of the infected, who appear to have hunted it, but Ellie also makes a discovery when she decides to enter an abandoned building. An infected woman is found who does not attack her instantly but acts stealthily to surprise her at the least expected moment. Later, in the episode titled ‘Future Days’ of The Last of Us, we see Ellie and Dina talking to the people’s council to understand more about the history of this infected woman who seems to be much smarter with her prey than everyone they’ve seen before.

Who are the Stalkers in The Last of Us Season 2?

It must be understood that the infection is advancing and passing through different levels, and one of those levels corresponds to Stalker, which corresponds to the second stage of the infection and occurs after the Runners.

Runners operate on instinct, are fast, attack without strategy, and are motivated by momentum. For their part, the Stalkers are infected and have already been infected for a minimum of 2 weeks with the fungus on their bodies, and they receive their name because they harass. They chase and hide in the dark to attack at the least expected moment. These types of infected people can also be in a kind of resting state, and their evil is activated once they detect the presence of people nearby.

After the Stalkers, we have the Clickers, who are people who have been with the fungus for a year and who are characterized by making a clicking noise. The following are the Bloaters, those slower and have been infected for several years. Then there are the Shamblers, who can launch spores with two functions (burn the skin of their prey and throw more of the cordyceps in the air to spread the infection). Finally, there are the Rat Kings, which were created in one of the Seattle laboratories, and they arise when several of those infected combine to create a single body. So far, we’ve seen a lot of the Runners, Clickers, and even Bloaters, but it seems like The Last of Us Season 2 will show us more about the strategic Stalkers.

The Rise of the Stalkers: A Strategic Evolution in the Chain of Infected

The Stalkers, creatures that debuted in the video game of Naughty Dog, represent an advanced phase among those infected. These beings arise from an infectious process that partially preserves their brain function, giving them cognitive abilities that resemble cunning humans. In the series, they move with caution and premeditation, a marked contrast against Clickers and Runners, who act by instinct or basic perception. The first episode of the new season portrays Ellie and Dina during a routine patrol leading to a chase, where a role-play of prey hunters occurs that intensifies when Ellie discovers that a Stalker is stalking her in an abandoned supermarket.

The Game’s Jump to the Screen: Adaptation and Renewed Tension

The Stalkers‘ transition to the series has made them a narrative pillar. Neil Druckmann, co-creator of adaptation, explained that these creatures are not only smarter, but that their behaviors are designed to enhance dramatic tension. While Stalkers were sporadic and difficult enemies to eliminate in video games, their ability to plan attacks with surprising tactics increases the feeling of risk in the series. This approach explores a more psychological terror, raising questions about the direction of the plot.

Impact on Narrative and Characters: Survival to The Limit

The arrival of the Stalkers not only renews fear of the infected but forces Ellie, Dina, and other characters to reinvent their survival tactics. Facing these enemies requires adapting to a world where the opponent’s intelligence overcomes the known, constantly challenging the outcome of each encounter. Production has made it clear that the presence of these antagonists will be constant, adding layers of complexity to both history and visual experience. These turns promise more tension and suspense in each episode. So, The Last of Us continues to evolve, exploring themes such as fear, adaptation, and intelligence in a setting dominated by increasingly unpredictable threats.

Are Stalkers the Smartest Infected in The Last of Us?

Later, the chapter shows Ellie and Dina talking to the people’s council, whom she explains about this infection who seems to be much smarter than everyone they’ve seen before. In the world of The Last of Us, the infection progresses through different stages, and one of those stages corresponds to what Ellie saw. The infected are not getting smarter, although they are hunting in a group, and that is alarming, but Ellie ran into a stage of infection where there is a higher degree of intelligence. What she saw was a Stalker, which is the second stage of infection, which occurs after Runners.

Runners operate on instinct, are fast, and attack people as part of a horde, albeit without any strategy. Stalkers are people who have had the fungus in their bodies for at least two weeks and get their name because they stalk, chase, and hide in the dark to attack their prey at the right moment. These types of infections can also be in a kind of dormant state and become active once prey passes near them. After the Stakers come the Clickers, who are people who have been infected for a year and who are characterized by making a clicking noise. What follows are the Bloaters, which are slower and have been infected for several years. Then there are the Shamblers, who can launch spores that have two functions, the first is to burn the skin of their prey, and the second is to throw more of the cordyceps on the air to spread the infection (the Jackson pipe scene seems to be an indicator that some Shamblers passed by or might be nearby).

The final stage is the Rat King, it was created in one of the Seattle labs, and it arises when several of the infected combine to create a single, stronger, huge body. For now we’ve seen a lot of runners, clickers, and even bloaters, but this season promises to show more of the Stalkers and other stages of the infected, so it’s a matter of time until they give us a first look at the shamblers, while the Rat King, if it appears, could be part of other seasons.