TV Reality Doesn’t Add Up Sometimes
The world of television is no stranger to bizarre moments—but The Last of Us takes things to a whole new level. And once you spot them, you just can't unsee them. Spoilers ahead!
The Mall In Season One Still Working
Functioning lights, escalators, and arcade machines in a decades-old abandoned mall? That’s the kind of convenience The Last of Us gives Ellie and Riley during their emotional adventure. The electricity mysteriously hums to life without backup generators or routine maintenance. Seriously, what are the odds?
The Last of Us | Season 1 Episode 7 | Mall Escalator Scene | 4K by kim
Gasoline Still Functioning After 20 Years
Start your engines—wait, how? In The Last of Us, gas somehow remains usable after two decades, defying basic chemistry. In reality, untreated gasoline degrades within a year or two, but Joel revs up trucks mysteriously like he topped them off yesterday.
The Last of Us | Inside the Episode - 4 | Max by Max
Weapons Stay Flawless Like Apocalypse-Grade Tech
Joel and Ellie never oil a hinge or sharpen a blade, but every weapon performs flawlessly. In a gritty survival world, you'd expect busted triggers or worn edges, right? But these tools ignore time and neglect. Realism takes a raincheck here, handing players that sweet, unbreakable gear fantasy.
Ellie’s Immunity Being A One-Time Phenomenon
Ellie’s immunity to the cordyceps virus has never been replicated or studied. She gets bitten, doesn’t turn, and suddenly she’s the chosen one. The show hints at a rare mutation but never dives deeper. That’s a lot to hang on one teen, primarily when no other case exists.
Ellie’s Best Moments From Season 1 | The Last of Us | Max, Max
The Fireflies's Unlimited Medical Supplies
Bandages, antibiotics, surgical tools—where do they actually come from? The Fireflies operate in a wrecked world without supply chains or visible trade. Yet somehow, they’re prepped for full-on brain surgery like it's routine. It’s never explained, just accepted. That’s the weird part.
The Last of Us | Joel Murders The Fireflies by Sony Pictures Television
Clickers Not Attacking Despite Loud Noises
Clickers hear everything, so why do they sometimes react inconsistently to loud noises, such as gunfire in certain scenes (e.g., Episode 6)? Their echolocation-based aggression is incredible and terrifying...when it is working. Maybe the fungus has selective hearing?
Clicker Scene | The Last of Us (Pedro Pascal) by Crime City
The Cordyceps Infection Spreading Through Flour, But Not Other Foods
This one's a yeast infection joke waiting to happen. Kidding aside, The Last of Us cleverly suggests the infection spreads via flour. Jakarta’s flour factory, Joel’s missed pancake—remember that? But why flour and not, say, rice or milk or processed snacks? The infection’s path feels oddly restricted.
Every Time Joel & Sarah Avoided The Cordyceps Infection In The Last Of Us by BrainPilot
Joel’s Superhuman Recovery From A Near-Fatal Injury
One day, he’s impaled on a metal rod; the next, he’s storming a hospital. That’s Joel for you, a human tank powered by grit and a little penicillin magic. His injuries would ground most people for months, but not Joel. The guy heals in a montage that skips recovery.
The Lack Of Large-Scale Military Presence In Quarantine Zones
Where’s the cavalry? FEDRA controls the Quarantine Zones, yet their grip feels loose and inconsistent. In Boston, their patrols look menacing, but walk a mile out and it’s crickets. No drones, no checkpoints past city walls. It’s like they only exist where the plot needs tension.
The Last of Us | Season 2 Episode 4 | Isaac Kills FEDRA Squad and Joins The WLF (Wolves) | 4K by kim
Ellie’s Hair Always Looking Perfect
Let’s face it: apocalypse haircare shouldn’t be this flawless. Ellie spends days trekking through rain, muck, and monster guts, but her hair stays camera-ready: miraculously bouncy with volume. Is there a secret shampoo stash somewhere in Jackson? Or is the cordyceps also a dry shampoo?
The Infected Not Starving Despite No Food Source
Biology 101: Living things need food. But it seems science in The Last of Us flips the script. The infected shuffle endlessly through cities with no meals in sight. How do they survive? Some squat in corners, frozen for years, yet leap out like caffeinated zombies when disturbed.
The Last of Us Season 2 | Official Trailer | Max by Max
The Lack Of Any Functioning Cars Outside Of Key Plot Moments
Suddenly, a working truck appears...only to vanish into the storytelling fog. Throughout the series, cars litter the terrain as rusted and abandoned. However, when Joel or Ellie needs a quick getaway, voila, one works. Hotwire, hop in, dust a few things, and hit the road.
The Last of Us | Season 1 Episode 7 | Mall Escalator Scene | 4K by kim
The Fireflies’s Ability To Operate Without A Clear Leadership Structure
While Marlene is implied to be a leader (e.g., Episode 9), the show does not explain the Fireflies’s leadership hierarchy or communication systems. Their ability to maintain coordinated operations across multiple cities is left unexplained, making such coordination seem implausible to viewers.
The Last Of Us | The Fireflies Find Ellie And Joel | Cinema Quest by Cinema Ques
Joel And Ellie Never Running Out Of Ammunition
Bullets fly like confetti here, but we never see the reloading scenes, looting ammo caches, or rationing. Joel keeps pulling rounds from thin air like a post-apocalyptic magician. Even Ellie, a teen with no training, rarely runs dry. Where does it all come from? Seems like video game logic.
The Absence Of Wild Animals Taking Over Cities
In a world like this, you’d expect to see deer wandering highways or bears roaming through the ruins of Boston and Salt Lake City. Instead, wildlife barely shows up—aside from one memorable giraffe and a few birds. After twenty years without people, animals should be taking over.
The Lack Of Any New Survivors Being Born With Immunity
Ellie is immune and, apparently, the only one. But after more than two decades of births and natural mutations, it’s strange that no other child, teen, or adult shares her rare defense. With time and biology at play, the odds of her being the sole exception feel astronomically slim.
The Last of Us | Official Trailer | Max by Max
The Infected Not Evolving Beyond Their Initial Forms
Time changes everything except fungal monsters, apparently. Twenty years pass, and the infected remain stuck in Clicker, Runner, and Bloater form. It’s like they hit evolutionary pause. Nature constantly adapts, especially under pressure. So, where are the faster, stronger strains?
The Last of Us | Season 2 Episode 2 | Tommy Kills Bloater | 4K by kim
The Complete Absence Of Any Other Global Response To The Outbreak
Pandemic hits. Civilization collapses. But what about the rest of the world? The Last of Us zeroes in on America, ignoring any international voice, relief mission, or foreign broadcast. Surely, someone tried something. Other countries would’ve responded with quarantines, maybe research.
The Lack Of Any Functional Government Outside Of FEDRA
FEDRA is the only big player, and even they seem to be phoning it in. Aside from the totalitarian grit in a few cities, there is no sign of rival governments or emerging leadership. In places like Jackson, there’s structure, but not an official, federated structure.
The Last of Us | Season 2 Episode 4 | Isaac Kills FEDRA Squad and Joins The WLF (Wolves) | 4K by kim
Ellie’s Ability To Read Despite Scarce Formal Education Systems
Ellie’s fluent literacy, including reading comics and recognizing sarcasm (Episode 7), is notable given her QZ upbringing, where structured education was likely minimal, though some FEDRA schooling is implied (Episode 1). Books are scarce, teachers scarcer, but she reads fluently, recognizes sarcasm, and even puns!
Ellie’s Best Moments From Season 1 | The Last of Us | Max by Max
The Fireflies’s Ability To Maintain Electricity In Their Hideouts
Somehow, the Fireflies consistently illuminate their underground bases and secret labs with what seems like endless electricity. You’ll never hear generators buzz in the background, and no solar panels are in sight. Their ability to light up a base while FEDRA fumbles through the dark remains unexplained.
The Last Of Us | The Fireflies Find Ellie And Joel | Cinema Quest by Cinema Quest
Joel’s Ability To Travel Long Distances Without Running Out Of Supplies
From Boston to Salt Lake City, Joel treks across the US with minimal gear and a whole lot of luck. Think about it: no visible maps, barely any food, no detailed planning, and he always arrives where he needs to. It’s like a road trip sponsored by narrative magic.
The Lack Of Any Realistic Weather Challenges Affecting Survivors
Sure, there's the occasional flurry or damp moment, but the kind of storms that should derail supply lines or freeze unprepared survivors never show up. Weather should matter in survival, yet characters barely dress for it, and somehow, the forecast always cuts them a break.
The Last of Us | Official Trailer | Max by Max
The Infected Never Attacking Each Other
Hundreds of infected roam the streets, but none seem to turn on one another. That’s odd, right? No alpha struggles or even a stray bite out of boredom. Most virus-driven creatures devolve into cannibalistic chaos. These guys wait politely for humans to show up.
Creating the Clickers | The Last of Us | Max by Max
The Lack Of Any Scientific Effort To Study The Infection Further
Ellie’s immunity should’ve sparked a flurry of scientific obsession. But after one failed surgery setup, everyone just gives up. Instead, the Fireflies run a single lab, take one shot, and shelve humankind's whole future. Ask yourself—would humanity really just stop trying?
