Based on the video game series of the same name, The Last of Us is a new post-apocalyptic series on HBO. There is a cast of interesting characters, but the main plot follows Joel and Ellie as they travel through the dangerous world to reach a safe location for the immune Ellie.

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So far, HBO's The Last of Us has been a huge success. The fungus that infected the majority of the population is fast-spreading and changes as the infection mutates. The unique concept and intricate world-building details in The Last of Us has created a fascinating post-apocalyptic setting that fits the sobering state of the world.

10 FEDRA Is Corrupt

A FEDRA curfew sign on a wall in HBO's The Last of Us

Some of the best HBO shows feature a corrupt governing system. In The Last of Us, this governing system is FEDRA. In a dangerous post-apocalyptic world, it makes sense that the people in power would be military people with harsh tactics.

This is not only a realistic addition to The Last of Us' world, but it's a plot device that's used to build tension. When Ellie, Joel, and Tess have to go on their mission, they can't just walk out of the FEDRA city compound. Instead, they have to sneak out, risking running into the armed men who patrol the grounds.

9 The Military Do Harm

Ellie and Joel in The Last of Us

A military presence is commonly seen in apocalyptic shows and movies. However, they're rarely looked upon in a positive light. The Last of Us sticks with this popular trope by portraying military personnel as dangerous and corrupt.

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When Ellie and Joel are traveling to Bill's compound in a remote Massachusetts town, the audience learns that the military did terrible things to people at the beginning of the outbreak. Not only did they force people to go where they were told, but they killed people if they did not have a place to bring the survivors. Though the reasoning behind this was to reduce the spread of the virus, it clearly makes the military more villainous than heroic.

8 Fireflies Are Vigilantes

The Fireflies in The Last of Us

With every corrupt governing system comes a group of rebels. The show also follows this popular trope by establishing the Fireflies, a group adapted from video games. Though the Fireflies seem to have good intentions, they aren't just seen as saviors. Instead, they're dangerous people who will do whatever it takes to make their cause known.

One thing fans are hoping to see in The Last of Us is the origin of the Fireflies. Though they played a catalyst role in getting Joel and Ellie together early on, the group hasn't been seen much since. As an important aspect of the games, audiences expect them to be more fleshed out as the story progresses.

7 Serene Abandoned Towns

Joel reads Bill's suicide note in episode 3 of HBO's The Last of Us

At the beginning of The Last of Us, viewers see the city that's controlled by FEDRA. This authoritative presence creates morally gray characters who have to live a life of crime and secrecy during the hardship. As such, the quiet Massachusetts town where Bill and Frank lived was a stark comparison to city life.

Though a threat is more impending on a group in a more rural area, The Last of Us clearly draws a line between the dangerous city and rural life. While danger looms all over the world, the rural settings are far more appealing. These locations show that it's possible to live a comfortable life away from civilization.

6 Ruined Cities

The final scene in The Last of Us Ep. 1: The city decaying and collapsing in on itself

FEDRA and other organizations in the new world have zoned off safe areas of cities where people can live in relative safety. However, the outskirts of these places, not inhabited by the armed people who managed to survive the outbreak, have been left to fall in ruins. As such, nature has taken over these once-busy settings.

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These ruined cities give The Last of Us some beautiful locations. The nature covering the setting creates a calm atmosphere. However, the fallen buildings, crashed vehicles and planes, and ransacked pieces of history remind the viewer that the world fell into chaos and was then left to rot.

5 Survivalists

Nick Offerman as Bill in The Last of Us

In every apocalyptic world, it seems there's an unspoken rule that there must be at least one character who was waiting for the end of the world all along. Though survivalists are often seen as "paranoid," the joke seems to be on those who are unprepared.

Bill was prepared for the apocalypse even before it happened. Bill is one of the most impressive characters, as he's fully prepared with everything he could need to survive on his own without the luxuries of the modern world. These characters are almost always a welcome inclusion and give the audience someone to root for.

4 The Infected

Close up of a monster infected with Cordyceps on The Last of Us

The Last of Us is already one of the best zombie shows. While zombie series come with many overdone horror tropes, the outbreak in this world is unlike any other post-apocalyptic world. Instead of an inescapable virus, the fungus in The Last of Us has the potential to be studied and understood.

There are different stages of the infected in The Last of Us, giving the characters more threats to learn about and fight against. This adds more suspense and intrigue to the show and makes viewers curious to learn more about the mysterious fungus.

3 Hardened Characters

Ellie curls on the ground in The Last of Us

A crisis often gives characters a reason to become standoffish, hardened, and less trusting. Joel seemed to get more withdrawn following the end of the world and the loss of his daughter. However, in this world, more people seem to have harsher personalities than not.

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Given the state of the world, this character trait isn't unusual - it outlines how this new world has affected people emotionally. This aspect of the world is highlighted through Ellie's character, who was raised in a military school and appears more mature than she should be for her age. The Last of Us didn't force any humor into the series by including amusing or happy-go-lucky characters, which helps viewers realize the severity of the outbreak.

2 Complex Organized Groups

Kathleen in The Last of Us with her men behind her, looking upset.

Though the Fireflies are a key group within the storyline, they're not the only group who is against the governing system of FEDRA. The latest episode featured a new group that is led by the ruthless Kathleen, who shows she isn't afraid to kill when she murders her family's doctor.

When Joel and Ellie accidentally stumble upon some of their soldiers, this group assumes they're related to FEDRA and are determined to hunt them down and make them pay for the deaths of their men. While this likely won't be the last plot twist in The Last of Us, it brings up yet another threat within their dangerous world.

1 Traveling By Foot

A hunter ambushes Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us

One small but important aspect of this world is how the characters travel. 20 years after the outbreak, it would make sense that parts to repair vehicles would be harder to come by. Therefore, Ellie and Joel often end up having to travel by foot.

Finding Bill's truck was a lucky break because the survivalist was so well-prepared. However, now that the truck has been destroyed, it's likely going to be difficult for the duo to find another vehicle. Having to travel by foot seems more realistic for two people who don't have access to as much as the governing system does.

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