10 Things You Somehow Missed In The Last Of Us

Giraffes hold particular significance within The Last of Us' desolating universe - symbolizing hope, innocence and life's inherent ability to keep trucking on in the face of seemingly impossible odds.

The sequence in which Ellie and Joel find giraffes in Salt Lake City is transplanted into HBO's adaptation in what is practically a shot for shot remake of the scene in the games. The exquisite attention to detail exhibited by the show runners highlights the seminal nature of the moment within the story.

While it would have been exceedingly hard to miss a literal herd of enormous long necked mammals lumbering into view on-screen, the symbolism foreshadowing the sequence can be seen throughout HBO's adaptation - if one knows what they're looking for. A giraffe plush toy is visible on the ground in a throwaway instance in Episode 2, while a poster featuring the same animal can be seen on the wall in Ellie's room in Episode 6.

It's also worth noting that the plush toys aren't solely included for the purpose of foretelling the scene in Salt Lake City. Giraffe plush toys are one of Naughty Dog's more prevalent in-game Easter Eggs and can be found scattered in various locations across both chapters of The Last of Us - a notable example can be seen in the QZ's opening scenes where a young girl clutches her stuffed animal to her.