10 Things You Somehow Missed In The Last Of Us

9. Tess' Lighter

The Last Of Us Ellie Gun
HBO

While anyone familiar with Tess' tragic demise from the game series likely knew she wasn't long for HBO's adaptation, it didn't soften the blow of losing the excellent Anna Torv just two short episodes into the first season.

The live action version of events sees the death of Joel's partner in crime differ somewhat from the way her video-game counterpart goes out. Both iterations go down swinging in a heroic last stand after Tess' shocking reveal that she has already been infected with the cordyceps virus, but it's hard to argue that HBO give her a decidedly more dignified final bow.

The show's take depicts Tess wiping out hordes of infected by igniting drums of gasoline as a defiant final act, as opposed to the ignominious fate of being gunned down by FEDRA soldiers. While the majority of the audience's attention was likely on the heartbreaking events unfolding before them, Mazin and Druckmann chose the perfect moment for one of their finest Easter Eggs.

In this case, it's not enough to be an eagle eyed observer to spot it - Naughty Dog fanatic credentials are required. The appearance of the zippo used by Tess to spark the explosion and her own mercy killing is actually based on the lighter from the game developer's flagship series, Uncharted. The item in question belongs to protagonist Nathan Drake's brother Sam, appearing prominently in the franchise's fourth instalment.

Contributor

Law graduate with a newly rediscovered passion for writing, mad about film, television, gaming and MMA. Can usually be found having some delightful manner of violence being inflicted upon him or playing with his golden retriever.