The Last Of Us
In Australia we don't get access to HBO so we miss out on a lot of great online streaming but what we do have that is similar to HBO is Binge and while Australia always gets the worlds seconds because our seasons are different to everyone else. The same can be said about when our films start streaming, for this reason it's what made Australia one of the worst pirate nations on the planet.
Although things are a lot different now and we do get access to things and there isn't much a VPN can't resolve we were fortunate enough to have access to The Last of Us.
image sourceVideo Game Origins
The Last of Us now streaming on HBO and Binge if you're in Australia is a popular video game brought to life on the home screen and I have to admit it's smooth rendition from game to T.V mega series is something that can't be rivalled.
The world is ravaged by a fungus called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis which is known as cordyceps for short which is infecting humans turning them into Zombies as the cordyceps continue to try and spread.
The interesting thing about this concept is that it is not new, cordyceps are real but only currently impact insects by taking over their body and turning them into zombies. Keeping the insect alive long enough in order to grow and bloom.
yes it is real!
So the fungus is real, the condition is real and yes infact the bugs become Zombies and sprout mushrooms and fungi from their bodies. The game took this and applied it to humans as we see in the T.V series. The fungi evolved to be able to survive in humans and much of the world is wiped out and the remainder have no cure.
image sourceMuch like the game, the T.V series follows Joel who is tasked with delivering Ellie to the Fire flys because Ellie appears to be the only Immune human and they need to know how and why she is immune so they can save the human race.
The series has some extremely sad moments that mirror the game so much so as it was as if you were playing it, there wasn't much diversion from the game and even the season finale took scenes from the game and recreated them scene by scene.
The series itself is a piece of art and I binged it all in one sitting as I eagerly wait for season 2.
Can it really happen?
As for the plot line which has everyone on the edge of their seats waiting for a new pandemic, can it happen? well evolution is a thing and at current the fungi do only attack insects but like the T.V series states, there is nothing stopping the Fungi from evolving to attack humans.
Fortunately we're alot larger and our bodies are a lot more complex for a fungi to be able to cause such damage but we are impacted by other Fungi like LSD which eventually runs out of our system.
But one thing the film and game gets wrong is cure, while Fungi infections are challenging to get rid of if a human does get them. they're not entirely untreatable with some really potent medication oh and even blasting them with x-ray's and chemo treatments work to.
Alot of people undergoing Chemo who have toe fungi infections will often state how their fungi disappear. So no, it can't happen but it doesn't mean we shouldn't be cautious of future pandemics. It would still cause significant health issues if it did evolve or mutate to impact humans!