The Last of Us introduces the Seraphites as an unexpected new threat

Warning:  Spoilers ahead for The Last of Us

There are new starts and new threats in the latest episode of HBO’s The Last of Us, and while those who’ve played Naughty Dog’s game series of the same name might think they know where things are going, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are keen to keep us on our toes. As we head into a new era without Pedro Pascal’s Joel Miller (although we know he’ll return), the games continue to be a loose framework of where the series goes next. While the threat of the Washington Liberation Front looms, there’s a whistle from the sidelines as the Seraphites gather their ranks. 

The live-action The Last of Us has never been afraid to mix up the source material with the likes of a new date for Outbreak Day, and in season 2, we’ve already seen the creation of Catherine O’Hara’s Gail, a key scene between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) end up on the cutting room floor, and a much more brutal version of Joel’s death. April 27’s “The Path” was largely taken up by the aftermath of Joel’s death and Ellie setting out to try and track down Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby alongside the WLF. 

Keep an eye out for the Seraphites

Introduced in 2020’s The Last of Us Part II, the Seraphites are a cultish group sometimes known as the Scars due to their distinctive facial markings. Tied to an old-world mentality, they don’t believe in modern technology and tend to live a sheltered lifestyle. They typically communicate through a series of coded whistles, and for gamers, you’ll know hearing those sounds means you should immediately run for cover when playing as Ellie. Things play out similarly in “The Path”, as we’re introduced to a small group of Seraphites who are armed with arrows and hammers. This is in contrast to the WLF, which ends the episode by showing off its impressive arsenal of firearms and tanks as they walk through the streets of Seattle. 

Any mention of the Seraphites can’t forget the Prophet. Following the Cordyceps outbreak, she foresaw visions where the human race could survive by getting back to nature. As her followers grew, the WLF saw the Seraphites as a thorn in its side when trying to return order to Seattle. Having just sacked the city from FEDRA, WLF leader Isaac Dixon ordered the Prophet to be imprisoned. Instead of being unhinged cultists like Dixon’s propaganda would have the WLF Wolves believe, the Prophet was reported to be a well-mannered and calm individual. Seeing the potential of her to disrupt his regime, Dixon had her executed.

How things will play out in the series is sure to be a little different, although we know Jeffrey Wright is returning to play Dixon in live-action. Some originally thought O’Hara would be playing the Prophet, and although that would’ve been a brilliant piece of casting, the fact that she’s mentioned in “The Path” suggests we could see her flashback form. Also, imagine a twist worthy of Game of Thrones where the Prophet didn’t meet her maker a decade prior. If the Prophet makes an appearance, The Last of Us’ impressive record of standout guest stars means any number of big names could take on the challenge of playing her. 

We don’t get to see too much of the Seraphites in episode 3, as Ellie and Dina later come across their slaughtered corpses (women and children included), believing it to be the work of the WLF rather than a disorganised group of raiders or the Infected. Importantly, HBO looks like it’s destined to make them a more sympathetic presence and further solidify Abby and WLF as the real ‘villains’. Video game Ellie slowly learns about the Seraphites through a series of breadcrumbs when in Seattle, whereas the series presents them as victims who are brutally slain by the WLF. The Walking Dead cleverly reminded us that everyone is morally grey and capable of anything when struck by an apocalypse, so we guess Ellie will soon learn that the Seraphites aren’t the allies she might hope them to be. After all, the heavily armed WLF shows the faction isn’t a force to be trifled with.

During the Seattle portion of Part II, Ellie becomes something of a merciless killer who carves her way through many a Seraphite in her quest to find Abby. Even though Ellie from the show is still a ‘hero’, it’ll be interesting to see if they take her character down this route if she learns the Seraphites aren’t as innocent as they seem. Everything coming full-circle through a cycle of violence echoes Joel’s own arc, while Abby inadvertently becomes her own Joel-like parental figure when she takes in two young Seraphites called Lev and Yara. In particular, Lev is a key part of Abby’s arc as the second half of Part II switches perspective to the supposed antagonist.

As we’re warned in “The Path”, this whole eye for an eye mentality will lead to a never-ending cycle of tragedy. With the Seraphites having already faced some painful losses, we’re sure to see what the group can really do as it inevitably seeks revenge against the WLF.