"Every path has a price."
The Last of Us - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
Many voice actors from the original game make cameo appearances in the show.
This serves as a respectful tribute to the source material. Troy Baker (the original Joel) appears as James, a member of David's cannibal group. Ashley Johnson (the original Ellie) has a pivotal role as Ellie's mother, Anna, in a flashback. Jeffrey Pierce (the original Tommy) plays Perry, Kathleen's second-in-command in Kansas City. Laura Bailey (Abby in Part II) also appears as one of the nurses in the operating room.
Ellie and Joel's outfits are nearly identical to their video game counterparts.
This is a direct visual nod to the game for fans. After they leave Bill and Frank's, Ellie changes into her iconic red t-shirt with a palm tree graphic, worn over a long-sleeved shirt. Joel also dons his signature green plaid button-down shirt, both of which are the primary outfits for the characters throughout the first game.
A giraffe plush toy is visible in an early episode.
In Episode 2, a dusty giraffe plushie can be seen under a car tire. This is a subtle piece of foreshadowing for the iconic and hopeful live giraffe encounter that Joel and Ellie have in the Season 1 finale, one of the most beloved moments from the game.
Tess's lighter is a reference to another Naughty Dog game.
The lighter Tess uses in Episode 2 is modeled after one used by the character Sam Drake in "Uncharted 4: A Thief's End," another blockbuster video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog, the creators of "The Last of Us."
The fictional movie "Curtis and the Viper 2" is mentioned.
In the first episode, Sarah picks up a DVD of this fictional movie. In the video game "The Last of Us Part II," this movie holds emotional significance for Joel and Ellie, and its inclusion here is a deep-cut reference for fans that hints at their future relationship.