Ellie’s Tattoo in The Last of Us Season 2 Explained

Summary

• Ellie’s iconic tattoo will play a pivotal role in
  The Last of Us
  season 2.
• Ellie’s immunity to infection sets her apart in the dangerous world of the series, as evidenced by the tattoo covering her bite mark.
• The fern and moth tattoo on Ellie’s arm has both practical and symbolic meaning, tied to her character’s narrative.

Based on early footage from the show’s second season, Ellie’s iconic tattoo will appear in the HBO adaptation The Last of UsPlayed by Bella Ramsey in the series, Ellie is more of a hardened survivor in The Last of Us season 2The show is expected to follow the general narrative of the second game, with Ellie and Joel (Pedro Pascal) settling into the Jackson community alongside Joel’s brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) in the wake of The Last of Us the heartbreaking finale of season 1. Throughout the 9-episode season, Joel accompanies Ellie to a Firefly hospital in Salt Lake City.

When one of the Firefly leaders, Marlene (Merle Dandridge), discovers that Ellie is immune to the Cordyceps fungal infection she caused The Last of Us‘ devastating pandemic, wants a Firefly doctor to study Ellie’s brain and find a cure. However, Marlene doesn’t say that the procedure will kill Ellie. Unwilling to let the Fireflies kill his daughter who is acting as a double, Joel slaughters everyone involved. Although Joel initially lies to spare Ellie, The truth about the hospital accident sets the stage for Ellie’s story in The Last of Us 2 —and it even ties into the meaning of her tattoo.

Ellie’s tattoo in The Last of Us Part 2 covers her bite mark

Ellie’s ex-girlfriend is a tattoo artist who lives in Jackson

Although they have not been officially released, several The Last of Us Season 2 set photos have confirmed that Ramsey’s Ellie will be donning the character’s iconic arm tattoo in the show’s second season. While she isn’t featured prominently in any of the game’s flashbacks, The Last of Us – Part 2 provides some insight into how — and why — Ellie got the tattoo. Ellie’s ex-girlfriend, Cat is a Jackson tattoo artist who designed Ellie’s fern and moth tattooThe substantial piece covers most of Ellie’s right forearm, and for good reason: that’s where Ellie’s bite mark is located.

Ellie’s immunity sets her apart in the world of
The Last of Us
which can be incredibly dangerous.

In most cases, a bite mark from a zombie-like creature, ravaged by Cordyceps, is a death sentence. In episode 7 of The Last of Ustitled “Left Behind,” Ellie and her friend-turned-crush, Riley (Emmy Award-winning actor Storm Reid) are bitten by an Infected. While Riley doesn’t make it, Ellie survives the entire ordeal without turning into one of the series’ bloodthirsty creatures. Ellie’s immunity sets her apart in the world of The Last of Uswhich can be incredibly dangerous. Fern and moth tattoo covers Ellie’s telltale bite markeliminating the need for long sleeves or bandages.

Why Ellie’s Tattoo Story in The Last of Us Season 2 Matters

Ellie’s fern tattoo has a practical purpose

In addition to being an iconic aspect of the character, Ellie’s tattoo serves several practical purposes. Not only do the fern and moth images hide her bite mark from those she doesn’t want to know (or, in the case of Dina (Isabela Merced), isn’t yet comfortable telling), the tattoo is a point of reference in The Last of Us – Part 2In the sequel’s flashbacks, which take place immediately after the end of the first season, Ellie only uses a bandage to hide the bite, but, as The Last of Us‘ As the timeline progresses, Ellie’s tattoo is in various stages of completion.

[Early] Season 2 footage suggests it will tell the story of… how Ellie got her tattoo and, perhaps, why she chose the fern and moth images.

It remains to be seen whether Ellie’s tattoo update will belie the popularity ELEPHANT theories regarding the order of events in season two. In particular, the second game is not told in a linear fashion, and early previews suggest that HBO’s adaptation will also confuse the story’s chronology. All of this to say that Ellie’s tattoo and her appearance have ties to The Last of Us‘narrative continuityBetter yet, early footage from season two suggests it will tell The Last of Us“An untold story” about how Ellie got her tattoo and, perhaps, why she chose the image of the fern and the moth.

The Real Meaning of Ellie’s Tattoo, Explained

Ellie’s tattoo has a deeply symbolic meaning in The Last of Us 2

In addition to its practical purposes, Ellie’s tattoo is also rich in symbolism. The fern has many meanings across cultures, but some common associations include new life and beginnings, good luck, and protection. Of course, the latter two are tied to the fact that Ellie is extremely lucky: staring down an almost certain end, she has not become one of the Infected. In many ways, the bite mark suggests a whole new trajectory for Ellie’s life. If she had a choice in the hospital, Ellie might even have ushered in a new beginning for the wider world with that bite mark covered by the tattoo..

Moths are often considered the symbol of transformations…

Another key element of Ellie’s tattoo is the moth, which rests at the base of the fern. Like butterflies, moths are often seen as symbols of transformation, although they have a darker, more mysterious feel. Moths are also linked to the need for disguise. Like a moth, Ellie tries to blend in and hide from unwanted attention by covering her bite mark with a tattoo.. Clearly, Ellie’s tattoo is a crucial part of her character design. Both practical and symbolic, the tattoo will play a substantial part in The Last of Us season 2.

The Last of Us Season 1 is available to stream on Max.