The Hidden Gem in \’The Last of Us\’ Season 2 Premiere: A Cameo for Die-Hard Fans

This article contains

spoilers

For the launch of \”The Last of Us\” season 2.

\”The Last of Us\” adopts an intriguing method regarding video game adaptations. Generally speaking,
The show feels like an almost identical adaptation of the video game with the same title.
Directed by Cruce Straley and Neil Druckmann and developed by Naughty Dog Studios. The series surprises viewers periodically with unconventional episodes, such as those focusing on providing background stories for less prominent characters, which many players might overlook due to their subtle nature, or entirely new preludes that depict the origins of the Cordyceps fungal infection overseas.

Regarding meta-references to the games, \”The Last Of Us\” strikes an excellent balance between acknowledging the audience with subtle nods and genuinely honoring those who contributed to making the game. Consider
the choice of Ashley Johnson to portray Ellie\’s mother,
A delightful cameo that proves effective across multiple dimensions thanks to Johnson’s depiction of Ellie from the video games—meanwhile, Joel’s first performer, Troy Baker, was assigned the role of the chief aide to a cannibalistic murderer. On a meta-level, selecting the original actress for Ellie adds an incredible layer, and even though the series does not emphasize this decision if viewers aren’t familiar with the games.

In the second season’s first episode, more homages are featured through a subtle Easter egg that could easily be overlooked, even by avid players. This nod serves as yet another layer of meta-commentary directed at those who have contributed to making \”The Last of Us\” an exceptional gaming franchise. The tribute doesn’t include Neil Druckmann or Laura Bailey; instead, it highlights the individual behind the remarkable audio landscape of both the games and their television adaptation—the composer Gustavo Santaolalla.

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Who Is Gustavo Santaolalla?

Before joining \”The Last of Us,\” Gustavo Santaolalla had already established himself as a musical icon. This Argentine artist played an essential role in the initial surge of Spanish rock in Argentina with his group Arco Iris during the late 1960s. In the following decade, Santaolalla contributed significantly to the growth of \”rock en español\” through production work with major acts such as Café Tacvba, Los Prisioneros, Molotov, Juanes, among numerous others. Additionally, as a composer, Santaolalla created remarkable soundtracks for movies including \”Amores perros,\” \”The Motorcycle Diaries,\” \”Brokeback Mountain,\” \”The Book of Life,\” along with contributing to \”The Last of Us.\”

Santaolalla is responsible for
providing \”The Last of Us\” with its emotionally resonant and distinctive guitar-driven soundtrack
, which explains why he would appear in the season 2 premiere strumming a guitar.

During the first episode, Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey) and Dina (portrayed by Isabela Merced) attend a New Year\’s Eve celebration in Jackson, a town established by Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) sibling, Tommy (Gabriel Luna). At this gathering, we witness a musical performance where a recognizable figure with shoulder-length silver hair is seen skillfully playing the electric guitar. This distinguished musician turns out to be none other than Gustavo Santaolalla, who pays tribute to his part in composing for the “The Last of Us” video game series.

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Read the
original article on SlashFilm
.