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Ellie's choice of lancing her bite wound in The Last of Us Season 2 arises from her immunity to the infection caused by cordyceps. When Ellie gets bitten a second time in The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2, while she is out fighting Clickers in a museum, she does not develop any effect from the infection, and this solidifies her immunity.
Her wound is also cut to symbolize several things: her immunity to Joel and Tess, who doubt her accusations, and to show her embracing the special conditions that differentiate her. This is a turning point in demonstrating Ellie's survival nature and the tension rising between her and Joel as they navigate a treacherous landscape together.
Ellie's immunity and its revelation in The Last of Us Season 2
Ellie's immunity becomes a defining trait of her and the narrative. Throughout The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 1, the FEDRA guards are performing a scan of Ellie and spot a healed-over bite wound in a session they do not recall taking. Even though Tess gets close to understanding Ellie's immunity, Joel doubts her.
Throughout The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2, this questioning continues when Ellie is bitten yet again by fighting off Clickers in a museum. The injury still fails to make Ellie infected, showing all over again the evidence of her immunity. The immunity of Ellie is later explained within the series as a result of her special biological situation.
Ellie's mother had been bitten when pregnant, passing on some immunity to cordyceps infection to Ellie. Such immunity makes Ellie a symbol of hope for humanity in finding a cure, and hence, her journey with Joel is essential.
Ellie's bite wound
Ellie's second bite is during a perilous close call with Clickers in Episode 2. The three of them—Joel, Tess, and Ellie—have to go through an infected museum on a different route. When the attack has passed, Ellie exposes the new bite next to her previous wound. Her matter-of-fact response is in stark contrast to Tess and Joel's consternation.
Tess compares her infected bite with Ellie's tidy wound, reinforcing Ellie's immunity even further. Ellie's slicing of the wound is a visual assurance of immunity for Joel and Tess. It also proves Ellie's acceptance of her place in this dystopian world—a place that makes her different from others but weighs heavily on her for so much responsibility.
Ellie's immunity compared to Riley
Ellie's initial bite, through the use of flashbacks in The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 7, is associated with Riley Abel, her best friend and first love. The two were ambushed by infected people while attending an abandoned Boston quarantine zone mall. Both were bitten, but whereas Riley died from the infection, Ellie learned she was immune.
This event deeply affects Ellie's worldview and perception of loss. Her immunity makes her stand apart emotionally, in that she lives, but others perish. The cutting of the bite wound in The Last of Us Season 2 may be interpreted as a symbolic action validating this aloneness while confirming her strength.
Joel's changing perception of Ellie in The Last of Us Season 2
Joel first suspects Ellie of faking her immunity and sees her as a nuisance instead of a savior for mankind. However, incidents such as Ellie cutting her bite wound compel him to realize the gravity of her situation. These occurrences slowly change Joel's attitude towards Ellie from suspicion to grudging acceptance.
The Last of Us Season 2 recapitulates scenes from the game in which Joel sees Ellie breathe spores with no mask on—conclusive evidence of her immunity. These story beats are significant in establishing the trust between Joel and Ellie as they encounter progressively more perilous challenges together.
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Ellie's self-amputation of her bite wound in The Last of Us Season 2 is a moment that sets the tone for her immunity as well as strength. It's a confirmation to Joel and Tess but also an indication of Ellie accepting her singular position in this post-apocalyptic world.
The action not only furthered the story but also reinforced character interactions, reinforcing ideas of survival, trust, and loss that run through the show.
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