Who are these cultists from The Last of Us season 2, episode 5, and what do these scars imply? Let’s speak about the Seraphites
Popverse’s prime tales of the day
Spoilers for The Last of Us season 2.
Greetings Popversians, and welcome to Lore Nook! Every week, video producer Ashley V. Robinson and employees author Grant DeArmitt are going to take you deep into the pre-existing lore behind some of popular culture’s most fun variations, reminiscent of the gut-wrenching post-apocalyptic thriller The Last of Us. Get pleasure from!
The Last of Us is a present about conserving us on a ethical tightrope. In episode 4 of season 2, we adopted a host of seemingly peaceable pilgrims questioning in the woods round Seattle, solely to see them slaughtered by the Washington Liberation Entrance. In the newest episode, nonetheless, we noticed that this identical self-mutilated group is succesful of its personal horrors. So simply who is that this non secular group, and what do they imply for the relaxation of The Lats of Us season 2?
We’re right here to reply precisely that, as Lore Nook explains the Seraphites.
Who are the Seraphites in The Last of Us?
Similar to the WLF (see our explainer on them right here for extra), the Seraphites are a group of folks from the Pacific Northwest who felt oppressed by the reign of FEDRA. However whereas the WLF responded to oppression with a army revolt and eventual martial regulation, the Seraphites turned their riot into a holy warfare. Now, the cult and the WLF interact in violent grabs for energy in and round the Seattle space, with contested territories of the metropolis itself appearing as the scene for bloody exchanges (do not forget that unfortunate WLF soldier who would not have guts any extra? That is what we imply).
Why do Seraphites have scars on their faces?
The Seraphites observe the non secular teachings of a lady often known as The Prophet. Their non secular fanaticism provides an additional layer of violence on prime of the already savage state of affairs that individuals discover themselves in a post-cordyceps world, and that manifests as a facial self-mutilation the cultists bear to mark themselves as half of their order. In the Last of Us Half II recreation, the scars given to initiates of the cult’s army wing, however it seems that, in the present, even kids in the group scar themselves as a image of loyalty.
Certainly, loyalty to the Prophet and the cult group is a trademark of the Seraphites, whom the WLF dub “scars” derogatorily. We see that in the instance of the Seraphite that Jeffrey Wright’s Isaac Dixon tortures in the starting of the episode, who proves that even the worst ache is not going to shake his religion. Nevertheless, as with all non secular establishment, there’s a darkish aspect to that religion – that’s, that anybody born completely different than their creed deems regular shall be persecuted.
Why do the Seraphites hate Lev?
OK, now we’re entering into some severe spoiler territory, so preserve that in thoughts as you select whether or not or to not preserve studying right here. In the Last of US recreation universe, the most vital Seraphite we meet is one that truly leaves the cult behind. That might be Lev, whose self-identification as male would not match with the Seraphites’ worldview. The trans little one is first tortured after which hunted by the cultists, however does discover salvation in the kind of Abby Anderson.
Sure, Joel’s killer.
As we count on to see occur in the HBO present, the recreation follows Abby’s story as she betrays the WLF and ultimately finds herself on the run in the Seattle space, the place she encounters Lev. Feeling for the younger man, Abby dedicates herself to his safety, sarcastically and even tragically forming a bond very very similar to Joel and Ellie’s in the first recreation/season 1.
After all, their pairing implies that the characters are on the run from each the Seraphites and the WLF, and a big half of the second recreation, and we assume The Last of Us season3, is them overcoming that hazard. So whilst you assume you’ll have seen simply how brutal the Seraphites may be towards somebody they contemplate an outcast from their order, simply wait till you see what they will do to at least one of their very own untrue.
The Last of Us season 2 finale airs Might 25 on HBO and Max.
You needn’t beat the recreation to arrange for the subsequent one—right here are all the major new and upcoming video games coming our manner.
Comply with Popverse for upcoming occasion protection and information
