You might want to keep the lights on for this one, folks. The Last of Us fandom has entered full conspiracy-theory mode, and there’s a gigantic reason for that: the infamous, sludge-dripping, nightmare-fueling Rat King. If you’ve slogged your way through The Last of Us Part II, you definitely remember this beast. If not, here’s the basic deal: It’s massive. It’s grotesque. And it’s one of the most horrifying boss fights ever baked into videogame history.
But now, as the dust settles after a killer second season, speculation is thicker than clicker mushrooms on a damp Seattle wall. The buzz centers around a single, spine-chilling question: Are we about to see The Rat King emerge from the depths when Season 3 drops? Pull on your gas mask and let’s root around the facts — and the hype — that have turned the fandom upside-down.
A Subterranean Tease from HBO
Let’s begin with the hospital scene in Season 2. If you squirmed when Ellie chased Nora through the shadowy, decayed wards, you weren’t alone. The showrunners tossed breadcrumbs for sharp-eyed fans. Hospital staff whispered about unseen B3 sub-basements, which weren’t just random throwaway lines. Mazin himself highlighted this moment in interviews, saying, “There’s also an introduction here of a concept… there is depth under this building… and note, nobody knows what’s on B3. Just leaving that out there.” (comicbook.com, October 2025)
So the “B3” reference? That’s the same murky, deadly place where Abby has her close and very personal encounter with the Rat King in the game. Fans jolted awake at Mazin’s choice words. Speculation immediately rocketed across Twitter, Reddit, and every corner of the internet.
Craig Mazin Isn’t Exactly Hiding His Cards
Craig Mazin, the king of sly teases, clearly enjoys keeping everybody nervous. He’s dropped several pretty blunt hints about the fate of the Rat King. In fact, he all but dared us to brace ourselves for new nightmares. In an interview with GamesRadar earlier in 2025, Mazin quipped: “The Rat King is something that anybody who has played The Last of Us Part II is traumatized by for so many reasons — count myself among them.”
He didn’t stop there. Craig continued, “We are dedicated to the idea that just as humanity is progressing… the infected are also evolving.” He likes to remind viewers (with a mischievous glint in his eye): The further this series travels, the weirder— and more advanced— these monsters are going to get. That’s basically HBO-speak for, “We’re going to show you some truly gnarly things. Sorry, not sorry.”
Why the Rat King Is Such a Big, Grotesque Deal
But why does everyone, and I mean everyone, lose their mind over this one particular nightmare? Let’s break it down:
- In the games, the Rat King is the ultimate “nope” moment. It’s visually revolting — a tangled mass of infected humans, clickers, and stalkers all fused together.
- It isn’t just some ramped-up bloater. The Rat King looks and moves like evolution gone berserk.
- It rips itself apart mid-fight, spinning off smaller stalker enemies as you try to run.
- The arena is unforgettable: tight, dark, and crumbling.
- The encounter, for both players and their poor game controllers, is sweaty-palms city.
And from a narrative angle, it packs a wallop. The Rat King hammers home just how far the cordyceps infection has mutated in the bowels of civilization’s collapse. It symbolizes monstrous decay and unstoppable transformation. Plus, any creature that can make even seasoned gamers shriek belongs on the “must-watch TV” list.
Fans Are Already on High Alert
Gamers love to act tough, until someone mentions the Rat King. The online chatter is relentless:
- Subreddits light up every time someone dissects the “B3” basement breadcrumbs.
- TikTok clips of the Part II Rat King boss fight (complete with anxious shrieks) have gone viral all year.
- Fan artists have even started sketching their own HBO-style versions of the boss, with debates about how much slime, teeth, or fungus is too much (hint: there is never enough).
But the big question that swirls around the fandom: Will HBO go all-in with practical effects and some behind-the-scenes CGI? Or will they soften the horror for TV audiences? The show’s creative team has insisted on practical makeup for clickers and bloaters so far. And if there’s anything the makeup wizards at HBO love, it’s a challenge.
The Art — and Science — of Bringing Monsters to Life
Let’s not underplay the anticipation around HBO’s effects department. The show has won critical raves for cranking out freakishly detailed infected without leaning too heavily on digital VFX. Javier Botet, the contortionist actor, and Barrie Gower’s Emmy-winning team have worked magic before. Fans want a suit, a body, and some screaming actors to bring the Rat King to life. Why? Because good old latex and rubber hit different.
Yet, pulling off the Rat King scene from the game will take:
- Next-level prosthetics (seriously, this thing is probably seven feet wide),
- Animatronics or clever puppetry,
- Strategic CGI for those all-important tear-away stalkers,
- Sound design that makes you want to cover your ears and run.
The production team sees the challenge, and frankly, they seem a little gleeful at the prospect. Abby’s gauntlet through the hospital deserves every ounce of on-screen horror, and fans won’t settle for less.
Nervous Optimism: Will It Happen, or Will HBO Blink?
There’s no official confirmation, but the signals are all there. Mazin’s very public hints. The storyline’s new detours into haunted hospitals with sealed-off basements. The ramp-up of infected evolution talk. All paths seem to be pointing right at the Rat King’s nest.
But here’s the honest truth: Adapting this level of horror to a mainstream prestige drama is new territory. Some showrunners might dial it down. Not Mazin and Druckmann. They’ve both said in multiple interviews that the HBO show will never simply rehash beats from the games. Instead, they’re motivated to “surprise fans” and keep the emotional stakes sky-high. That probably means not just showing us the monster, but making us feel trapped with it.
If (or When) He Crawls From the Dark…
So, get ready for possible nightmares, and maybe keep an extra light on by the sofa. With a creative team that delights in unsettling the audience and a fandom that’s practically begging for new trauma, the Rat King’s rise seems all but inevitable.
Check your gas mask and brace yourself: HBO’s probably going to unleash the big beast in ways we’ve never seen before. And if they do, it’s going to be sloppy, scary, and absolutely unmissable. So many showdowns could define Season 3, but let’s be honest — if the Rat King lurches forward, it’ll steal the spotlight, then some.
And there you have it, shroomheads. Whether you’re rooting for Abby’s survival or just want to cover your eyes, one truth remains: No one—no one—forgets their first dance with the Rat King. If he’s coming, Season 3 is guaranteed to get messy. Don’t say Craig didn’t warn you.
