The Last of Us memes draw from the heavy emotional weight and intense survival scenarios of the Naughty Dog video game series and its subsequent HBO adaptation. While the source material is somber, the internet has repurposed Joel and Ellie’s interactions to describe everything from minor daily inconveniences to high-stakes gaming frustrations. Popular formats include Joel's 'exhausted' face, the 'Joel and Sarah' heartbreak, and various scenes featuring Bill or the terrifying Clickers. These memes resonate because they contrast the bleak, high-stakes world of the Cordyceps outbreak with mundane, relatable struggles of modern life.