New England Events to Never Happen If 'The Last of Us' Was Real

Imagine it's September 2003.

You're drinking some delicious Dunkin' coffee, enjoying the changing of the leaves in New England, and hyped that Tom Brady took the Patriots to the Super Bowl in 2002 and (fingers crossed) could maybe find a championship again for the newest season. Things are looking up.

Now imagine, there's a massive outbreak of a mutated fungus that turns infected people into aggressive, zombie-like creatures, wipes out most of humanity, and crumbles civilization from what it once was.

That would be the world of the popular HBO show "The Last of Us," which follows a hardened survivor named Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, who must protect a young girl named Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, who may hold the key to a cure.

Check out a season 1 trailer for the show if you haven't seen it yet here or below:

"The Last of Us" TV Show in New England

The series, which featured some scenes in Boston before moving out west, returned recently for a second season, and it got me thinking about the trajectory of the alternative timeline.

In reality, not only does Brady go on to win the Super Bowl that 2003-04 season for the second time, but he goes on to win five more times through 2021.

But in the world of "The Last of Us"?

With the outbreak spreading like wildfire in late September 2003, Brady would have only ever gotten one championship ring. There would be no chance to create a dynasty. And there might never be a conversation about him being the GOAT.

So what other major moments or events in New England history would have simply been erased if "The Last of Us" was our reality?

Keep scrolling to imagine what might never have happened.

17 Major New England Moments That Wouldn't Exist If 'The Last of Us' TV Show Was Real

In HBO’s hit series "The Last of Us," the world falls apart in 2003 after a deadly cordyceps outbreak turns people into infected, zombie-like creatures. If that grim reality had come true for real, these major New England milestones—from pop culture moments to political headlines—would have never happened.

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

It's wild to think of the Boston Red Sox never breaking the curse and winning in 2004, Taylor Swift never becoming the massive singer she is, or Maine's Cooper Flagg never having an amazing first basketball season with Duke University in 2025.

What other big moments in New England after 2003 can you think of that would have never happened in the world of "The Last of Us"?

Keep scrolling to see some TV shows that take place in New England.