Over the course of a season and a half, The Last of Us has brought an incredible caliber of names into its apocalyptic wasteland, ranging from Nick Offerman to Melanie Lynskey to Catherine O’Hara. But the HBO drama took a step out of the ordinary in this week’s episode, as actor Josh Peck made a suprise cameo in the opening minutes.
Episode 4 of Season 2 opened with a flashback to 2018 in Seattle. In it, we get our first glimpse at militia leader Isaac (Jeffrey Wright), then working for FEDRA. Alongside Isaac are a gaggle of men decked out in SWAT uniforms. That includes Peck’s character, who eagerly regales his co-workers with a story of a FEDRA thug who cracked down on a group of “voters” (their ironic nickname for disenfranchised citizens) disseminating pamphlets.
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FEDRA, AKA the Federal Disaster Response Agency, is a fictional agency of the U.S. government tasked with responding to disasters and emergencies. When the 2003 corydceps outbreak first ravaged the world, FEDRA took charge of the government, setting up “quarantine zones” in major metropolitan areas. The first season of The Last of Us took us into 2023 when FEDRA still had an iron grip on the “QZs,” imposing martial law and being accused of fascist behavior.
Even though this scene takes place five years earlier – and on the exact opposite side of the country from where Season 1 began – it, and Peck’s character’s temperament, serve as a firm reminder of FEDRA’s unchecked power. In his brief time on screen, Peck gloats about the authority they’re able to exercise, and many of his cohorts laugh and join in on the “bro-ing down” in support.
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Josh Peck started his career as a child actor, appearing in the film Snow Day and The Amanda Show. His big breakthrough came with his next Nickelodeon series, Drake & Josh. Starring alongside fellow Amanda Show veteran Drake Bell, the comedy ran from 2004 to 2007, making it one of Nick’s most successful sitcoms. Peck went on to star in shows like Grandfathered, How I Met Your Father and Turner & Hooch, and recently made a cameo in the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer.
While Peck’s appearance on The Last of Us was previously unannounced, the actor has made his fandom of the series known. Last week, he posted a TikTok sketch, simulating a therapy session in the wake of the tragic and shocking death of series protagonist Joel (Pedro Pascal). And, in that video, the actor actually alluded to the fact that he would be appearing on our screens soon, writing, “Oh and I’m officially allowed to say, episode 4, let’s just say, you’re not ready.”
Unfortunately, Peck’s escapades on The Last of Us were evidently one and done. The cold open ended up serving as the backstory for Isaac’s defection from FEDRA and joining the “voters” in the resistance Washington Liberation Front. As his formal act of rebellion, Isaac proceeds to toss two live grenades into the FEDRA truck, then locks the doors. Save one person, who follows him into the WLF, everyone else is brutally killed, including Peck’s character.
With the world essentially ending in 2003, The Last of Us has much of its set decoration and aesthetic frozen in a period of nostalgia. And they just showcased that in a major way by cameoing – and killing off – a millennial fan-favorite actor.
Related: What to Expect from ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 – Based on the Games
