Entertainment
The Last of Us Season 2, episode 1 introduces one of the games most terrifying villains
If you survived The Last of Us Season 1 and the sheer terror of all the Clickers, Bloaters, and cannibals, we’ve got some grim news: You’re not out of the woods in Season 2.
The second season of Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann’s HBO adaptation amps up the threat level for Ellie (Bella Ramsey), Joel (Pedro Pascal), and the residents of Jackson, Wyoming, from the very first episode, with the arrival of one of the scariest types of Infected in The Last of Us Part II game.
Alas, the Stalkers have arrived.
What’s the new type of Infected in The Last of Us Season 2?
In Season 2, episode 1, we get our first glimpse of a new type of Infected, one that crawls extremely fast in the most deeply unwelcome way.
When Ellie and Dina (Isabela Merced) investigate Clickers in the Greenplace Market, and Ellie falls through the floor into the supermarket below, we think the coast is clear through the lack of Grudge-level sounds. But as Ellie’s flipping through an old People magazine, we see something scurry past in the background on all fours. It’s an instant nope, especially when a small hoot echoes through the aisles. As Ellie hunts the creature, it takes on a strategic stealth we previously thought only humans could use, not Infected. It seems…calculated.
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The evolution of Infected takes our heroes by such surprise they call a council meeting in Jackson about it. Ellie tells Tommy, Maria, and their councillors of the “smart” new Infected. “No one’s saying it can do math or anything,” says Ellie. “But it didn’t run at me. It did what we do: took cover, planned, waited, lured me in. Stalking.”
This swift, scurrying new villain is, in fact, known as a Stalker in The Last of Us games — and they’re a tough one to beat.
What are Stalkers in The Last of Us?
Two words: Be afraid. Stalkers are a type of Infected who are very fast, very aggressive, but very stealthy. Think the speed of a Runner (the Infected that just run at you) with the power of a Clicker (the Infected who use echolocation to hunt you, making it unlikely you’ll survive their attack), but make it covert.
When you’re playing The Last of Us but mainly The Last of Us Part II, you’ll be stealthing along, minding your own damn business, and you’ll spot a Stalker scurrying in the shadows. As soon as you see this movement, that pulse rate skyrockets. When you try to attack them, they’ll retreat into cover. Stalkers will then move up, getting closer to you, peeking their head out, and then charge at you in an unexpected moment (again, you’re unlikely to survive the attack). When Ellie (that’s you) finds a group of Stalkers in a pitch-dark office building in The Last of Us Part II, it’s a flashlight-mode moment that still haunts me.
Plus, as Ellie experiences in the TV show, Stalkers are really hard to locate using the game’s Listening Mode (your own version of echolocation that highlights enemies nearby). As Ellie says in the game, “These fuckers are quiet.” Really, the only way to kill a Stalker in the game is swift reflexes (and an immunity to Infected helps if you miss the first time).
So, if Stalkers are near Jackson, as we see in Season 2, episode 1, the people of the settlement are in real trouble.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
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Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
