This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2
Summary
The Last of Usshowrunner Craig Mazin has broken his silence on the brutal Joel moment in Episode 2 of the show’s second season, and shared a cryptic response about whether viewers have seen the popular character for the last time on their screens.
After an emotional premiere episode, the second edition of the hit HBO series took a devastating turn when Abby (played by Kaitlyn Dever) finally met Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) in the harsh weather conditions of Jackson, Wyoming. While Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey) tried to find Joel and Dina (played by Isabel Merced) and reached the resort they were taken to, she couldn’t help Joel escape his fate, and fans saw the horrifying death sequence. Although Joel is dead now, showrunner Mazin has noted that the gruesome sequence might not be the last time fans see Joel onThe Last of Us.
The Last of US Showrunner knows about the “gaps” in Joel and Ellie’s story, and has a cryptic response about it
While talking about the death sequence in thesecond episode ofThe Last of Uspodcast, Mazin didn’t shy away from saying how there were gaps in the storyline that might confuse viewers. However, he made it clear that there’s more to Joel and Ellie’s story, and they might see that in the upcoming episodes. Mazin said,“But I will say, and I’ll be intentional about this. That we do know that, for the viewer, there are some mysteries here. There are some gaps about Ellie and Joel’s relationship. And I don’t think it’s a spoiler, based on the fact that there’s a trailer out there with lots of shots in it, this is not the last we will see of Joel.”
This statement not only reassures fans but also heightens the intrigue surrounding Joel’s journey. It suggests that what seems final may only be a narrative pause, not a conclusion. By acknowledging the deliberate gaps, Mazin invites viewers to engage more deeply with the story’s emotional layers.
How did Joel die in The Last of Us Season 2?
In the second episode ofThe Last of UsSeason 2, Joel and Dina went for a patrol and got stuck in harsh weather conditions. Even though Tommy did relay a message about the snowstorm getting worse, the duo were so far ahead that they couldn’t listen to the warning. During the patrol, Joel comes across a young woman being attacked by the infected and helps her by killing the infected that were about to bite her. Despite knowing about his physical traits, Abby initially didn’t realize that the person who saved her was actually the person she wanted to kill. She got to know about Joel’s real identity when Dina called him by his name. After learning about Joel’s identity, Abby didn’t waste any time in taking Joel and Dina to the resort where other Fireflies members were residing. On the other hand, Ellie and Jesse get out of their settlement again to find Joel and Dina.
Upon reaching the resort, Abby told Joel about who she was, and he killed her father in Salt Lake City when he was trying to save Ellie. To make things easier for them, they sedate Dina so that she doesn’t wake up for a couple of hours. IncludingDina in this situation is a change that was made for the showbecause, in the game, it is actually Tommy who is with Joel when Abby is trying to kill him. Meanwhile, in the show, Tommy is still in Jackson and fighting the infected that infiltrated their settlement. Nevertheless, what viewers witnessed next was the same level of brutality that gamers saw while playingThe Last of Us Part II.Abby didn’t hold back in torturing Joel and hitting him repeatedly with a golf club. Even though Ellie was successful in finding her loved ones, she couldn’t help them, and with one brutal swing, Abby killed Joel and left the resort.
The way Joel died in the series, it is quite evident that he won’t be returning. However, Mazin’s comments create a level of intrigue in the minds of viewers as to how the iconic character will come back and improve the narrative. His words blur the line between finality and possibility, hinting that Joel’s presence may transcend the physical. Whether through flashbacks, memory, or unexpected twists, his return could offer deeper insight into Ellie’s emotional arc—and perhaps even redefine the story’s core.
