3 weeks Ago By Helen Kelly
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers from The Last of Us season 2, episode 2. The riveting second series of HBO's acclaimed The Last of Us delivered a gut-wrenching blow to fans as the beloved duo Joel Miller (played by Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) found themselves embroiled in conflict. Their cherished father-daughter dynamic from the first series had drastically transformed, with a rift forming five years on that left viewers reeling.
However, if the emotional impact of the season two opener was substantial, the devastation only deepened with the show's latest instalment. Celebrations of the New Year quickly spiralled into terror in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, as an onslaught of the 'infected' plunged the town into turmoil—with Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and the Fireflies amidst the carnage. A critical moment unfolded when Joel, saving Abby from the clutches of the 'infected', subsequently falls victim to her quest for vengeance.
Remembering Joel's role in her father's demise from the season one climax, Abby exacts a brutal reckoning. Joel's horrific ordeal ends with a merciless beating via a golf club and his execution at Abby's hands, all witnessed by a horrified Ellie. Fans were overwhelmed with grief at Joel's demise, flooding social media with their sorrow.
A distraught fan lamented: "I knew what was gone happen but it still sucks #TheLastOfUs." Others echoed this sentiment with reactions like: "I cannot believe they're doing this so early into the season #TheLastofUs," and a stunned viewer exclaimed: " WTF? ? ? Joel did not deserve that #TheLastOfUs." One viewer lamented: "Ellie hugging joel's body just ruined my entire week, month, and year #TheLastOfUs, as another added: " while another exclaimed in disbelief: "So they REALLY KILLED JOEL? ! ? ! #TheLastOfUs.
" Despite the heartbreak among fans, executive producer Craig Mazin maintained that this was always the intended narrative. Speaking to USA Today, he said: "People are going to be upset. That's sometimes how good drama goes.
"This was something that was always meant to happen. So much of the first season was, in a weird way, leading to this moment. And it's upsetting.
" Mazin further revealed that Pedro was informed about his character's demise and its timing before he agreed to join the series: "When I talked to Pedro the first time, I said, 'This is how this will go.' I wanted him to know that we're not going to do this for seven seasons with you in that spot. We're going to do a season, and if it goes well and there's a second season, this will happen.
" The Last of Us season 2 airs on HBO in the US and on Sky and Now TV in the UK..
