Summary
The Last of Usfans just witnessed one of the show’s most brutal and painful deaths. However, according to some, the live-action was worse than in the game.
The Last of UsSeason 2 features the most anticipated event fromThe Last of Us Part II. However, many were unprepared to witness the scene that left many desolate. Some said witnessing it on Easter Sunday ruined their day, week, month, and, for some, their entire year. The scene became a viral topic on social media, with many expressing their thoughts about it. According to them, how the show played the devastating scene was more distressing and disturbing than how they remembered it in the game.
The much-talked-about scene was the death ofPedro Pascal’s Joel.The Last of Usfans know that the beloved character was doomed, much like his counterpart in the game. However, how it was played in the live-action left them all the more devastated. Fans said watching Joel’s death on the show was worse than seeing it in the video game. “I didn’t think it was possible, butThe Last of Usseason 2 is even worse than the game,” one wrote on X. Many shared the same sentiment. Others even warned those who had not played the game that the story would get worse after the events in the second episode.
In the episode “Through the Valley,” Joel and Dina (Isabel Merced) saveAbby (Kaitlyn Dever)from a horde of infected. Abby feigns gratitude and takes them to a nearby mansion, pretending to reunite with her allies. However, when they arrive there, she knocks out Dina and confronts Joel as she reveals her true identity — that she’s the daughter of the Firefly doctor that Joel killed to saveEllie (Bella Ramsey)in Season 1. She shoots Joel in the knee to incapacitate him and brutally beats him with a golf club. When the club breaks, she stabs him with the broken shaft in the neck. Ellie, having tracked them, arrives in time to witness his torment, with Abby’s group restraining her and forcing her to watch Joel’s brutal death.The Last of UsshowrunnersNeil Druckmann and Craig Mazin told Variety they featured the anticipated death of the fan-favorite character early on because they didn’t want to torment the fans who knew it was happening. Additionally, Druckmann said, “This is the inciting incident for this story.”
So Many People Knew Joel’s Death InThe Last Of UsWas Coming, But It Still Hurt To See
Joel’s death was expected, but it was too much that it still left many heartbroken, shocked, and in grief. Joel is a significant character in the show and has become a fan favorite over time. Although he is not perfect and is as flawed as the others, with morally questionable decisions at times, his bond with Ellie is the heart of the story. The audience witnessed how Joel transitioned from a broken man after losing his daughter,Sarah Miller(Nico Parker), to a protective father figure again after meeting Ellie. His passing seemingly takes away half of the story’s core, leaving many empty and stricken with grief.
The way Abby beat Joel and struck the fatal blow by stabbing Joel’s neck with the broken club was difficult to watch. Joel lifting his head after hearing Ellie’s voice made the scene even more dramatic. However, fans also knew where Abby was coming from. She wanted to avenge her father’s death.Ellie witnessing the incidentalso made sense because that would move her to want to avenge Joe’s death, much like what Abby did. Overall, the incident was heartbreaking, even if it was expected.
The Last of UsSeason 2 streams on Max, and new episodes are released every Sunday.
