The Last of Us Showrunners Confirm It Was “Never a Question” That Shocking Season 2 Death Would Happen

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In the recently aired episode of “The Last of Us” Season 2, viewers were left shocked by the elimination of one of the series’ most prominent figures. This character’s demise sparked significant debate among fans when “The Last of Us Part 2” was released in 2020, as it was highly contentious within the gaming community. Given this controversy, there had been speculation about whether or not the TV adaptation would follow suit with the game’s storyline. However, the showrunners, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, have confirmed that they always intended to stay true to the source material, and it appears that the series has indeed taken the same approach.

Caution: This article contains spoilers from The Last of Us Season 2. Proceed with caution if you wish to avoid them.

In the latest episode of The Last of Us podcast, Mazin and Druckmann discussed their reasoning behind Joel’s death in the story. Druckmann admitted that some viewers had suggested that the TV show might not kill off Joel due to Pedro Pascal’s popularity in the series. However, for Mazin, there was no alternative for Joel’s fate in Season 2 other than being killed by Abby, as this portrays the grim reality of the world depicted in The Last of Us.

Mazin commented that those who played ‘The Last of Us Part 2’ were a step ahead because they realized something like this was going to occur. He added, however, that no one could predict the exact timing.

“We did see some people say, ‘Oh, Pedro’s too popular, HBO will not let them,” Druckmann added.

Mazin said, “Indeed, HBO, home of Game of Thrones, where Ned Stark meets a grisly end. I’m still recovering from that.” He continued, “The tough part was not the source material; it was the emotional impact. I remember playing it and feeling distraught. But there’s a difference between experiencing something and feeling awful because you care about the characters. You mourn their loss, and you’re stunned that the story would be so bold as to kill them off. The other reaction is more critical, such as ‘I don’t think that was a good decision.’ However, I felt it was a genius move. It took courage, and it was smart because eventually, you have to remove plot armor.”

This version aims to make the dialogue sound more conversational and less formal while maintaining the original meaning.

He went on to say, “When crafting a narrative about the repercussions of actions, especially if it involves a man committing an extremely regrettable act for an incredibly noble reason, it’s crucial that the world responds accordingly.” He paused, then added, “In this case, the response is harshness. That’s just how life often unfolds.” He continued, “Given these circumstances, there was never any doubt in our minds that we would proceed with this storyline. The real debate was when to do it. After much discussion, Episode 1 gave us valuable insights into Joel’s character and his bond with Ellie, a bond that ultimately doesn’t have a happy ending.” He concluded, “Now, in Episode 2, this event occurs, and the audience experiences a profound sense of loss because, as far as we understand, their relationship has been shattered, and Ellie is forced to witness Joel’s demise. It’s like being struck twice in the heart.

As we progress, it’s likely that The Last of Us Season 2 will deviate slightly from the storyline of The Last of Us Part 2. Despite these changes, Joel’s death in the series is still going to occur, albeit with some variations in how and why it happens. Some of these alterations have made his demise even more gruesome. However, this tragic event was a constant, regardless of whether fans were prepared for it or not.

Right now, the second season of “The Last of Us” is being aired simultaneously on both HBO and Max. Fresh episodes will be released every Sunday at 9 PM Eastern Time (ET) or 6 PM Pacific Time (PT).

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2025-04-21 20:10