Last of Us S2 Finally Fixed THAT Joel Problem!

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In the second season of The Last of Us TV series, it addresses a common complaint about the game: The size and influence of The Last of Us franchise, despite only having two video games and two seasons of television, is remarkable. With each release or re-release, and its highly successful HBO adaptation, the franchise remains relevant and impactful. However, critics and fans often commented on the limited scope of the storyline given the depth of its characters and narrative power. In addressing this concern, Season 2 delivers an engaging continuation for both newcomers to the series and longtime fans eager for more.

The Last of Us Season 2 spoilers follow below.

Fans of The Last of Us series tend to be particularly passionate about the franchise, which is a major factor behind the contentious reception of the second game. This fervor for the story sometimes leads to strong reactions when certain plot decisions are made, as some fans feel deeply affected by these choices on an emotional level. For instance, the death of Joel, a central character, early in the narrative has caused significant controversy. In the TV adaptation, this pivotal event took place at the end of the second episode, which was a bold move and generally stayed true to the game. However, there are some differences in how Joel’s demise unfolds in The Last of Us, but the main events remain consistent, with one significant exception.

How The Last of Us Season 2 Fixes a Big Problem from the Game

The main distinction between the storyline and the presentation of Joel’s death lies in who is present with Joel when he encounters Abby. In the game scenario, Tommy and Joel are on a mission together when they stumble upon Abby being pursued by infected. After rescuing her, she guides them to a lodge where she plans to ambush them along with her group. Upon returning to the lodge, only Abby is privy to their true identities until Tommy presents himself and his brother to the group by name. This revelation causes an immediate sense of shock as Abby’s group recognizes them as their targets.

In the series, almost exactly as depicted, Tommy gets brutally knocked out and Joel meets a gruesome death. This scenario was a major point of contention among fans of “The Last of Us” in the second installment, as they found it hard to believe that Joel and Tommy would willingly find themselves cornered like this without a fight.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel disappointed when I see characters like Tommy compromising the safety of their comrades by revealing their identities to strangers. Fans like me have always admired Joel and Tommy for their shrewdness in matters of trust, survival, and evasion. After all, they’ve spent years honing their skills in the harsh world we know as a community where every man is on his own.

However, it seems that this new environment has softened them somehow, causing them to let their guard down. This unfortunate lapse in judgment resulted in one of their companions meeting an untimely end and another being brutally beaten. It’s a harsh reminder that even the most cautious among us can make mistakes when we grow complacent.

In Season 2 of “The Last of Us,” efforts have been made to prevent fans from feeling dissatisfied again. For instance, Abby discovers Joel’s identity not because Tommy is trying to be friendly with everyone, but rather due to a coincidence when Dina calls out for him without realizing that Joel has found another survivor. Moreover, upon reaching the lodge, Joel isn’t assessing anyone or paying attention to Abby’s group. His primary concern is the potential attack by infected on Jackson and he’s trying to contact Tommy via radio. Joel assumes these people will assist him in combating the infected and leaves his back turned towards them while looking out of the window, providing an opportunity for Abby’s group to surprise-attack him and Dina.

In “The Last of Us Part 2”, although some players didn’t have problems with the portrayal of that particular scene, it was a subject of much discussion when the game launched. It appears as though the TV show has chosen to rework this scene, recognizing an opportunity for revision. There are probably several factors contributing to Dina replacing Tommy in this scene, but one reason could be to enhance Dina’s role in the narrative and provide her with a personal reason to pursue Abby’s group alongside Ellie.

What did you think of Joel’s death scene in The Last of Us Season 2?

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2025-04-26 03:39