Jennifer Aniston’s Shocked Reaction to The Last of Us Cameo!

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Jennifer Aniston, known for her role in “Friends”, playfully reacted when she discovered an unexpected appearance in the second season of HBO’s popular show, “The Last of Us”. In the second episode, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) finds a remarkably well-preserved copy of a 2003 issue of People Magazine. The cover, featuring Aniston alongside Kate Hudson and Britney Spears for their ‘Best & Worst Dressed’ feature, served as a reminder of the world before the Cordyceps outbreak, as society deteriorates in the show’s universe in 2003. Aniston’s recognition of her cameo underscores the show’s meticulous attention to detail about that era and its significant cultural impact, with even prominent figures like herself tuning in each week for new “The Last of Us” episodes.

In her Instagram Stories, Aniston playfully commented, “Out of all things to survive the apocalypse,” followed by a picture of the scene where her magazine cover was showcased. Her witty remark highlights the fleeting, quick-to-miss quality of her cameo. In the midst of a snowstorm while on patrol outside Jackson, Ellie discovers the magazine with Jesse (Young Mazino) in an abandoned location.

What makes The Last of Us deeply impact audiences is the integration of real-world items. The TV show, based on Naughty Dog’s popular video game series, has been praised by critics and garnered high viewership for HBO and Max, with its second season premiere attracting more viewers than the first. By setting its story of survival in a world filled with remnants from our past – such as old magazines, music, or deteriorating landmarks – the series creates a strong sense of authenticity and loss, making the challenges faced by its characters seem more real and relatable. Aniston’s brief appearance effectively embodies this method of creating the show’s world.

The Last of Us Season 2 Delivers Early Shocks

In the same episode where Ellie’s finding of Aniston’s magazine cover brought a relatable, light-hearted moment, it also presented one of the most shocking and buzzworthy scenes in modern TV: the unexpected demise of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal). This scene, reminiscent of the contentious opening scenes from The Last of Us Part II video game, showed Joel being ambushed and ruthlessly killed by Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and her Washington Liberation Front comrades. Fueled by revenge for Joel’s killing of her father (the Firefly surgeon from the Season 1 finale), Abby viciously strikes Joel with a golf club, leaving Ellie, who was pinned down and powerless to intervene, horrified as she watches the gruesome scene unfold.

The early portrayal of Joel’s death in the second episode left many viewers who aren’t familiar with “The Last of Us” games taken aback, while it resonated deeply with those who were aware of this development. Online responses mirrored the mixed reactions to the game’s release in 2020, encompassing feelings of sorrow, anger, and morbid intrigue. The showrunners, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, confirmed on the official podcast that accurately adapting this crucial moment was non-negotiable. They emphasized that while Joel’s character and Pedro Pascal’s talent are significant, maintaining fidelity to the original game’s exploration of consequences and depiction of a harsh reality was essential. Furthermore, Pascal himself admitted that Joel’s storyline primarily unfolds within the first season’s narrative.

Positioning this seismic occurrence in Episode 2 significantly alters the course of The Last of Us Season 2. It brutally strips off any sense of protection for a major character, making clear that no one is invulnerable, mirroring the shocking impact experienced in the game. Crucially, it initiates Ellie’s character development for the rest of the season (and possibly future episodes), pushing her towards an unyielding, insatiable quest for vengeance against Abby and her group.

New episodes of The Last of Us premiere Sundays on HBO and Max.

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2025-04-23 12:41