Joel’s Death in The Last of Us Season 2 is Even More Brutal

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In the second season of The Last of Us, they didn’t shy away from portraying the game’s most gruesome scenes. Among TV shows, The Last of Us stands out as one of the most violent. The original season saw several child characters meet their end, introduced cannibals, and much more shocking content. Given that the second season is based on the game, viewers can expect an even darker storyline. The sequel to the first game, The Last of Us Part 2, has sparked a lot of debate due to its intense use of violence against characters we become deeply attached to – more so than in the first game.

Spoilers for the latest episode of The Last of Us follow.

Indeed, we’ve all been waiting for this: Joel, unfortunately, has passed away. This was a piece of information that gamers had to conceal from viewers of TV shows for an extended period of two years. However, now it’s out in the open. The revelation left players stunned when “The Last of Us Part 2” was launched on PS4 in 2020. The players anticipated another Joel and Ellie adventure, but their hearts were broken when they witnessed Joel being brutally killed within the first two hours of the game.

As a devoted fan, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated when the promotional materials for “The Last of Us Part 2” depicted Joel in locations he wouldn’t realistically visit, leading some of us to speculate about his fate. This tactic stirred quite a bit of controversy among fans, but nothing compared to the shock and sorrow we felt upon learning that Joel had actually perished. Some of us vowed not to continue playing the game, others claimed it was a betrayal both to the character and the fanbase, and some even took things too far by sending threats and hateful messages to those involved in its creation. The creators intentionally crafted a brutally intense experience to immerse players in Ellie’s anger.

The Last of Us Season 2 Makes Joel’s Death Even More Upsetting

It’s natural that people have been curious about how The Last of Us Season 2 would handle such a pivotal and intense moment, given its graphic nature. After all, in video games, it’s relatively easy to be gory due to the use of pixels. However, depicting something so intense on screen is more challenging logistically and may not be suitable for some viewers. Some worried that the show might tone down the brutality of this scene compared to the game… but surprisingly, it appears even more brutal in the series.

In “The Last of Us Part 2” video game, Abby deceives Joel and Tommy into walking into a trap. Upon meeting the group, they recognize this is their quarry. Abby fires a shotgun at Joel’s leg, while other members knock out Tommy. Joel endures prolonged torment with a golf club, leaving him nearly incapacitated by the time Ellie arrives. Despite Ellie’s entreaties to halt the brutality, Abby delivers the fatal blow to Joel with the golf club, exerting all her might, effectively crushing his skull. The group then knocks out Ellie, preventing her from pursuing them further.

In the second season of “The Last of Us,” there are significant alterations to Joel’s death scene. For instance, instead of Tommy, Joel is teamed up with Dina this time. The series introduces an additional sequence where Jackson is besieged by the infected, forcing Tommy to respond immediately. Dina is rendered unconscious by a drug, but she remains conscious and understands that Joel is likely in grave danger. Similar to before, Joel gets shot in the leg and then assaulted with a golf club.

In a different scene, when we return to Joel’s torment, we notice that Abby struck him so forcefully with the club that it shattered into pieces. Consequently, she resorts to pounding on his face with her bare hands, adding an additional layer of intensity to the brutality. Upon Ellie’s entrance, she pleads for them to halt their actions. Bella Ramsey delivers a devastatingly emotional performance, as tears stream down her face in response to the scene. When Abby is ordered to complete her task, she grabs a piece of the broken golf club and plunges it into Joel’s throat while maintaining eye contact with him. The sound fades out, leaving only the chilling sound of Joel’s final breath escaping his body.

In this scenario, the gang attacks Ellie and departs, leaving her severely injured and unable to pursue them. Yet, she remains alert. Crawling towards Joel, she extracts a club from his neck and snuggles against his lifeless form, weeping profusely, possibly regretting not cherishing the moments they shared together more. This scene is deeply moving, and it’s challenging not to feel emotional about it. Although both depictions are harsh, the emotive touches that the series incorporates may make this rendition even more heartrending.

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2025-04-21 14:14