The Last of Us Star Reveals Deeply Heartbreaking Truth About Filming That Infamous Death Scene

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Spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2

As a devoted fan, I share my thoughts on Kaitlyn Dever’s emotional revelation about her personal connection to the poignant scene in “The Last of Us” Season 2. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Dever discussed her loss of her mother, who passed away from cancer in 2024, just as she was preparing to film the scene where Abby takes Joel’s life. This tragic event resonated deeply with Abby’s storyline, as she too is grappling with the grief of losing a parent. As I watched Dever’s powerful performance, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of empathy and admiration for her ability to channel her real-life emotions into such a compelling portrayal.

Dever admitted that the days preceding this particular scene were extremely difficult for him. Tragically, he had lost his mother a few weeks prior, and her funeral took place just three days before he filmed this scene for the first time. Consequently, he was quite disoriented and in a state of shock during filming.

In simpler terms, the showrunner of “The Last of Us,” Craig Mazin, emphasized that they wanted the cast and crew to take as much time as needed during production. He explained that while he values the show deeply, it’s just a TV show, and he wouldn’t want to interfere with someone’s personal grieving process, especially for a series that focuses on grief itself.

In “The Last of Us Part II” game, Joel’s death scene is considered a highly contentious and startling moment in gaming history. However, during the planning stages for the TV series, showrunners were certain that this dramatic event would be included. On an episode of the official “The Last of Us” podcast, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann chuckled at the idea that HBO might object to their portrayal of Joel’s death because of Pedro Pascal’s popularity among fans.

A brief sneak peek at Episode 3 of The Last of Us Season 2, shown after “Through the Valley,” hinted at the continuation of the narrative following Joel’s demise. Now, Ellie embarks on a mission of vengeance, pursuing Abby and her associates in Seattle in search of retribution.

In this intense scene on the show, Dever delivers a powerful performance that truly captures the raw feelings behind Abby’s actions, making it particularly emotional to know that she was going through a similar situation off-screen. Speaking about her approach, Dever mentioned that due to personal circumstances, she changed her preparation routine for this scene. Rather than memorizing Abby’s monologue three weeks in advance, she chose to let go of the script and focus less on it, which she believed enhanced her portrayal as Abby. She attributes the strong writing for this sequence for allowing her to give such a convincing performance.

When Bella Ramsey landed the role of Abby in Season 2, Neil Druckmann explained the modifications made for the TV version of the character; in the game, Abby is portrayed as muscular and strong due to her years of military training. According to Druckmann, these adjustments were necessary because the television series focuses more on dramatic aspects, so it was crucial to choose an actor who could excel in those areas. In a short period, Ramsey has made a lasting impact on viewers, leaving us eager to see how she continues to portray Abby’s story throughout Season 2 and beyond.

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2025-04-22 17:41