You Won’t Believe How Joel’s Shocking Death Shattered ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2

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Prepare yourself for significant plot reveals as we delve into “Through the Valley,” Episode 2 of The Last of Us Season 2. Herein lies a major spoiler: Joel met his end in this episode. If you’re new to the series, be warned – this twist might have taken you by surprise, as major character deaths are not a common occurrence on TV without prior notice. However, the makers of this exceptional series have proven they aren’t afraid to take bold risks, and Joel’s death is no exception. As we grapple with this shocking turn of events together, let’s remember that even in the darkest tales, there is always a shared journey towards understanding.

Although it’s unfortunate, Naughty Dog’s choice to end Joel’s character opens up intriguing possibilities for the TV series. This move represents a significant change in direction for the series, enabling it to delve into unexplored paths and themes that it couldn’t before.

Joel Meets His Maker in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2

In the highly anticipated second season of “The Last of Us,” we find Joel and Ellie settled in the bustling community of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, five years after the events of the first season. Yet, despite this peaceful setting, the bond between Joel and Ellie is tense due to Ellie’s lingering survivor’s guilt. Recall that Joel saved her life from being sacrificed for a cordyceps vaccine in the finale of Season 1. After a challenging start, things appeared to improve in the second episode. Ellie confessed her complicated feelings towards Joel and expressed a desire to join him on their routine patrols to work through their issues. However, their plans were abruptly disrupted when chaos erupted.

In the absence of Joel and Dina (Isabela Merced) who went on patrol, Ellie finds herself tagging along with Jesse (Young Mazino). Not long after, they find themselves ensnared in a fierce snowstorm, with Abby’s group and waves of infected posing threats. Recall that Abby had pursued Joel to Jackson Hole at the end of Episode 1, seeking revenge for the death of her father during the raid aimed at saving Ellie from the Fireflies. By an astonishing stroke of fate, Joel and Dina cross paths with Abby in the mountains as the snowstorm escalates. Meanwhile, a colossal horde of infected assaults Jackson, breaking through its defenses. Joel yearns to return and aid, but Abby persuades him to head to her cabin instead, claiming that her allies are armed and can provide support. Regrettably, this decision turns out to be Joel’s undoing.

At the remote cabin, the collective forces Dina unconscious and seizes Joel as their captive. Abby delivers a typical villain origin tale, but Joel loses his temper, snapping, “Just stop talking and get on with it.” His final words serve as a memorable testament to his frustration. Abby then mercilessly shoots and beats Joel, while Ellie arrives at the cabin moments too late to prevent Abby from delivering the lethal strike. And so, our central character meets an abrupt end in a scene marked by brutality, despair, and unbearable sorrow.

‘The Last of Us’ Season 2, Episode 2 Is Manufactured for Maximum Viewer Heartbreak

In the harshness of a post-apocalyptic world, I couldn’t afford to fear death. The danger of being overpowered by infected was always imminent. Yet, this kind of demise was far more real and raw. These weren’t mere zombies; they were people who captured me and inflicted unimaginable pain. Thankfully, the show spared us from witnessing Abby brutally attacking me with a golf club, but we heard the thuds and screams. We heard the blows and saw Abby’s bloodied fist and Joel’s wounded head. It was clear that Abby didn’t just want to kill me; she wanted me (and the audience) to endure unbearable suffering. Given how much the series emphasized Joel’s role as a father figure and family man, nearly dying alone, with only an unconscious Dina for company, was undoubtedly deliberate.

When Ellie got to the cabin, Joel was barely hanging on to existence. It appears he recognized his surrogate daughter in that critical moment. This writer imagines, for some measure of tranquility, that he did. If Ellie had arrived sooner, could she have prevented what happened? Given Abby’s team’s superior strength, it seems unlikely. However, they might have shared a heartfelt farewell instead.

For Ellie, the “what if” might linger for quite some time, as there remained tension between her and Joel at the time of his death. She missed out on their morning patrol together, an experience she had longed for. Their final encounter was marked by her angrily reprimanding him when he defended her and Dina from a homophobic attacker the previous night. Upon returning home, Ellie found Joel playing the guitar he had fixed for her, but she passed without speaking to him. This would turn out to be their last opportunity to reconcile.

With Ellie, Jesse, and Dina stepping out of the cabin, the weight of guilt becomes evident on Ellie’s face. No words are needed; her expression clearly conveys that she’s coming to terms with the fact that the man who rescued her is gone, and they parted angrily. The scene where she weeps over Joel’s body? That should be banned for its emotional intensity. It seems like this young girl has already endured more than enough. Joel’s death ticks all the boxes of common movie and TV tropes: family estrangement, torment, loneliness, self-sacrifice – it hits them all. The plot was designed to inflict maximum emotional damage, and it did so brilliantly. Frankly, Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, and Kaitlyn Dever deserve every single award.

What Comes After Joel’s Shocking Death in ‘The Last of Us’?

Is this the long-awaited game sequel that fans have been hesitantly anticipating? It’s almost a relief for TV-exclusive The Last of Us fans who were once blissfully unaware. The latter group would not have suspected Joel’s fate, given he and Ellie were the primary characters. A hit show wouldn’t eliminate key actors without an essential plot twist. Joel remains connected to the town, and there’s no hint of off-screen drama, as Pedro Pascal appears to enjoy his leading position.

Moving forward, it’s evident that Ellie will be our main character, driven by her thirst for revenge against Abby’s group who left Joel’s lifeless body in the cabin. Whether she succeeds in eliminating every one of them remains to be seen – we don’t have any game-based spoilers for that. Despite the emotional turmoil this situation has caused, it may ultimately strengthen Ellie as a person.

As a devoted fan, I’ve found myself in a position where I have no other option. To truly pay tribute to Joel, the character I admire so much, Ellie must find her own path as an adult. Though she has evolved significantly since Season 1, there’s still a journey ahead. The upcoming episodes of Season 2 promise more of Ellie’s storyline, and it seems we can expect a personal vendetta mission from her. However, let’s hope the violence isn’t as intense this time around, shall we?

By the way, don’t forget to tune in every Sunday at 9 PM on HBO or catch it live-streaming simultaneously on Max!

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2025-04-22 02:03