Live-Action Last of Us: Joel’s Death Hits Harder Than in Game

by

Summary

  • Fans found *that* death in The Last of Us Season 2 more distressing than in the game.
  • The show’s early focus on the death aims to set the story’s tone.
  • The brutal death scene left viewers heartbroken and in grief.

Fans of The Last of Us series recently experienced one of the show’s most gruesome and agonizing deaths. Yet, certain viewers argue that the live-action version fell short compared to the game.

In Season 2 of The Last of Us, the most eagerly awaited moment from The Last of Us Part II unfolds. Yet, viewers were not ready for the heart-wrenching scene that left many feeling desolate and sorrowful. Some claimed it spoiled their Easter Sunday, week, month, even their entire year for some. The scene sparked a wave of discussions on social media, with many sharing their thoughts about its impact. They found the show’s portrayal of the devastating sequence more distressing and disturbing than how they recalled it in the game.

In a striking turn of events, the heart-wrenching moment that stirred conversation among viewers was Pedro Pascal’s Joel meeting his end. Fans of “The Last of Us” were well aware that this character’s fate was sealed, much like his game counterpart. However, the portrayal of Joel’s death in the live-action series left them all the more sorrowful. Many expressed that witnessing Joel’s demise on screen was more gut-wrenching than experiencing it through the video game. To put it simply, one wrote, “I didn’t think it could get worse, but The Last of Us season 2 is even harder to stomach than the game.” This sentiment was echoed by many others. Some even cautioned those who hadn’t played the game that the narrative would become increasingly distressing after the events in the second episode.

In the episode titled “Through the Valley,” Joel and Dina (Isabel Merced) rescue Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) from a swarm of infected. Abby pretends to be grateful and leads them to a nearby mansion, suggesting she’s reconnecting with her allies. However, upon their arrival, she knocks out Dina and confronts Joel, revealing her true identity: the daughter of the Firefly doctor that Joel killed in Season 1 to save Ellie (Bella Ramsey). She injures Joel by shooting him in the knee and brutally attacks him with a golf club. When the club breaks, she stabs him with the broken shaft in the neck. Ellie, who has been tracking them, arrives just in time to witness Joel’s suffering as Abby’s group restrains her and forces her to watch his gruesome death. The showrunners of The Last of Us , Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, explained to Variety that they chose to depict the anticipated demise of the beloved character early on because they wanted to spare fans from prolonged torment since they knew it was inevitable. Furthermore, Druckmann stated, “This event serves as the catalyst for the story’s events.

So Many People Knew Joel’s Death In The Last Of Us Was Coming, But It Still Hurt To See

As a movie reviewer, I must confess that Joel’s demise was a foregone conclusion, but it struck a chord that left me – and countless others – heartbroken, stunned, and overwhelmed with sorrow. Over the course of the series, Joel has grown to become a cherished character, earning the adoration of fans worldwide.

Though he is far from perfect, flawed in ways that mirror the imperfections of his fellow characters, Joel’s moral dilemmas and questionable decisions added depth to the narrative. However, it was his bond with Ellie that truly captured our hearts, serving as the beating pulse of the story.

Throughout the series, we watched as Joel transformed from a man shattered by the loss of his daughter, Sarah Miller (Nico Parker), into a protective father figure once more upon meeting Ellie. His untimely passing seems to have severed the heart of the tale, leaving viewers feeling empty and bereft with grief.

Watching Abby brutally kill Joel with a shattered club, striking his neck, was hard to bear. Yet, when Joel raised his head upon hearing Ellie’s voice, the scene became more intense. Still, viewers could understand why Abby acted as she did; she sought revenge for her father’s murder. It wasn’t surprising that Ellie was present too, as it would motivate her to avenge Joe’s death in a similar fashion as Abby. Ultimately, the event was heart-wrenching, despite being somewhat anticipated.

The Last of Us Season 2 streams on Max, and new episodes are released every Sunday.

Read More

2025-04-22 06:15