Fleming Openly Admits to Doubting Joel’s Fate in The Last of Us Season 2

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Spoilers for The Last of Us season 2, episode 2

Summary

  • Showrunners planned Joel’s death in TLOU season 2 despite fan backlash.
  • Composer was apprehensive about controversial scenes due to Pedro’s popularity.
  • Balance between upsetting TV viewers and staying true to the game’s spirit.

Despite anticipating that a distressing scene from Naughty Dog’s “The Last of Us Part 2” would be included in HBO’s “The Last of Us” season 2 adaptation, the brutal Joel moment resonated more deeply than expected. This was not just due to seeing Pedro Pascal, portraying Joel, lying wounded on the floor following Abby’s actions, but also because it highlighted the poignancy of the unspoken words between Joel and Ellie, whose strong bond as father and daughter had been shattered in this live-action rendition.

Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, the showrunners of the series, were unwavering in their decision to include Joel’s death in Season 2. Despite Pedro Pascal having a large fanbase, the duo was prepared to face the backlash from some viewers in order to stay faithful to the sequel. Episode 2 was packed with a multitude of infected, sorrow, fear, and the profound essence of loss, which were accentuated by an exceptional soundtrack composed by David Fleming, who had also created the music for Season one. However, even Fleming doubted whether they could execute episode 2’s most startling aspect given Pedro’s widespread popularity.

The Last of Us Composer Wasn’t Sure if Season 2 Would Include Joel’s Fate

During an interview with ScreenRant, David Fleming, composer for HBO’s “The Last of Us,” discussed his work on the conflict scene between characters Joel and Abby in episode 2, as well as crafting the intense music for the Jackson infected breach. The death of Joel in “The Last of Us Part 2” sparked a massive outcry from fans, with some going so far as to send threatening messages to Laura Bailey, who portrayed Abby. Given the controversy surrounding this scene, Fleming expressed concern about whether it would be included in the TV adaptation, saying, “I was curious if they would tackle that in the TV show given how well-loved Pedro [Pascal, who plays Joel] and Joel are.

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that the heart-rending scene between Joel and Abby was truly devastating. Yet, I couldn’t be more appreciative of Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin for daring to disregard conventions and keep their narrative within the confines of the game. However, I can’t help but feel a pang as I recount the numerous text messages I received in the immediate aftermath of episode 2, expressing profound sadness over Joel’s demise.

I had a feeling they might tone things down, despite their bold moves in season one, but I’m relieved they didn’t in season two as well. It’s heartbreaking, no doubt, and I’ve received numerous messages about viewers being upset over Joel. However, despite the sorrow, I believe it sets the stage for Ellie’s journey and the narrative as a whole. Furthermore, it underscores the nature of the world we’re dealing with.

Fleming admired the showrunners for bravely incorporating the contentious twist in episode 2, understanding that Mazin and Druckmann might have led a more peaceful life if they hadn’t, given the fury among TV viewers. However, gamers would have been outraged if it weren’t included, so it was indeed a challenging situation, like being stuck between a rock and a hard place, and finding the perfect balance. Fleming stated that it could have been simple to make excuses and find ways to spare the main character, but since Neil developed the games and Craig is such a fan of them, he didn’t believe they would compromise the essence or narrative of their original content.

The Last of Us Season 2 streams on Max, with new episodes dropping every Sunday.

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2025-04-23 15:25