Craig Mazin Clarifies Fans’ Complaint About Killing Pedro Pascal on The Last of Us

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Summary

  • Fans’ intense reactions to Joel’s death in The Last of Us Season 2 were unexpected due to it being faithful to the game.
  • Many were devastated by Joel’s death, particularly as it was more intense in the TV series than in the original game.
  • Despite the complaints, the creators felt Joel’s early death in Season 2 was necessary for the plot, and fans already knew it would happen.

In a natural and easy-to-read manner: Fans were left in tears after the demise of a cherished character in The Last of Us Season 2. Despite the anticipation, many still mourned deeply, prompting series co-creator Craig Mazin to address the outpouring of fan disapproval.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I’ve been hooked on the live-action TV series adaptation of Naughty Dog’s renowned game franchise, “The Last of Us.” The first season was a hit, and the second season, which debuted in April 2025, was no exception. This season delves deeper into the complex relationship between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), characters whose fates were foreshadowed from the start. While fans of the game were aware of their eventual parting, many were caught off guard by the emotional intensity of this moment. The creators, led by Mazin, have since addressed the recurring feedback about this scene, acknowledging the profound impact it had on viewers.

In the game sequel, The Last of Us 2, character Joel meets his end at Abby’s hands. Given that many had speculated this outcome for the series’ second season, some viewers were hoping Joel would survive to see a third season. To their shock, Joel perished in the second episode itself titled “Through the Valley.” Despite the expected demise, fans are still grappling with the loss. The creators of The Last of Us, Neil Druckmann and Mazin, recently sat down with Variety for a chat about Season 2. Druckmann admitted to the “intense reactions” sparked by Joel’s death, while Mazin shared the recurring fan sentiment he heard. Mazin commented: “Many were disappointed that Joel died so soon.”

The main criticism I’ve received is along the lines of “Why did you murder Pedro Pascal?” However, let me clarify that we didn’t kill him; he’s a living person. He’s doing great and can be seen in numerous other projects. So I’m unsure what the issue could possibly be!

Craig Mazin Isn’t Afraid To Get A Little Cheeky With Fans Complaining About Joel’s Death In The Last Of Us

Mazin appears quite content to engage with fans playfully, implying that they didn’t truly end Pedro Pascal’s character, Pedro Pascal. In a few weeks, you can catch him in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. For those yearning for Pascal, he’ll be quite visible. The live-action adaptation stirred up feelings when Joel was written off, as many believed it made his death more distressing than in the game due to Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) seemingly torturing Joel in front of Ellie. Previously, Druckman explained that they chose to depict Joel’s death early in Season 2 instead of delaying it, to avoid giving the impression they were procrastinating. Mazin further noted that pushing back his demise would have only prolonged the torment for fans who knew it was coming. Moreover, it was a plot necessity, as Druckmann also stated.

The passionate responses from fans about Joel’s demise in The Last of Us Season 2 might seem surprising because his ending is predetermined in the game, which serves as the basis for the TV series’ narrative. However, due to their deep emotional attachment to Pascal’s portrayal, many viewers had hoped the show would deviate from the video game’s storyline. Regrettably, the show must adhere to its source material, given that there is no plot without Joel’s character being written out. Will fans eventually accept it? Perhaps so…

The Last of Us streams on Max.

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2025-06-07 20:14