Joel’s Shocking Demise

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heads up: what follows may reveal key plot points from The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2 titled “Through the Valley”; proceed with caution if you wish to avoid spoilers.

As a passionate fan of Naughty Dog’s masterpiece, The Last of Us, last night’s HBO episode hit me hard. Pedro Pascal’s character, Joel, met an unexpectedly brutal end at the hands of Abby, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever. For those unaware of the twist, it came as a shocking blow – one that Pedro himself admits he’s still grappling with, living in “active denial” about his on-screen demise.

Discussing his shocking demise in Entertainment Weekly, Pascal – who has previously perished on both large and small screens – admitted that this particular death will be etched in his memory forever. Despite being aware from the outset that such an eventuality was likely, he wasn’t anticipating it to occur so early into the new season. “It wasn’t as if they warned me, ‘We’re going to kill you at the start of season 2’,” he explained, further adding:

The general consensus was that it would remain faithful to the original content in a particular manner, with the specific duty for adherence being primarily focused on the first season. The question was more about the method and timing.

Due to last night’s surprising disclosure, Pascal’s part in the series “The Last of Us” will significantly diminish moving forward. However, we anticipate that he’ll still show up in flashbacks and recollections, ensuring he won’t completely disappear. Regarding how he’s coping with his exit? “I’m in active denial,” he shared with Entertainment Weekly, adding:

As I grow older, I’m becoming increasingly aware that I struggle to accept endings. Even though I remain deeply connected to many people through shared experiences, I know that our reunion won’t happen under the unique circumstances of playing Joel in The Last of Us. Yes, I don’t dwell on it much because it brings me sadness.

Pedro Pascal’s Death in ‘The Last of Us’ Affected Everyone Around Him

For those who witnessed Pascal’s character’s death last night, you can understand that the producers spared no effort to make it as emotionally intense as possible while accurately portraying the game’s events. This was evident in Ellie’s distress and Joel’s brutal injury, with his face disfigured and bloodied. No detail seemed too harsh for this scene. As for Pascal himself, he shares that stepping onto set adorned with death makeup to film his character’s end was an experience unlike any other in his acting career.

On that particular day, I walked onto set adorned with makeup, only to find that my appearance immediately dampened the atmosphere. The reaction I received was a mix of shock and sadness – an odd sensation to be on the receiving end of such emotions. It was almost as if everyone was silently questioning, “Is there something wrong with my face?” That day, I could see sorrow overshadowing everyone’s expressions.

If only he could’ve witnessed the expressions on our faces while we watched that moment – it was just as distressing as Oberyn Martell’s death in “Game of Thrones.” Now that it’s over, there are still five episodes left for this season to unfold. It should be intriguing to see the repercussions and how things develop for Ellie along the way. Make sure to tune in every Sunday for new episodes of “The Last of Us” on HBO and MAX.

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2025-04-21 18:36