Last of Us S2: Star Confirms Joel’s Secret Dies With Him

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In the highly anticipated second season of “The Last of Us”, actor Gabriel Luna, who plays a significant role, validated fan theories about Joel’s demise in the popular HBO series. Fans of the “Last of Us” video games had long suspected that Pedro Pascal’s character Joel would meet his end during the second season of the TV show; it was simply a question of how his departure would be portrayed. As it turns out, the manner of Joel’s death in the series closely mirrors its representation in the games, with some minor alterations to dialogue and phrasing.

In my role as Gabriel Luna, portraying Tommy in The Last of Us Season 2, I’ve shared a crucial detail about Joel’s demise that diverges between The Last of Us Part II video game and the HBO series. Much like many fans had speculated, in the HBO production, it is revealed that Joel passes away without disclosing his secret to Tommy about what transpired on the day he rescued Ellie from the Fireflies.

During an appearance on “The Today Show,” the actor portraying Joel in The Last of Us Season 2 revealed, “Joel held onto that secret until his last breath, choosing not to tell Tommy, a departure from what occurred in the video games.

It’s sad because Joel held onto it until his death, and Ellie is the only one left alive who carries this burden. This might be why most of these decisions are made as they are.

Luna pointed out that each decision we make comes with its consequences, which seems to be the central idea portrayed throughout the series.

In life, we often face consequences for our decisions, and that’s simply how things work, or put another way, that’s the fundamental essence of our experiences.

At the end of the previous season, Pascal’s rugged post-apocalyptic character embarked on a killing rampage, supposedly to protect Ellie from the Fireflies.

Last season, Pascal’s hardened survivor in the post-apocalyptic world went on a lethal rampage, aiming to shield Ellie from the Fireflies.

Following a long trip across the country to transport the young girl (performed by Bella Ramsey) to the rebellion with the aim of utilizing her immunity to discover a remedy, they unveiled that the procedure planned for her was probably fatal.

Without first informing his adolescent friend, Joel entered the surgical room, snatched her up, and eliminated anyone who got in his path as he escaped. Later, Joel deceived Ellie about the events at the Salt Lake City hospital, claiming they found nothing and had given up on finding a cure.

In the show, viewers speculated that Joel hadn’t shared with his younger brother the truth about their past events leading to Jackson, as contrasted to how it transpired in the games, given Tommy’s response to Joel’s death and Ellie’s subsequent quest for revenge against those responsible.

In the second season of “The Last of Us,” the tale of survival duo Joel and Ellie, portrayed by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, unfolds further amidst a world devastated by a fungal outbreak, continues its critically-adored journey on HBO.

In accordance with the game series titled PlayStation, Season 2 unfolds with decisions from the initial season affecting Joel negatively, as a fresh character named Abby, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever, appears seeking retribution.

How Different Was Tommy and Joel’s The Last of Us Story in Season 2?

Lovers of the “The Last of Us Part II” video game are well aware that the circumstances surrounding Tommy and Joel before Joel’s demise in the HBO series differ significantly from those portrayed in the game.

In the beginning of the game, Joel and Tommy converse about events that transpired five years earlier, with Joel recounting his actions to protect Ellie. Initially taken aback, Tommy eventually understands the significance of Ellie to his sibling and reluctantly agrees with Joel’s choices.

In the series, it appears (to the viewers’ knowledge) that this specific discussion between characters never took place. Consequently, Tommy may not have fully grasped the extent to which Joel sacrificed for Ellie to remain in his life.

Tommy’s response to Joel’s unexpected demise is significantly altered by the circumstances, as depicted in the series. While Tommy undeniably grieves for his elder sibling, there remains a certain confusion in his understanding, viewing Joel’s fate as a mere coincidence of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

In the game, Tommy has learned Joel’s hidden truth and witnessed Abby’s surprise attack and killing of a significant character. Tommy fully understands why Ellie is so driven by passion when she embarks on her quest for vengeance across the Pacific Northwest.

In the HBO version, Tommy recognizes that Ellie seeks vengeance, yet he maintains a certain level of caution, aware that he must safeguard her as well.

In his interview on the Today Show, Luna expressed, “She’s under my care now; she is my duty.

She belongs to me now, and it’s my duty to care for her. The heavy tasks she’s undertaken—seeking justice and retribution—are not ones she should bear alone. I cannot allow her to face this burden alone.

In the game, Tommy says, “Go ahead, do as you see fit,” whereas in the TV show, Tommy comprehends but is striving to safeguard Ellie’s purity as she approaches him requesting they travel to Seattle.

In “The Last of Us Part II”, Luna’s character may have a new motivation for reappearing in the story later on, different from what was initially suggested. In the TV show version, Tommy pursuing Ellie to Seattle will primarily be about protecting the teenage survivor from her own actions, rather than assisting her in seeking revenge as previously implied.

However, everything might shift when she encounters Ellie and Dina in the Emerald City. She could be the one to inform her adoptive uncle about this turn of events, as she now realizes that the unfulfilled reconciliation between father and daughter is driving Ellie’s pursuit to confront Abby.

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2025-05-03 23:34