I Knew It Was Coming, But I Didn't Think Joel's Death In The Last Of Us Would Happen So Soon

Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Last of Us season 2, episode 2 & The Last of Us Part II game!As someone familiar with the video games, Joel's death was far from a surprise, but I still didn't expect the big twist to happen so soon in The Last of Us season 2. Pedro Pascal is a fan favorite in every project he's involved in, which is understandable. Joel's actions in The Last of Us season 1's ending are debatable, but that hasn't stopped viewers from becoming attached to another character played by Pascal. With season 2 adapting The Last of Us Part II game, I knew the goodbye was coming sooner rather than later.

While The Last of Us has made changes to the games' story, the timing of Joel's death was not one of them. The show revealed the strained relationship between Joel and Ellie in the five years that passed since the events of season 1. Instead of diving deeper into their ongoing conflict before the big death, The Last of Us season 2, episode 2, featured the scene I've been dreading most: Joel's death at the hands of Abby.

Despite The Game's Story, I Didn't Think Joel's Death Would Happen In The Last Of Us Season 2 Episode 2

I Thought HBO Would Fight To Keep Pedro Pascal Around Longer

Joel's death happened early in The Last of Us Part II game, serving as the event that propelled Ellie and Abby's interwoven story. Anyone familiar with the game knew Joel's demise was coming at some point in season 2, though I can't be the only one who thought The Last of Us would delay the inevitable to keep Pedro Pascal around as long as possible. Truthfully, I thought the show would expand Ellie and Joel's story prior to his murder. Instead, "Through the Valley" kept up with the game's timeline by featuring Joel's encounter with Abby and her group outside of Jackson.

In the game, Joel and Tommy saved Abby from infected while out on patrol. After taking shelter with Abby's group at a nearby ski lodge, Abby made her move upon realizing Joel's identity. Abby wanted to kill Joel because he was the one who killed her father, as seen in The Last of Us season 1's ending. The same can be said for the TV show adaptation, though season 2 revealed Abby's motivations from the start. Still, the show didn't waste any time pitting Joel and Abby together, presenting the deadly encounter in season 2's second episode.

How Joel's Early Death Will Affect The Rest Of The Last Of Us Season 2

The Last Of Us Won't Be The Same Without Pedro Pascal's Joel

Joel's death, of course, means Pedro Pascal will appear in fewer episodes of The Last of Us season 2. Granted, he's still set to appear in future episodes through flashback sequences, just like in the games. Many who knew Joel's death was coming predicted that the massive Abby twist would come in the season 2 finale, leaving season 3 to follow the fallout of the death. However, with The Last of Us creators' hopeful four-season plan, it seems like season 2 will dive right into Ellie's attempt to find Abby to avenge Joel's death.

If that's the case, The Last of Us season 3 would likely follow Abby's side of the story, following The Last of Us Part II's game format, where Abby becomes the playable character. Abby may appear a few more times in The Last of Us season 2, especially since Isaac will be introduced as the leader of the Washington Liberation Front. That said, "Through the Valley" will probably be her most notable episode this season. The loss of Joel will greatly change The Last of Us moving forward, but there's a lot of story left to be told through Ellie and Abby.