I Think This Is The Dumbest Complaint About The Last Of Us Season 2 (And Craig Mazin Is Right To Call It Out)

In the months before The Last of Us season 1 premiered on HBO in January 2023, it was easy to assume it would be a huge hit. As soon as the pilot premiered, fans were fascinated by the TV adaptation of the dark and intense story of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) journey through a post-apocalyptic world. After watching the second season's teaser trailer, I knew that these new episodes would get people talking. I also wondered if, after all the hype and anticipation, viewers would respond as positively to season 2 as they did to season 1.

While the season 2 finale had some memorable deaths, there's no doubt that fans are still thinking about the biggest moment from The Last of Us season 2, which happened early on. However, while many take issue with this story decision, I think the backlash is unfair.

It's Fine That The Last Of Us Season 2 Killed Off Joel (And Craig Mazin Had A Great Response To Fan Reactions)

Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) kills Joel in The Last of Us season 2, episode 2, "Through the Valley," and while many fans think Joel should have survived, I think his death makes sense for several reasons. For one thing, Joel dies in the game, so it would be strange if he lived on for several seasons of the TV show. Since everyone knew about Joel's death, of course the TV show was going to include this important plot point.

While Joel is a strong and well-crafted character, he's not the only compelling person in this world. I think it's good that The Last of Us season 2 moved on from Joel quickly and focused on Ellie's coming-of-age journey, along with introducing viewers to Abby's dramatic and painful storyline. The game isn't only about Joel, and the show doesn't need to be, either. This way, Ellie can take what she learned from Joel and always remember their important connection, while also being ready for the next part of her life.

At Variety‘s A Night in the Writers’ Room in early June 2025, co-showrunner Craig Mazin addressed the response to Joel's death. Mazin explained, “He did a thing. Everyone lost their sh*t, and then I had to do that same thing, because he did the thing. I loved doing the thing, I thought it was great."

the last of us season 2 joel crying

Mazin continued:

"The big complaint that I’ve gotten is, ‘Why did you kill Pedro Pascal?’ And I keep explaining, we didn’t kill him! He’s a man, he’s alive. He’s fine. And he’s in literally everything else. So I don’t know what the problem is!”

I like that Mazin addressed what fans have been saying, and I also like that his response was funny. I know everyone loves Pedro Pascal, whether they're shaking their heads at his intense morning coffee order or hearing about his casting in The Fantastic Four: Four Steps. I wonder if part of the negative reaction to Joel's death is the fact that fans want to keep seeing Pascal on The Last of Us. But, like Mazin said, he's got a busy acting career. I can accept that Pascal's time on the post-apocalyptic drama is likely over, although perhaps he'll come back via flashback in the future.

The Last Of Us Season 2's Controversial Joel Decision Sets Up Season 3 Perfectly

If Joel were still alive, then The Last of Us season 3 would have to juggle three main character arcs: Joel, Ellie, and Abby. I don't think that's the right move, and I think Joel's death made room for some other characters to shine.

Now, The Last of Us season 3 can feature the infamous rat king scene, and can delve into Abby's journey. Since she's dealing with grief over her father's death while also living in this new world with the terrifying Cordyceps infection, Abby is a complex character. She's driven by emotion, and that works well here. Fans have heard that Ellie might not be in as much of season 3 as seasons 1 and 2, and while I want to see as much Ellie as possible, I'm glad to see more of Abby. Dever is a talented star who did an excellent job as Abby in season 2, and I don't doubt that she'll continue to impress next season.

Although the show is making a bold change, I think it's a great idea. Sure, if this were another show, it's possible that Joel would have lived because it would have seemed crucial to keep a popular character around. But that would be the wrong call. While some might wish that Joel had survived, I think one thing would be worse: if The Last of Us gave fans the same episode, over and over again, and didn't have any big surprises up its sleeve.