If That's Really The End Of Joel In The Last Of Us, I'm Okay With It

Warning: Includes SPOILERS for The Last of Us season 2, episode 6, and for The Last of Us Part II game!Pedro Pascal returned to The Last of Us for season 2, episode 6, and if that's the last we're getting of Joel, I'm willing to accept it. For those who haven't played The Last of Us Part II, I can imagine Joel being brutally murdered in the second episode of the season, by a character we'd barely met, came as a shock. HBO changed the television landscape forever by killing off main characters in Game of Thrones, but it's a bit different on this show. For plenty of non-gamers, Pedro Pascal was a primary reason for tuning in.

The subsequent episodes have certainly been an adjustment. Bella Ramsey leads The Last of Us season 2's cast now as Ellie, and while she and Dina have been compelling characters to follow, it does feel notably different from the show's first season. Whether that's for better or for worse will vary from viewer to viewer, but that factor makes it all the more notable to see him return in episode 6. The episode is centered around flashbacks, exploring Joel and Ellie's relationship in the years between seasons.

The Last Of Us Season 2, Episode 6 Is Likely The Final Time Joel Is Used As A Main Character

If Joel Appears Again, It Will Probably Be A Brief Scene

Following Joel's death in season 2, episode 2, the fact that we've been treated to two more episodes with Pedro Pascal scenes in The Last of Us is a joy. That said, given that the TV show is going to be closely adapting the story of The Last of Us Part II for the last two seasons, there likely won't be any reasons to bring back Joel as a main character.

Regarding Joel flashbacks, there's nothing left they can adapt from the video game, so if Pedro Pascal is brought back for any reason, it would likely be just a small scene, not a leading role, lest they make a drastic change to his character from the source material.

Joel & Ellie's Porch Scene Felt Like The End Of Pedro Pascal's Story In The Last Of Us

This Was The Catharsis For Joel & Ellie's Story In The Last Of Us

The Last of Us season 2, episode 6's ending saw the famous porch scene, which is adapted from the video games with notable differences, representing an important milestone in the show's story. The porch scene is the final scene in the game, suggesting that this could be Joel's final scene in the TV show. In terms of Joel and Ellie's narrative, this is the closing moment of catharsis, offering some hopeful relief compared to all the challenging moments between them that came before it.

Rather than saving this scene for the final season, The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann explained to Collider that "The thing about Joel’s death is that it’s so impactful. It’s such a narrative nuclear bomb that it’s hard to wander away from it." To shock viewers with a drastic event like the death of a main character requires a degree of narrative justification, and including this scene and this episode allowed for a more television-appropriate resolution to Joel's role in the story. The audience now has all the facts Ellie has, and we can progress forward.

Could Pedro Pascal Return As Joel For Future Flashbacks In The Last Of Us?

There's Always Potential For An Original Scene

I wouldn't be shocked if Pedro Pascal returned to the TV show at some point, though I'd imagine it would be brief. As mentioned, anything else with Joel would be a departure from the video game, but the HBO series hasn't been shy about making changes. He could appear in a new flashback, a dream, or something else later in the show. For example, Ellie suffers from PTSD when she's living at the farm, as a traumatic reaction to Joel's death. This could be an opportunity to have him appear.

Practically speaking, Pedro Pascal is one of the busiest actors on the planet, with projects for Marvel and Star Wars likely taking up the bulk of his time in upcoming years. It's possible that The Last of Us will actually end his story on this note, but it would certainly feel fulfilling to have him appear briefly in season 4, at the end of the road.

Sources: Collider