Spoilers of The Last of Us season two episode two follow.
In the past 24 hours, the world lost its moral compass. No, we don’t mean Pope Francis — we’re talking about Joel on The Last of Us. The begrudging foster father, played by Pedro Pascal, was killed by newcomer Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) in the second episode of the show’s second season. Viewers watched in horror as Abby shot Joel in the leg, beat him with a golf club, then ultimately stuck the broken club in his neck with his surrogate daughter, Ellie, watching. If anyone forgot that this show’s M.O. is “How can we break audience members’ hearts into the tiniest little pieces imaginable this week?” the final tableau, with Ellie curled up next to a dead Joel, is a grave reminder. His death occurs early on in The Last of Us Part II, though Abby explains her reasoning while interrogating Joel instead of later in the game.
seeing joel’s body in that bag at the end of the episode pic.twitter.com/szcZ3rxiz3
— zoë rose bryant (@zoerosebryant) April 21, 2025
Online, people are mourning in ways that haven’t been seen since Ned Stark died in June 2011. “It’s all okay bc he’s gonna wake up right?” one person tweeted. “He’s gonna recover and everything will be fine. Joel and Ellie forever right?” No … not Joel and Ellie forever. At least now people who played the game can talk to those who haven’t without the weight of a giant secret on their shoulders.
#TheLastOfUs game players knew this WHOLE TIME that Joel was gonna die and you didn’t warn me?!? pic.twitter.com/fKXD4IwWSA
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) April 21, 2025
Me watching Joel die even though I played the game #TheLastOfUspic.twitter.com/8c7Q7ddijC
— kira 🍉 (@shivmcavoy) April 21, 2025
Related
- The Video Game Version of Abby Anderson Thinks HBO Made a Wise Choice
- The Last of Us’s New Beginning
- Meanwhile, in Jackson …
And no, we’re not talking about Pope Francis.
