Warning: Major spoilers ahead for The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2.

The Emotional Impact of Joel’s Death in The Last of Us Season 2

In a recent exploration of Episode 2 from the second season of The Last of Us, cast members and showrunner Craig Mazin discussed the emotional weight of a pivotal scene that profoundly affected Kaitlyn Dever, who portrays Abby. Set five years after the season one finale, this season reveals Abby leading the remnants of the Fireflies in pursuit of Joel, played by Pedro Pascal.

This episode features an intense confrontation between Abby and Joel, culminating in a devastating moment where Abby kills Joel as Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, looks on helplessly. In discussions with Entertainment Weekly, Dever shared her struggles in coping with the heartbreaking nature of this scene, particularly as it marked the end of the cherished relationship between Joel and Ellie.

Dever: I watched you guys in season 1, and your relationship was so beautiful. And watching the end of you guys was really, really hard for me, as a viewer.

Pascal: I knew she [Dever] had been cast, but she didn’t know that I knew. She is a gangster of an actor, and I’ve gotten to see it in all of the things that she’s done.

Dever: It was just a massive scene emotionally, and with blocking, too. There were so many moving parts and so many things to navigate.

Dever’s filming experience was particularly challenging due to personal circumstances; she lost her mother to cancer just weeks prior to filming the scene. With her mother’s funeral occurring just three days before she stepped onto the set, Dever found herself disoriented at a time when she needed focus the most. The production team was understanding and accommodated her grief by rescheduling the filming to allow her the necessary space.

Dever: To be as honest as possible, my days leading up to this scene were horrible. I lost my mom two or three weeks before I actually shot this scene on The Last of Us, and my mom’s funeral was three days before I did my first day. So I was sort of in a fog. I was in a daze.

Mazin: We said, “Take your time. Take all the time you need.”While I care extraordinarily about the show, it’s a TV show. I’m not going to disrupt someone’s grieving process for their own parent, especially [with] a show that’s partly about the grieving process. [Dever’s requests were] minimal, which were easy to honor — and then off we went.

Dever: [Donut holes and heavy amounts of coffee], that’s all I was in the mood for. Because of my life circumstances, I wasn’t actually able to do my normal routine as an actor, which was really interesting because I was kind of worried about it. Usually if I have a monologue like that, I’m memorizing it three weeks before I do it. I had a different approach, and I think that it really served the character in a lot of ways. I was able to sort of… I don’t know, just really let it go and not think about it too much because the words on the page are so powerful anyway.

Understanding Joel’s Death: A Turning Point in The Last of Us

Kaitlyn Dever’s Emotional Connection to the Scene

Joel’s death in this episode differs from its portrayal in the original game, emphasizing Abby’s singular desire for revenge rather than emotional closure. Dever’s ability to tap into her real-life grief added layers of authenticity to her performance. The cinematography’s focus on her expressions allowed viewers to grasp the complexity of her character’s pain.

While Abby sought vengeance for Joel’s past actions, including the killing of her father, the scene encapsulates a deeper exploration of grief—a theme central to both the series and the gaming narrative. Dever’s portrayal captures not only Abby’s determination but also her struggle to cope with personal loss.

The Aftermath: Ellie’s Journey Following Joel’s Death

Setting Ellie on a Path of Revenge

The climax of Season 2, Episode 2, is critical for setting Ellie on a trajectory rife with destruction and revenge, mirroring Abby’s own path after losing her father. Rather than fostering healing, Joel’s death creates a cascade of trauma, amplifying the series’ central themes of grief and the human condition amidst suffering.

For a fleeting moment in Season 2, Episode 1, Ellie found a semblance of stability, which was abruptly shattered by Joel’s demise. The emotional gravity of the scene leaves both Ellie and the audience grappling with the reality of loss, casting shadows over future episodes. This moment invites reflection on whether viewers can empathize with Abby’s actions, who, in many ways, reflects the same survival instincts that Joel and Ellie would exhibit in a reversed situation.

For more insights, visit: Entertainment Weekly

To learn more about the filming of this pivotal scene, check out the full article at Screen Rant.