Sometimes actors get emotionally involved in a show’s events just as deeply as the viewers. As proof, Variety shares interviews with the main stars of The Last of Us reacting to a heart-wrenching plot twist from a recent episode. In conversations with journalists, the acting duo discuss how devastated they were by the events of Episode 2.
WARNING: This article contains spoilers from the latest episode of The Last of Us.
What Did Pedro Pascal Say?
Fans of the original The Last of Us game were prepared for the events of the second episode in the show’s second season, having already had their hearts broken by the game’s creators, Naughty Dog. But for everyone else, the unexpected and dramatic death of Joel may have come as a shock—especially since it happened so early in the season. As it turns out, not only loyal viewers were shaken by this narrative turn. In various interviews, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey reveal how emotionally challenging the second season has been for them.
“It wasn’t like they told me, ‘Hey, we’re killing you off at the beginning of Season 2.’ But it was always clear the show would stay true to the source material, and that, let’s say, my main and significant role would be primarily in Season 1. The question was only how and when it would happen,” said Pascal.
He also shared how surreal it was to witness the reactions of people on set:
“It was interesting to walk into the room and see people’s reactions. It wasn’t disgust—it was heartbreak,” said Pascal, referring to the prosthetics and makeup for the scene. “Right now, I’m in a state of active denial. As I get older, I notice more and more how I repress the fact that things end. Even though I know I’ll forever be connected to many people from this story, I’ll have to meet them under different circumstances now—never again as Joel in The Last of Us. And no, I don’t think about it often, because it just makes me sad,” he added.
What Did Bella Ramsey Say?
Up to now, the central relationship in the series has been between Joel and Ellie. The latest episode obviously changes that dynamic, shifting focus to Ellie’s desire for revenge. Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie, commented on the emotional twist:
“I already knew Joel was going to die, but when I got to that moment in the script… I was terrified. And I cried. I really started sobbing. It was the first time I cried reading a script,” the actress admitted.
Reactions from the Creators
Variety also spoke with the show’s creators, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, about the narrative twist. Asked why they chose to kill Joel off in the second episode, they said:
“We felt we had to reset the rhythm of the show. Even in the game, that moment comes about an hour in. But we also knew it had to happen early, because it’s the catalyst for the entire story. Yes, we considered different options, but the later we left it, the more it felt like we were delaying the inevitable instead of getting straight to the heart of the narrative,” said Druckmann.
“There was a risk of torturing the audience. And we didn’t want that. If people know it’s coming, they’ll start to feel tormented. And those who don’t know will eventually find out because everyone will be talking about it once it airs. We felt this moment had to feel organic in the story, not like some meta twist just meant to shock,” added Mazin.
During the scene of Joel’s murder, the dying man briefly lifts his head, giving viewers a glimmer of hope that he might get up and survive the encounter with Abby. When asked about this narrative decision, the creators became emotional.
“He hears her, he’s aware of her. But he just can’t do it. If there’s one person in the world who might make him do the impossible—it’s Ellie, telling him to get up. That also shows us that he knew she was there. And he saw her… I’m sorry, I’m going to break down,” Mazin said. “Her face was the last thing he saw…”
“I just kept thinking, ‘Damn it, I want him to get up!’ Even as the writers—we wanted Joel to get up. We love this character,” added an emotional Druckmann.
The Last of Us – Season 2 Trailer
(Note: The article originally included a mention of the Season 2 trailer.)
