How Joel's death could affect Tommy in The Last of Us Season 2

The second season of The Last of Us premiered on HBO on April 13, 2025, and the show picks up five years after the first season and follows Joel and Ellie as they settle in Jackson, Wyoming.

The season follows the lives of Joel's brother Tommy and Ellie's pals Dina and Jesse, and the main plot revolves around their relationships and the obstacles of living in a post-apocalyptic society.

Tommy, who had a close relationship with Joel, is profoundly affected by his passing in The Last of Us Season 2. Tommy's anguish motivates him to take on greater responsibility. He might even become a guardian for Ellie and the Jackson community, even if he does not desire retribution as Ellie does.

Additional details about Joel's death impacting Tommy in The Last of Us Season 2

In the post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us, most humans have become violent due to a fungal infestation. As per the storyline, Joel's younger brother, Tommy, clings to decency and optimism, but Joel has become ruthless due to loss.

Tommy has a more optimistic outlook and thinks a better world is possible. Because of their similar background and disparate approaches to dealing with the outside world, Tommy frequently acts as a moral counterpoint to Joel, and this is done throughout the series.

In Season 2 of The Last of Us, Tommy is crushed by Joel's passing since the two brothers had a close and complicated bond. Together, they have endured many hardships over the years, including living in a harsh environment and having to make tough, sometimes awful decisions.

They had both adapted to a more tranquil existence in Jackson by the start of Season 2. Tommy still holds Joel in high regard despite their challenging past, and their bond has grown into one of trust and fraternal love.

Tommy's life is severely impacted by Joel's death. The pain is extensive, and Tommy would likely have to deal with the loss of someone who has stood by his side through thick and thin. In a recent Esquire interview, Gabriel Luna, who plays Tommy, discussed using his personal experiences with grief to bring this feeling to life.

"In this case, I was just trying to recall moments when you lose people abruptly. I drew a lot on my cousin Adrian. He was 44 years old and I lost him to liver cancer—just drawing on those emotions and memories. There’s this scene that follows the events of the second episode. I won’t get into it too heavily, but there’s a transition that happens, a passing of the torch, so to speak. It felt not only was it happening in the story but in our work and in our production. It’s exciting moving forward. It’s a terribly tragic episode. But now the world expands."

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While Tommy will not pursue Abby with the same zeal as Ellie, Joel's death will shape him. It might motivate him to stand up and take on greater responsibility, perhaps even to play a more protective role for Ellie.

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