How will the big death in The Last of Us affect the future? Details revealed 

Fans of The Last of Us were left stunned after the shocking death of Joel Miller in the season 2 episode, Through the Valley. This major event has caused major heartbreak among fans who did not see his death coming. Given how Joel was such a focal point of The Last of Us, his death raises big questions about where the story is headed next.

What makes this moment even more significant is how it closely follows the game’s storyline, keeping things raw and emotional for viewers. But Joel’s death doesn't just cause shock or pain, it changes everything for the characters, especially Ellie. Her grief and anger are about to drive the rest of the season’s events.

Future of The Last of Us

Joel’s death shifts the focus of The Last of Us entirely. In the first season, he was a protector and a father figure to Ellie. Now that he’s gone, Ellie is forced to deal with overwhelming emotions of loss, confusion, and rage. This tragic moment pushes her into a new phase of her life, where revenge becomes her primary goal.

This death in The Last of Us also helps us see Ellie more as an adult than a girl. Joel’s presence gave us a feeling that she was like his daughter, his little girl. But losing him will change everything for her. We will likely see Ellie grow into a more complicated person, making harder choices, and possibly crossing lines she never thought she would. Viewers will see how her grief and pain transform her and her actions going forward.

The grief of Joel's death and shift in the show's focus was felt not only by viewers but by The Last of Us cast on set, too. Gabriel Luna, who plays Joel's brother, Tommy Miller, spoke with Esquire about his experience filming the heartbreaking scene and what the death means for future episodes. Luna said,

“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.''

The introduction of Abby, the person responsible for Joel’s death, adds another layer to the story. She’s not just a killer. Her reasons, when explored more in future episodes, will challenge how we see morality in this post-apocalyptic world. By showing both sides of the conflict, The Last of Us is set to explore how people process trauma differently, and maybe we are no one to judge.

As far as storytelling goes, the decision to kill off Joel early on allows the creators to explore new directions. While his presence will still be felt through flashbacks, the main focus now shifts to Ellie’s journey. Joel’s death and the change in the show’s focus are surprising for viewers who haven’t played the games, but the creators have done justice by staying true to the vision of the game.

For longtime fans and ones who have played the game, this development also signals that The Last of Us isn’t going to play it safe. It’s ready to dive into deeper, darker emotional themes. Viewers can expect more raw moments, intense character growth, and moral choices that feel real and difficult.

On the production side, the The Last of Us creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, have confirmed that the rest of the season will closely follow the story beats of the second game. While Joel is gone, Pedro Pascal’s portrayal will appear in key scenes from the past, giving us more insight into Joel and Ellie’s bond.

New episodes of The Last of Us stream every Sunday at 9 pm ET on HBO and Max.

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