The Last of Us Season 2 has become one of the most exciting TV shows, and viewers still have much to speculate about how Joel's death will be shown. In the game, Joel's death occurs unexpectedly at the very start, thus becoming a premise for Ellie's revengeful emotional journey.
Of course, the killing was pivotal, but it caused a lot of fanfare as many were stunned to see the popular character leave this world without warning. And so, the TV version—moving in directions that do not mirror the book—has inspired many questions about how the show would possibly play out differently with Joel's death.
Theories range from a faithful recreation to delaying his death for a more dramatic effect. Whatever the creatives in charge decide, Joel's death is clearly among the major turning points of The Last of Us for its audience.
Disclaimer: The theories about how The Last of Us might handle Joel's death in Season 2 are speculative.
The Last of Us Season 2: Joel’s death theories keep fans engaged
1. Faithful adaptation at the start of season 2
First is the theory that Joel's death will reflect the game and occur at the beginning of The Last of Us Season 2. That would come at the hands of Abby, who is seeking revenge on the man responsible for her father's death.
With Joel's brutal hacking in front of Ellie, that approach would lend to the same shocking and emotional punch that fans felt in The Last of Us Part II, keeping in line with the original story.
This would probably split the audience apart because it would be hard to keep watching the show without Joel, especially after Pedro Pascal's enormous popularity.
2. Extended story arc before his death
Another theory is that the series will drag on Joel's death to allow his character to extend longer. Thus, Joel might survive through several episodes or even mid-season because the writers can further develop his relationship with Ellie.
The Last of Us fans will attach themselves to him more as they spend more time with him, making his eventual death worse. This would make death even more poignant and add a deeper richness to the story, helping people understand Joel's actions better after the events of The Last of Us Season 1.
3. A different narrative path with Ellie
In this alternate plot, Joel would have been able to go on this journey with Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they searched for Abby, leaving him to die at the end of the season. This would have given more opportunities for Joe and Ellie to bond before his death.
This would be a wonderful curveball because everyone believed Joel would make it through longer than he did. It would only keep the tension high while holding on to the idea of saving it until later in the season, maybe for the moment.
4. Flashbacks to enhance his presence
Even if Joel's death occurs by the start of The Last of Us Season 2, he will not disappear completely from featuring in the storyline as it does in the case of flashbacks.
Applying such special effects features would assist Pedro Pascal in continuing to play a central role in the storyline, for example, through flashback episodes when we see Joel's or Ellie's history.
Such a scenario could be narratively blurred throughout the season, endowing him with further meaning and motivation in his way of revenge. Such an approach would keep Joel's emotional presence in the narrative, ensuring fans connect to his character even after death.
5. Delaying his death for future seasons
Some people even theorize that Joel might die much later than The Last of Us Season 2. The writers might postpone his death for one or two more seasons, giving the crucial time and built-up tension. Therefore, they can develop the characters more, and Joel's fate might eventually come.
They may keep his life alive to gain time to dive into what such a post-apocalyptic world brings and show Ellie's life through Joel's eyes. If done, this would deviate significantly from the game, but it could make the pacing of the storyline and the characters' progress more flexible for the showrunners.
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