Episode 2 of HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 is now available to stream on JioHotstar for Indian viewers. SPOILER WARNING! If you haven’t watched it yet, we advise you to read this piece at your own discretion.
If you’ve played Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II video game, then you already know what fate had in store for Joel (Pedro Pascal) in Season 2. The moment we were waiting for (or should we say, the moment we didn’t want to see happen) has finally arrived. Joel—brace yourselves—is dead, folks.
Joel didn’t die in The Last of Us Season 2 premiere, but Episode 2 delivers that shocking and controversial moment from the game: Pedro Pascal’s character is killed off. HBO went ahead with adapting this difficult and pivotal event from the source material. The episode itself was action-packed.
Seeking refuge in a mansion outside Jackson, Abby remains determined to avenge her father by killing Joel—even as her companions urge her to leave, worried about the town’s growing threat.
While scouting Jackson, Abby accidentally triggers a horde of infected hidden beneath the snow. She manages to flee but is rescued by Joel (Pascal) and Dina (Isabela Merced), who were out on patrol. The horde descends on Jackson, resulting in a brutal battle with major destruction and loss of life.
Abby then leads Joel and Dina back to the mansion. After incapacitating Dina, she reveals her identity as the daughter of the Firefly doctor Joel killed in Salt Lake City—then shoots him and brutally beats him to death.
Ellie (Bella Ramsey) arrives just in time to witness the murder, powerless to stop it, and swears revenge. Abby and her group flee, and as Jackson begins to recover, Ellie, Dina, and Jesse (Young Mazino) return with Joel’s body.
As expected, a huge chunk of the fanbase is absolutely heartbroken after Episode 2. Many were bracing for Joel’s death, but the way the creators executed it—raw, emotional, and haunting—will stick with you for a long, long time.
the BIGGEST fuck you to the last of us season 2 episode 2
— 𝙰𝚋𝚋𝚢 𝙼𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚜 (@abbyymmiles) April 21, 2025
no I didn’t play the game no I didn’t know anything going in but I’m NOT WATCHING ANYMORE BYE
Holy fuck… that second episode of The Last of Us Season 2. You think you’re prepared but it just hits like a gut punch to the stomach. There are tears in my eyes…
— Christopher Rates It 🦦 (@LuminousDagger) April 21, 2025
Mark Mylod and Craig Maizin, I’m sending you my therapy bill pic.twitter.com/AswIq19Xds
Nobody speak to me or even look my direction— i just finished episode 2 of season 2 of the last of us. #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/xZXEI0RKlV
— desh! (@deshaawnn) April 21, 2025
So, what happens now? Is this truly the last we’ll see of Pedro Pascal’s Joel in The Last of Us Season 2? We’ll have to wait and see.
The returning cast for Season 2 includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Maria.
New additions include Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O’Hara also appears as a guest star. Stay tuned for more updates.
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