This article contains SPOILERS for The Last Of UsPart IIgame and potentiallyThe Last of Usseason 2.
Summary
The Last of Usseason 2’s story details are a huge relief for Pedro Pascal’s Joel, whose presence in the series might be bigger than many originally thought. Pedro Pascal’s performance as Joel Miller was one of the highlights ofHBO’sThe Last of Usseason 1, combining all the aspects fans of the source material expected from a live-action Joel while adding something new to the character. Pascal is reprising his role as Joel inThe Last of Usseason 2, which will partially coverPart IIof the game.
Although the bond between Joel and Bella Ramsey’s Ellie was the focus of season 1, season 2 will have a very different tone based on what happens inThe Last of Us Part II. Joel’s death in the sequel is a massive turning point for the story, with Ellie becoming the main playable character for the rest of the game. AlthoughJoel’s relatively short presence inThe Last of Us Part IIcould mean Pascal will only have a handful of scenes in season 2, the latest update on the HBO adaptation suggests this might not be the case after all.
The Last Of Us Season 2 Will Revisit Events From Season 1
The Last of Us season 2 could have a lot of flashbacks
Part of the reason whyThe Last of Usmight need four seasonsto tell its entire story is that season 2 will revisit events from season 1. According toThe Last of Uscreator Neil Druckmann (viaDeadline), the stories of seasons 1 and 2“are so interconnected”that they will inevitably be“touching on things from the first season or the first game because there is a continuation of those characters.”This could meanThe Last of Usseason 2, which is set to include a five-year time jump according toPart II, will include flashbacks to season 1.
The Last of Us Part II’s story is not told in chronological order, and some of its most important moments come from flashbacks.
The Last of Usseason 1 ended exactly how the first game did– Joel lies to Ellie about what happened at the hospital. The consequences of Joel’s lie come into play inThe Last of Us Part II, at the start of which Ellie already knows the truth. The moment in which Joel finally confessed his lie is one of many flashbacksPart IIincludes. Other important moments from season 1 that the show could revisit include Abby’s origin story, which ties into Joel’s rampage at the hospital in the finale
The Last Of Us Part II Used Flashbacks To Keep Joel Around After His Death
The Last of Us Part II told a non-linear story
Joel dies at the beginning ofThe Last of Us Part II, one of the biggest and most controversial twists in the history of video games. After playing as Joel for most of the first game, players now had to watch him die powerless at the hands of Abby, whose motives are only revealed later in the story. Although Joel dies a few minutes intoPart II’s gameplay, the game keeps him around through flashbacks.The flashbacks explore, for example, Joel and Ellie’s father-daughter dynamic, as well as how it all fell apart when Ellie learned the truth.
Joel was played by Troy Baker in theLast of Usgames.
The Last of Us Part II’s story is not told in chronological order, and some of its most important moments come from flashbacks. It is safe to sayThe Last of Usseason 2 will also have a non-linear story, particularly regarding Abby’s journey. The moment in which players – and Ellie – learned why Abby did what she did is an important turning point inPart IIand should not be revealed too soon on the show. Regardless,The Last of Usseason 2 revisiting elements from the first season means it will have plenty of flashbacks as well.
The Last Of Us Season 2 Revisiting Season 1 Stories Means More Of Joel
Pedro Pascal’s Joel might stick around even after his death
It is unclearwhen Joel will die inThe Last of Usseason 2, or if he will die at all. Season 2 could take a different approach compared to the game and tell most of its story chronologically, starting a few weeks or even months before Joel’s death. This would allow HBO’s show to slowly set up the characters and factions that will be important in the rest of the show, makingPart II’s story more digestible. One of the criticismsThe Last of Us Part IIfaced was precisely how fast everything happened.
The Last Of Us Seasons 2, 3 & 4 Plans: What It All Means
The Last of Us creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have thought about the show’s future, but what do their plans for seasons 2, 3, and 4 mean?
Even if Joel does die at the beginning of season 2,The Last of Usrevisiting pre-time skip moments means Pedro Pascal’s character can continue to appear after his death. Saying goodbye to Pascal’s Joel will be bittersweet, but his death is essential for Ellie’s journey inPart II. Some of the most emotional moments from the second game came from flashbacks set shortly after Part I, including Joel’s birthday gift to Ellie. WithThe Last of Uspotentially continuing for three more seasons, there should be plenty more of Joel regardless of his death.
The Last Of Us
Cast
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic drama series set two decades after a global catastrophe. It follows Joel, a seasoned survivor, who is tasked with escorting Ellie, a teenage girl, across a desolated United States, transforming into a harrowing journey of survival and companionship.
