3 sources·Entertainment

The Impact of Joel's Death in 'The Last of Us' Season 2

The Last of Us Season 2 explores the emotional fallout from Joel's death, focusing on Ellie and Tommy's journey of grief and revenge.

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  1. The Last of Us recap: season two, episode three – yes, Joel has been replaced already

    But by the end of this episode, Ellie has claimed his revolver, ditched her beloved Converse in favour of Joel-like boots and taken charge on a two-man horse where five years ago she used to ride pillion behind him.

    The Last of Us recap: season two, episode three – yes, Joel has been replaced already

    The GuardianThe Guardian·4d
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  2. ‘The Last Of Us’: Gabriel Luna Reflects On Tommy’s Trauma In The Aftermath Of Jackson’s Infected Attack & A Major Character Death

    Three months later, things feel a bit calmer, but the deep fissures of the loss endured that night remain for both Ellie and Tommy as they weigh whether or not to go after Abby and her crew, who Dina has deduced are based in Seattle.

    ‘The Last Of Us’: Gabriel Luna Reflects On Tommy’s Trauma In The Aftermath Of Jackson’s Infected Attack & A Major Character Death

    DeadlineDeadline·4d
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  1. The Guardian
  2. NBC News
  3. Deadline

Updated: Apr 28th, 2025, 6:37 PM ET

Summary

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Season 2 of 'The Last of Us' begins with the aftermath of Joel’s murder. Characters like Ellie and Tommy deal with grief, while Ellie seeks vengeance against Joel's killer, Abby. Despite the community vote against her mission to assemble support for her quest, Ellie and her friend Dina decide to venture to Seattle alone. Tommy, who feels a newfound responsibility for Ellie, navigates the challenge of protecting her while managing his own trauma. The narrative’s heavy emotional weight highlights personal conflicts and evolving relationships as they grapple with loss and the quest for justice.


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  • Joel's death creates a profound emotional shift for the characters, especially Ellie and Tommy, leading to a quest for justice.

  • As Ellie grapples with her grief and the desire for revenge, the show's narrative emphasizes the complexity of choices and consequences in a harsh world.

  • The dynamics of relationships are explored as characters navigate their roles in the aftermath of loss, with Tommy feeling a new responsibility towards Ellie.


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The Impact of Joel's Death in 'The Last of Us' Season 2 - Pano News