Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for The Last of Us season 2, episode 2!The Last of Us season 2 revealed that Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) was trying to kill Joel (Pedro Pascal) to avenge her father, the Firefly surgeon who was supposed to operate on Ellie (Bella Ramsay) to cure the Cordyceps infection. Abby ends up beating Joel to death with a golf club, delivering the killing blow as Ellie cries and pleads for her surrogate father's life.

Now, social media is ablaze with reactions to Joel's death in The Last of Us season 2, episode 2. Many reactions are heartbroken yet praise the show for being bold enough to kill him off, while others are less satisfied with his final fate. Check out what fans of the show are saying below:

Johnfaltin posted a GIF acknowledging Joel's death in the video game The Last of Us Part II, and how this is the second time he's died onscreen.

NaviKRStan was impressed by the whole episode, highlighting both Joel's death and the Infected's attack on Jackson.

Al Smizzle compared the whole episode to Game of Thrones season 5, episode 8, "Hardhome" in of quality.

xmaggiepiazzax thanked Pascal for bringing Joel to life, especially his performance in his final episode.

Inker Comics had a less positive response, feeling offput by Joel's death and saying it was "underwhelming."

Stuart Brazell said "HBO owes us all therapy" after how difficult it was to watch Joel die.

Stache of Strider expressed how sad it still was to see the protagonist die in both the game and the TV show.

Ediz was left speechless by the episode and everything that transpired.

What Reactions Say About Joel's Death In The Last Of Us Season 2

A Bold Decision That Ushers In A New Era

The cast of The Last of Us lost one of its two central characters with Joel's death, while also laying the groundwork for the conflict throughout the rest of season 2. Killing off one of the core protagonists was a polarizing move when The Last of Us Part II first came out, leading to a storm of negative reactions online to how it was handled. However, reactions to the show indicate that, while many were upset by the main character's death, they were impressed by the bold decision to kill him off in such a brutal way.

As the series continues, the aftermath of Joel's death will likely play out the same way it did in the games. This means Ellie will become the central character, making an important decision after what just happened that will define the rest of her journey in the series. It also means his death will be a major factor in how the story develops moving forward. However, with The Last of Us season 3 also confirmed, it means whatever happens next might play out in a longer timeframe than the condensed events of season 1.

Our Take On Joel's Death In The Last Of Us Season 2

A Strategy That Could Pay Off Long-Term

While Joel's death happened in the games, there was a split among fans about whether the decision and subsequent aftermath was a fitting direction for the story. However, The Last of Us has proven itself capable of adapting the game to the small screen with some alterations, meaning it could address criticism surrounding how events played out in the source material. As for Joel's death, no matter what happens next, it will be ed as a turning point for the series.

New episodes of The Last of Us season 2 air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

Source: Various (see above)