Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Last of Us season 2, episode 2!

Joel's death is one of the most tragic moments in The Last of Us, with Pedro Pascal's character being the focus of the first story alongside Bella Ramsey's Ellie. Unfortunately, it seems that Pedro Pascal's Joel won't be nearly as big of a deal in season 2, as his death in the second episode has completely changed the rest of The Last of Us' story.

The Last of Us season 2 has finally arrived, bringing back Joel and Ellie for what originally seemed to be another adventure. In the five years since The Last of Us season 1, Ellie and Joel have drifted apart, presumably thanks to Joel's big lie from the season 1 finale. Unfortunately, Abby intervened before Joel and Ellie could make up, with her seeking revenge on Joel for the death of her father. The death of Joel takes place at the end of The Last of Us season 2, episode 2, with many being surprised at how early in the season it happened.

Joel's Death Needed To Happen Early To Set Up Ellie's Main Journey In The Last Of Us Season 2

It Is Important For Abby & Ellie's Stories

Joel's death happened only two episodes into The Last of Us season 2, and while this seems early, it had to happen at this point for the story to work. The Last of Us season 2 is an adaptation of The Last of Us Part II, with the story of the HBO series sticking fairly close to the story of the video game. The story of The Last of Us Part II kicks off with the death of Joel, causing Ellie to seek revenge. The game chronicles Ellie as her and Dina travel to Seattle, Washington in order to find Abby and kill her, avenging Joel's death.

The rest of The Last of Us season 2 will presumably follow Ellie on this journey, with her making a cross-country journey similar to the one that Joel and Ellie made in season 1. The themes of The Last of Us Part II tackle the dangers of revenge, with Ellie spending the entire story causing all kinds of destruction thanks to her hatred of Abby. Ellie and Abby's respective vengeful spirits are juxtaposed with each other throughout the story, with this development taking a long time. The story of The Last of Us Part II is much longer than that of the first game, explaining why the HBO show had to get started so quickly.

When Joel's Death Happens In The Last Of Us Part 2 Game

It Is Just As Early

Joel's death coming early isn't unique to HBO's The Last of Us, as it occurs shockingly early in The Last of Us Part II as well. Joel's death comes only a few hours into The Last of Us Part II, with it occurring shortly after the game's first big action sequence. After his death, Ellie is playable for the majority of the game, pulling the rug out from under the players.

Joel's death in The Last of Us season 2 plays out fairly similarly to how it does in The Last of Us Part II. Things like Abby being stuck under the fence, Joel saving her, and the gang going back to Abby's ski lodge occur in both versions of the story. However, there are some changes, such as Joel being on patrol with Dina rather than Tommy. While some of the finer details may be changed, the actual timeline of Joel's death in The Last of Us season 2 is pretty much the same.

What The Cast & Crew Have Said About Joel's Death In The Last Of Us Season 2

Craig Mazin Has Already Discussed The Death

The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin has already talked to Deadline, discussing the challenges that came with adapting the divisive story of The Last of Us Part II. According to Mazin, adapting this story was stressful, as it had to live up to the expectations of fans, address criticisms, and make changes. Here are his full comments:

I was terrified. Neil probably wasn’t. Mark Mylod and I were just panicking because we knew the bar was high. I mean, this moment from the game is extraordinary, and we’re doing it almost the same way, but with some interesting differences, and that’s always a little scary. I don’t know, trying to hit that bar, we were incredibly nervous.

Many The Last of Us fans were eager to see how the HBO series handled Joel's death, as it was clearly going to be a difficult subject for the HBO show to cover. However, Mazin doesn't want fans to forget how seriously the team is taking The Last of Us, with him also saying "This episode is upsetting to me, too. I just want people to know that we are not here snickering. We are with them."