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Spoiler warning: This article contains major spoilers for the final season 2 of Episode 2, “Through the Valley.”
If you haven’t seen the latest episode of The Last of Us, turn back now.
The second episode of Last of Us season 2 provided the most emotional gut punch of the show to date. This is Joel Miller’s death. In a scene adopted from the divisive yet acclaimed video game sequel, Joel is brutally killed by Abby, the daughter of the Firefly Doctor, who ran in the season 1 finale.
Title via Valley, this episode marks a major turning point for the HBO series, setting Ellie on a collision course driven by sadness and revenge. Joel’s death was kept under tight rap, but now it’s aired, so the cast and creators are finally talking about the gravity of the moment.
Pedro Pascal, who played Joel, said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that he always knew this moment would come, even if it wasn’t laid out from the start.
“We always knew that we would stay true to the source material. It was a matter of how, when, and when,” Pascal said.
The actor recalls stepping into a full make-up set. It wasn’t just another scene.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that day,” he said. “This kind of shock and heartbreak…it was strange to be on the edge of receiving it. It’s kind of an extreme version of “Is there something on my face?” I really could see this kind of sadness take over their eyes and everyone’s appearance. ”
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For Bella Ramsey, the day was marked with its own personal ritual and surreal energy. Ramsey admitted not to think much about the weight of the scenes between takes, and danced to “peanut butter jelly time” to shake off the nerves. But the sadness ran deep.
“I’ve never read any writing before,” Ramsey said of the script. “It feels like a father and daughter in some way… we work together in this ability, knowing that it will be the end for Pedro and us.”
Caitlyn Dever, who portrayed Abbey, faced her own unique challenge. She had just lost her mother a few weeks ago before filming the emotionally recharged scene.
“To be as honest as possible, I just say that my days leading up to this scene are scary,” Dever said. She explained that the experience was in the fog and navigated her sadness as she prepared to take on one of the show’s most cruel moments.
Despite the emotional weight, the cast and crew gathered as a team. Director Mark Myrod left the set closed schedule and approached filming to support Dever. The result is an intentional choice, according to co-running Craig Mazin, a scene that is restrained by violence but heavy emotional fallout.
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With Joel leaving, the show now pivots towards Ellie’s path of vengeance. Ramsey suggests how losses with Dina (Isabella Merced), who was with Joel during the attack, are related.
“They were traumatized in a way, but there’s also a responsive element,” Ramsey said. “Dina started spending that last day with him.”
As for Dever, she is preparing for the upcoming reaction. “I hope people appreciate what I did in that role, and that’s all I can really do,” she said. “I obviously wanted to do justice for the characters in the game, but I brought my credibility to the role and humanized her in the best way possible,” she added: “I’m very proud of that.”
Pascal may take place on the current timeline, but Joel’s presence still remains. The flashback teased in the trailer suggests that he has never physically seen his last one, but his influence continues to run deeper than some scattered memories. As Mazin said, “If we did the job right, you’ll feel a lot there.”
Joel repeats the echoes throughout the series, echoing every step Ellie takes from here.
