The atmosphere was electric yet introspective at HBO Max’s recent Nominee Celebration, where The Last of Us team gathered after securing 16 Emmy nominations for Season 2. Stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, and Kaitlyn Dever joined creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, turning the spotlight on Season 2’s most devastating moment: Joel’s brutal death at the hands of Abby in Episode 2. What emerged was a raw glimpse into the emotional weight carried by the cast during filming—a weight that blurred the lines between performance and personal experience.

How Did The Last of Us Cast Prepare for Joel’s Death Scene?

For Pascal, who played the beloved Joel, the scene’s inevitability—mirroring the original video game—did little to ease its intensity. “I’m like, ‘Well, everyone knows this is gonna happen,’” Pascal admitted. “But none of us were really thinking about that as we were shooting. We were just really in the story.” His co-star Kaitlyn Dever, tasked with Abby’s visceral revenge killing, focused intensely on her character’s grief. “I wanted people to understand how deep her pain is,” Dever explained, “how much time she’d spent obsessing over this moment.”

The scene required Dever to confront Joel after he murdered her father years earlier. Mazin marveled at her precision: “Kaitlyn turned to look at golf clubs, turned back, and a tear fell. I don’t know how she did it.” Dever deflected praise to Pascal and Ramsey, recalling Ramsey’s harrowing portrayal of Ellie sobbing over Joel’s body: “I had to leave the room. I couldn’t watch it.”

Why Did Joel’s Death Resonate So Deeply With the Actors?

The emotional ripple effects extended beyond the set. Pascal revealed that his real-life separation from Ramsey between seasons made their fractured on-screen dynamic painfully personal. “We’d been together for a year, then physically apart,” he shared. “When we got back, our characters weren’t together. That was strangely painful in a way I hadn’t felt on previous jobs.”

Dever emphasized Abby’s humanity amid the violence. “There’s a moment when she kills Joel where she doesn’t feel better,” she noted. “Now she has to live with it.” This complexity fuels Season 3, where Abby becomes the lead—a narrative shift Druckmann and Mazin carefully built through her traumatic introduction.

What Challenges Did New Character Dynamics Create?

Filming Joel’s death reshaped the cast’s relationships. Pascal and Dever found unexpected synergy despite their characters’ fatal conflict. “There was a dance we got to enjoy,” Pascal said. “To be scene partners for something that intense, to be in it together—it was really fun.” Meanwhile, Ramsey’s isolation from Pascal during Ellie’s grief scenes created an authentic estrangement that haunted both actors off-camera.

The journey through grief and revenge in The Last of Us Season 2 isn’t just a storyline—it’s a testament to the cast’s extraordinary commitment to emotional truth. As Abby’s journey takes center stage in Season 3, these raw performances remind us that in this shattered world, every act of violence leaves scars on both sides of the story. Stream all episodes on HBO Max to witness the evolution firsthand.

Must Know

Q: Who kills Joel in The Last of Us Season 2?
A: Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) murders Joel in Episode 2 as revenge for his killing of her father, a pivotal moment adapted from the game The Last of Us Part II.

Q: Why did Abby target Joel specifically?
A: Joel murdered Abby’s father, a surgeon who was about to operate on Ellie to develop a cure, during Season 1’s hospital raid. Abby spent years tracking him.

Q: Will Pedro Pascal appear in Season 3?
A: Pascal’s Joel is deceased, but flashbacks are possible. Season 3 will focus on Abby and Ellie’s converging paths, per the game’s narrative.

Q: How did Bella Ramsey react to Joel’s death scene?
A: Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie’s devastation was so powerful, Dever admitted she “had to leave the room” during filming to avoid breaking down.

Q: What awards has The Last of Us Season 2 won?
A: Season 2 recently earned 16 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and acting nods for Pascal, Ramsey, and Dever.

Q: Is Abby the protagonist in Season 3?
A: Yes, following the game’s structure, Abby becomes a central character as her conflict with Ellie escalates.