The creators of HBO’s The Last of Us have sparked discussion about a Pedro Pascal Joel Miller possible return in The Last of Us season 3. After Joel’s dramatic exit in the second season, hints about flashbacks and narrative surprises set fans speculating about what lies ahead for Joel, Ellie, and the rest of the cast.
Creators Consider More Joel Flashbacks After Season 2 Twist
Despite his brutal demise early in the second season, interest in the fate of Joel Miller, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, remains fervent among viewers. In episode 6 of season 2, fans saw Pascal return through extensive flashbacks, rekindling hope that Joel’s story is not entirely finished.
Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have been open about the series’ potential direction. Recent comments suggest the next season could delve further into Joel’s history, possibly through side stories that explore his life with his brother Tommy, played by Gabriel Luna. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mazin hinted at expanded use of flashbacks to explore the Miller brothers’ past, particularly their more violent exploits prior to the main events of the show.
Next season, we probably will have a lot more flexibility [to tell side stories]. Maybe a side trip to do Joel and Tommy terrorizing the countryside, we’ll never know,
—Craig Mazin, Cocreator
I wouldn’t have guessed we’d have a short story about Joel’s dad before we wrote the season.
—Craig Mazin, Cocreator
Exploring Tommy and the Aftermath of War
Mazin further indicated that Tommy’s story is ripe for deeper examination, considering his past involvement in war and morally ambiguous acts shared with Joel. This exploration could reveal more about Tommy’s character development as he seeks to honor the promises made to his late brother. The creators’ willingness to tackle complex emotional ground is evident as they contemplate intertwining these backstories with the show’s present timeline.
[Tommy’s] been in war, and we also know that for some time, he and Joel were doing some pretty bad things. So there is the potential of seeing this other side of Tommy, and that is now about him delivering on his understood promise to his brother,
—Craig Mazin, Cocreator
Bella Ramsey Anticipates a Reduced Role for Ellie
Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie, recently shared that her involvement in season 3 might diminish compared to previous episodes. Speaking after the season 2 finale, Ramsey admitted to Variety that she hasn’t reviewed scripts yet, but expects her character to play a more secondary role in future episodes due to the new narrative direction. These remarks fuel ideas that season 3 could shift its central focus, potentially giving other characters such as Abby and Tommy more of the spotlight.
I haven’t seen any scripts, but yes, I do expect that. I think that I’m going to be there, but not a whole bunch,
—Bella Ramsey, Actor (Ellie)
We’ve had conversations about that. I sort of have a rough idea of what it’s going to be, but I can’t tell you.
—Bella Ramsey, Actor (Ellie)
Focus Shifts: Abby’s Role in the Third Season
The season 2 finale added more intrigue by giving Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever, a larger share of the narrative stage. Ellie and Abby’s confrontation ultimately gave way to Abby’s perspective, suggesting that Abby’s journey might anchor much of the upcoming season. This narrative pivot introduces new emotional complexities and challenges fans’ expectations about protagonists and antagonists.
Challenging Conventions in Storytelling
Craig Mazin has spoken extensively about the show’s approach to narrative structure, emphasizing an intent to disrupt audience assumptions about heroes and villains. The creators appear focused on exploring nuanced characters, rather than adhering to traditional protagonist–villain dichotomies. Their willingness to break unspoken rules of television storytelling contributes to an emotionally charged and at times divisive viewing experience.
I don’t think television is supposed to work like this. We’re clearly breaking quite a few rules, and I love that,
—Craig Mazin, Cocreator
And I love it because that is the point. This is not something we’re doing as a gimmick. The point of this story — and this is looked at from so many different angles in so many different ways — is that the entire concept of protagonist is flawed. The entire concept of villain is flawed. Our way of processing the world through heroes and villains is a mistake. It ends up creating these barriers between people that shouldn’t be there. It ends up giving ourselves justifications and conveniences for bad behavior, and it ends up allowing us to judge others summarily for things that we don’t quite understand the motivation behind it.
—Craig Mazin, Cocreator
We know this is a challenging thing to keep track of emotionally. We understand people are going to be provoked. But part of this story is about examining why we’re so comfortable with following one person’s point of view about everything,
—Craig Mazin, Cocreator
The Road Ahead for The Last of Us
As speculation intensifies around Pedro Pascal Joel Miller possible return in The Last of Us season 3, viewers await confirmation of which characters and stories will take center stage. The show’s refusal to draw simple lines between its heroes and villains, and its willingness to defy genre conventions, positions it as a unique entry in contemporary television. With streaming available on HBO Max, existing and new fans have the chance to revisit previous seasons as anticipation for the next chapter grows. The direction taken by Mazin, Druckmann, Bella Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dever, Gabriel Luna, and the rest of the cast is set to keep audiences emotionally invested, eager to see how the show continues to challenge their expectations.
