The fate of Pedro Pascal‘s character Joel in The Last of Us dominated discussion during a recent cast panel, as creators and actors delved into Season 2’s dramatic turning point and hinted at major shifts for Season 3. The event took place Monday, with Rob McElhenney moderating as cast members analyzed the impact of Joel’s death and its significance within the story’s emotional landscape.
Moderator McElhenney addressed what he called the
“Pedro Pascal-shaped elephant in the room”
—the controversial choice to kill off Joel. This storyline, lifted from the second installment of the video game series, has not only shocked viewers but also forced characters and fans to grapple with the wider consequences, both emotional and narrative. Neil Druckmann, cocreator and principal writer, spoke candidly about the original uncertainty surrounding the first game’s success and the years it took for the right continuation to crystallize.
“The first game, when I was working on it, I’m so insecure I didn’t think it would succeed. … I thought, ‘Oh this will be one and done. They’ll never let me do this again,’ and then it became very successful and there was a chance to do it again,”
—Neil Druckmann, Cocreator and Writer
“For a long time no story felt right. They were very plot-oriented about Ellie (Bella Ramsey) trying to find someone else who was immune like her, and then I realized it was missing this kind of thematic core that the first [game] had. … We finally landed on this idea of this continuation conversation around love, which is someone that you love so much, if somebody else hurt them, how far are you willing to go to exact revenge or justice or however you want to put it? Then everything kind of fell into place, and I could leverage how much these two characters love each other, how much they care about each other, and then break that.”
—Neil Druckmann, Cocreator and Writer
Impact on Character Dynamics Following Joel’s Death
Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie, reflected on the complexities of her character’s relationship with Joel and how this dynamic intensified the loss. According to Ramsey, Joel’s death struck particularly hard given Ellie’s struggles with trust and the emotional betrayal at the story’s core.
“I think she was someone who already struggled to trust,”
—Bella Ramsey, Actor
“To have that taken away from her by the person she loves the most, I think that really altered her brain chemistry a bit. So she comes into this season, particularly after [his death], and she has a single-minded focus of, like, this person she loved so much who hurt her so much, she just has to do anything to try and heal from the grief of all of that. I think if she just loved him so much and didn’t also hate him so much for what he did, I think it’d almost be simpler for her, but I think because of how complex that relationship has become she’s so driven for justice to be done, sort of beyond justice, and it gets into dangerous territory with her.”
—Bella Ramsey, Actor
Kaitlyn Dever’s Portrayal of Abby and Fan Reactions
Kaitlyn Dever, appearing via Zoom from Australia, found herself at the center of the panel’s attention for depicting Abby, whose actions result in Joel’s death. McElhenney jokingly accused Dever of killing “America’s sweetheart,” prompting laughter from the audience and a lighthearted exchange between panelists.
“How could you do something like that?”
—Rob McElhenney, Moderator
“I don’t know what came over me.”
—Kaitlyn Dever, Actor
Dever addressed the online discourse surrounding her character’s controversial role. She expressed confidence in the adaptation process and recalled the emotional intensity of filming critical scenes, particularly Joel’s death in the chalet. Rather than being weighed down by fan controversy, Dever described a collaborative and supportive environment during production.
“The controversy surrounding Abby was never really a concern for me just given my first meeting with Craig [Mazin, cocreator and writer] and Neal and how wonderful they are and how talented they are,”
—Kaitlyn Dever, Actor
“I’ve never felt so carried on a set in my life, especially doing that scene in the chalet [where Joel dies]. I was going through a lot personally, but it is one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had as an actor just because it really, really felt like such a team effort. … I’ve never experienced anything like that before. The reaction and my own personal experience has just been incredibly special.”
—Kaitlyn Dever, Actor
Honoring the Source: HBO and Faithful Adaptation
Neil Druckmann credited HBO for enabling the team to honor the more controversial and complex elements of the original games. He explained how prior attempts to adapt The Last of Us and Uncharted floundered, but HBO’s willingness to embrace difficult narrative choices allowed the show to maintain fidelity to the material, including the hard-hitting decision at the end of Season 2, and the significant narrative change planned for Season 3.
“I’ve been involved with several failed adaptations, both for Uncharted and The Last of Us and I think it was good to go on that journey to end up at HBO,”
—Neil Druckmann, Cocreator and Writer
“and end up at a place that leans into those controversial decisions, I guess, but those decisions are what the story required. Even now, I can’t believe that they let us structure the series in this way, meaning that we just ended Season 2 [how we did] and Season 3 is going to be starring — spoiler alert — Kaitlyn.”
—Neil Druckmann, Cocreator and Writer
Dynamics Among New and Returning Cast Members
Isabela Merced, playing Dina, described the essential support she received from Bella Ramsey during filming, reflecting on the deep sense of camaraderie that developed on set. Merced emphasized how their bond was central to delivering authentic performances, especially in the emotionally charged atmosphere of the show.
“Bella gave me everything I needed in every single scene to be able to do what I did,”
—Isabela Merced, Actor
“It wouldn’t have been half as successful or complete had it not been for our work together. There were just moments where I felt like I was losing it and Bella was the only person I had to support me because Bella was the only one who really understood, so there was solidarity and support in every take. Our performances relied so heavily on the other person.”
—Isabela Merced, Actor
Ramsey addressed the viewers who found representation in Ellie and Dina’s relationship, expressing pride in the way their storyline was organically woven into the series without feeling tokenistic.
“If you saw yourself in that, then it really was for you,”
—Bella Ramsey, Actor
“Even though that relationship gets sort of dark, I hope that it was a light and a joyful kind of touch to The Last of Us and I think that the way it was so masterfully woven into the story didn’t feel like a checkbox exercise or representation for the sake of it. It was actually just two people in the apocalypse falling in love and they both happened to be women, and I love the way that story is represented. So yeah, if you saw yourself in that, I’m really happy.”
—Bella Ramsey, Actor
Emotional Toll on Cast and Closing Insights
Near the end of the event, McElhenney asked the cast about how they managed the emotional demands of filming such a weighty show. Bella Ramsey singled out Young Mazino, who plays Jesse, as someone who remains deeply affected even after the cameras stop rolling.
“Young, I feel like you live in it,”
—Bella Ramsey, Actor
“You sort of really feel it deeply, so you’re the one who doesn’t just shake it off.”
—Bella Ramsey, Actor
“I would love to be able to shake it off.”
—Young Mazino, Actor
Gabriel Luna, portraying Tommy, commented that Ramsey herself displays an ability to detach from the material once a scene wraps. He recounted an incident during a challenging shoot where Ramsey seamlessly transitioned from an emotionally intense scene to an immediate, lighthearted mood.
“Bella, by far, is the one who will shake it off,”
—Gabriel Luna, Actor
“We had to go back to the aquarium to reshoot the last scene of the show and I’m sitting there at the monitor with Craig, and Craig’s calling out a few notes from outside, and Bella’s there being asked to perform an emergency C-section. Everyone’s crying. There’s blood everywhere. Then Craig called ‘cut’ and Bella’s just like…”
—Gabriel Luna, Actor
What Comes Next for The Last of Us
With Season 3 confirmed to pivot to Kaitlyn Dever’s character Abby, the creative team prepares to break new ground in the HBO series. While the future direction remains closely guarded, the panel underscored The Last of Us’ commitment to fearless storytelling, honoring the deep bonds and emotional turbulence that captivated audiences. Pedro Pascal’s character Joel fate in The Last of Us continues to shape the show’s landscape, promising further debate and dramatic developments when the highly anticipated new season arrives. The Last of Us is currently available for streaming on Max.
