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HBO’s The Last of Us: Director Reveals How He Mastered Joel’s Controversial Death

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Mark Mylod had a clear vision of how he wanted the audience to perceive the most contentious scene from the video game The Last of Us Part II, when transitioning it to the HBO series. As stated by the director, the manner in which Abby kills Joel unfolded exactly as he had envisioned.

In regards to “The Last of Us” Season 2, Episode 2, Mylod expressed that he aimed to steer clear of graphic torture scenes. He explained, “I’m not particularly interested in depicting violence itself.” Instead, his focus was on understanding the motivations behind Abby’s extreme acts of violence. He stated, “The fact that she reached such a point where she was inflicting such extraordinary violence – that is captivating and intriguing.” To maintain this emphasis, he chose to keep most of the violent and cruel scenes implied rather than shown on-screen.

In the story, just as in a game, when Joel (Pedro Pascal) rescues her from infected hordes, he is unwittingly led to a cabin where her former Fireflies comrades are hiding. However, unlike the original plot, Dina takes over as Joel’s companion during this encounter, while Tommy becomes the central figure in an alternative sequence where the Jackson, Wyoming community defends itself. In this unique version, Ellie sadly witnesses Abby delivering the fatal blow instead.

As a devoted admirer, I’d rephrase it like this: “Mylod, renowned for his work on ‘Game of Thrones’, shared insights about the emotional impact of crafting scenes perfectly. He emphasized, ‘It’s all about collaborating with the actors, and in this instance, ensuring and nurturing Kaitlyn and Bella, who bravely had to expose themselves emotionally.’

Mylod emphasized that much of this process relies on gut feelings. It involves trying to establish an understanding with the cast so you can sense when it’s appropriate to guide them towards a meditative state. He explained that we can tell when we’ve achieved this because either I become speechless after filming, or I find myself moved to tears.

Joel’s Death In The Game Caused An Uproar

Joel’s passing was a contentious topic even before “The Last of Us Part II” hit the shelves, with fans discovering his fate ahead of its release. This revelation led to actress Ashley Johnson receiving death threats due to her portrayal of Abby. The sequel’s narrative revolves around Ellie, who seeks retribution for Joel’s death by pursuing Abby and her companions. However, she finds herself ensnared in a struggle for power between two Seattle factions vying for control over the post-apocalyptic city, also known as a turf war.

In addition to the hidden tribute, the song “Through The Valley” is the one that Johnson, who played Ellie in the The Last of Us series, sang in the initial trailer for Part II.

It’s uncertain at this point how much of Part II will be incorporated in Season 2, but trailers suggest several references to scenes from the game and the WLF/Seraphite conflict, with Jeffrey Wright returning as WLF leader Isaac. Additionally, HBO has announced that there will indeed be a third season.

New episodes of The Last of Us Season 2 air Sundays on HBO and Max

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2025-04-22 15:05

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