How Pedro Pascal’s emotional flashbacks transform The Last of Us narrative and deepen Ellie’s revenge journey.
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Joel’s absence hits like a gut punch. That’s exactly what the creators wanted.
When crafting season 2’s bottle episode “The Price,” showrunner Neil Druckmann had one goal: make viewers ache for Pedro Pascal’s character. And boy, did they succeed.
Father Figures Cast Long Shadows
Tony Dalton bursts onto the screen as Javier Miller, Joel’s cop dad. Their relationship reveals where Joel’s protective instincts first sparked.
Over beers, they connect through shared violence—defending family at any cost. The programming begins, passing down like that symbolic cracked watch.
Birthday Strings and Broken Things
Pascal nervously tackled the iconic guitar scene, giving “Future Days” his own Johnny Cash-like spin. Different from Troy Baker’s game version but equally soul-stirring.
Joel’s handmade gift symbolizes everything words can’t express between him and Ellie.
Teen Angst and Fresh Ink
Remember Kat? The ex-girlfriend who barely existed in the game finally gets screen time.
She’s the one who gave Ellie that moth tattoo—covering her bite scar but representing something deeper.
These small moments build the emotional foundation for what’s coming.
Joey Pants Breaks Hearts
Joe Pantoliano’s Eugene scene nearly drowned in bugs—literally.
The lakeside shoot faced “Biblical” insect swarms, forcing creative solutions. But the challenges paid off.
Eugene’s death hits differently as he regresses to childlike vulnerability, begging for help. No gallows humor here—just raw humanity.
Porch Confessions Change Everything
The episode’s heart beats in Joel’s confession about the Fireflies. For the first time, they see each other clearly—as family.
This revelation reframes everything about Ellie’s revenge journey.
What Abby truly stole wasn’t just Joel’s life but their chance at reconciliation.
The Price of Vengeance
Joel once told Ellie to find something worth fighting for. The tragic irony? Her fight for vengeance isn’t what he would’ve wanted.
The flashbacks don’t just make us miss Joel—they force us to question if Ellie’s path honors or betrays his memory.
HBO’s dropping the season 2 finale of The Last of Us next Sunday, May 25th, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.