During their emotional HBO interview, The Last of Us stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey discussed for the first time how the Season 2 twist in the story had stunned audiences everywhere. During its April 13, 2025, airing, The Last of Us showcased one of its most tragic moments, which showed Joel’s demise through a stab inflicted by Abby, who plays her role in the series.
The essential shift in the plot drew directly from the acclaimed video game and generated various feelings across all members of the fan community and the cast.
Bella Ramsey: “I Sobbed My Little Heart Out”
Bella Ramsey, who uses they/them pronouns and plays Ellie, Joel’s surrogate daughter, shared how difficult it was to read Joel’s final scene in the script.
“I knew it was coming,” they admitted. “But reading it in the script… I was dreading getting to it, and I cried. Sobbed my little heart out.”
The reaction was a new experience for Ramsey because he showed emotional engagement with the script. The story’s weight alongside the emotional bond established in this scene demonstrated its powerful impact on everyone watching.
Pedro Pascal: “It’s Incredibly Painful—But Brilliant”
Actor Pedro Pascal commented on fan attachment to The Last of Us series alongside his comprehension of this emotional sequence.
“I experience it myself,” he said. “I’ve thrown books across the room when a story hits me that hard. That kind of impact is what makes storytelling so powerful.”
Pedro Pascal deemed the plot twist a “brilliant achievement after describing it as “incredibly painful” because it showcases both the courageous emotional risks The Last of Us continuously embraces.
A Twist True to the Source—And the Emotion
The death of Joel both transforms the show’s storyline and functions as a major narrative alteration. The key scene shows the same emotional depth and moral conflict as the original game while creating opportunities for Ellie to transform.
Fans hold different opinions about this decision, yet both Pedro Pascal and Ramsey express their honest feelings about how the dramatic choice affects them, along with the viewers.
Throughout The Last of Us series, we learn that the showmakers refuse to spare audience members from emotional pain to deliver their narrative.
