Neil Druckmann Explains Delayed Joel Flashbacks in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2
Pedro Pascal’s character was completely absent from The Last of Us’ season 2 for three episodes straight, but the decision to bring Joel back so late might have just proved itself right. At least that’s what Neil Druckmann’s initial idea suggests.
Joel’s death in the second episode of The Last of Us’ ongoing sophomore season hit the show’s audiences pretty hard, causing another series of complaints about the beloved character dying just way too early for fans to process.
The latest episode 6, however, revived Pedro Pascal’s character for a time being, but not literally, introducing a bunch of flashbacks to Ellie and Joel’s pastime together which, somehow, didn’t really appeal to the game fans either.
Still, even with more fans being a bit more pissed off right now, The Last of Us’ co-creator Neil Druckmann, who directed the episode and also helmed the video game itself, had solid reasons to make another set of major changes.
Neil Druckmann Addresses the Complaint About Killing Joel Off Early in Season 2
Even though many game fans claimed that the entire season’s biggest and most tragic death seemed rushed and could have been easily put off until later episodes, Neil Druckmann knew that the long-awaited reconnection with Pedro Pascal’s Joel would have a strong effect — and he was right.
“It was important that the audience, like the characters, miss Joel. So we would kill him early in the season, we decided not to show him back until close to the end of the season. Then it became a question of where should it land. It felt appropriate to land after Ellie has just committed the darkest, most violent act she's ever committed in her life — torturing an unarmed woman to try to get information about where Joel's killer is hiding. There's a contrast of 'look how far this character has come.' They're almost unrecognizable in that scene. Here's our reminder of who they were, and what they're fighting for — the memory of this person”, he revealed in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Yes, Putting All Those Flashbacks Together Also Felt Necessary
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However heartwarming the entire episode might have been for many viewers, game fans found yet another flaw, pointing out that in “The Last of Us” those numerous flashback scenes are split throughout the entire game run, letting players learn more about Ellie and Joel’s relationships just little by little.
Still, Druckmann believes that the same approach wouldn’t work for the series, arguing “they wouldn’t land as powerfully.”
“If we put one in an episode, and then you have to wait a week to see the next, you have to remember what the last one was, and then wait another week again. I think the show would start feeling like it has a template — 'What's the Joel flashback this week?'" Druckmann explained.
When Is ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Finale Premiering?
The Last of Us season 2 episode 7 will air on Max on May 25.
