The Last of Us Fans Heartbroken After Noticing New Subtle Change in E3
We’re still not over Joel’s death in The Last of Us’ new episode, but it does seem like the show has already said farewell to Pedro Pascal’s character. Here’s what changed and how it hurts fans even more brutally.
It will likely take more than just one episode for The Last of Us’ characters and fans to recover from Joel’s gruesome end, but he’s officially off the screen for good — in (almost) all possible senses.
The second season’s episode 2 was the one to feature the most shocking plot twist everyone looked forward to the least, witnessing Joel’s first and last encounter with vengeful Abby whose paths will now have to cross with Ellie’s more than just once.
However, The Last of Us’ creators quickly revealed that Pedro Pascal is yet to return in two more episodes of the ongoing season 2, potentially in flashback scenes — but even this might not help that much after a major opening credits change in episode 3.
What Seems Wrong With The Last of Us New Opening Credits, Explained
Before Joel was brutally beaten to death by Abby in the second episode, the series continued with the same opening credits scene featured in season 1, following through city landscapes as the fungal plants keep covering them and the leading cast’s names appear on the way.
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Now that Joel is gone and buried, it doesn’t really make sense for the show to keep mentioning him — which is why Pedro Pascal’s name, previously shown before Bella Ramsay’s in the credits scene, has now been removed.
This, however, isn’t the saddest part, with the scene moving on to the image of two silhouettes which normally represented Ellie and Joel; now, instead of two there’s just one, symbolising Ellie’s sole journey towards avenging Joel’s death.
Both Pedro Pascal and The Last of Us Fans Are Still in ‘Active Denial’
The subtle notice didn’t escape some of the fans’ attention as they’re now reassured this was the creators’ way to say an official goodbye to Joel.
“Ouch, opening credits of The Last Of Us season 2 episode 3”, @Chug_A_Lugg wrote on X.
“That solo shot of Ellie at the end of the opening credits damn near MURDERED me, wtf @TheLastofUsHBO?!” @njnic23 added up to the discussion.
It’s not only the fans that the show’s major plot changes hit hard — Joel’s actor Pedro Pascal also had to spend a lot of time processing the way his character ends his story in The Last of Us.
“I’m in active denial. I realise this more and more as I get older, I find myself slipping into denial that anything is over. I know that I’m forever bonded to so many members of the experience and just have to see them under different circumstances, but never will under the circumstances of playing Joel on The Last of Us. And, no, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it because it makes me sad”, Pascal revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
The Last of Us Season 2 Release Schedule
The show’s season 2 episode 4 will arrive on Max on May 4. The following three episodes will air on May 11, May 18 and May 25 on the same platform respectively.
