Who Else Will Die in The Last of Us? 6 Major Characters’ Deaths, Ranked by Gruesomeness
The HBO series has already introduced the worst plot twist possible in the ongoing season 2, but there’s still much more to come in The Last of Us’ next episodes — including some other characters’ brutal end you might not expect at all.
The Last of Us’ sophomore season has already passed its point of no return with the brutal killing of Pedro Pascal’s Joel, though fans of the video game know for sure the long list of shocking deaths doesn’t end with him after all.
Joel’s passing is still the biggest heartbreak of the entire story, given how much time both the game and the show have given its audiences to sympathise with the character.
However, his death eventually paves the way for many more casualties among Ellie’s allies and enemies — here are some of the most shocking plot twists The Last of Us has already featured or has yet to show.
6. The Salt Lake Crew
It’s pretty clear that Abby’s group has been involved in a much more violent mess long before coming up with a plan to kill Joel.
All of them appear to be pretty sophisticated when it comes to dealing with someone else’s life, but Joel’s death in particular was what eventually caused them all the biggest trouble and, well, cost them their lives.
While some group members are killed by Ellie in Seattle, others find their death amidst the ongoing war between the WLF and the Seraphites, facing the consequences of their own actions and the cycle of violence they started.
5. Sam and Henry
Joel and Ellie’s encounter and eventual alliance with Sam and Henry was one of the most disheartening storylines in both the video game and the HBO show.
While out there in Kansas City, Joel is pretty concerned about the two brothers’ real motives, but Ellie’s friendship with Sam convinces him to team up with Henry in case there’s a danger coming close.
This eventually proves to be true when the city is under an attack of the infected, resulting in Sam being scratched and turning into a Runner overnight.
Before Joel proceeds to solve the problem, it’s Henry who shoots his little brother and then, seeing no possibility to live on without Sam, sends a bullet to his head too.
4. Riley
Even though she isn’t present in the story that much, Riley plays a crucial role in Ellie’s life, appearing in flashbacks from the time both of them were in a Boston military school.
Having quickly bonded, Ellie and Riley decide to visit an abandoned mall and spend the entire evening there, having fun and eventually confessing their true feelings for each other.
However, a potential love story turns into a tragedy, with Riley being beaten by the infected during their sudden appearance in the mall and Ellie having no other choice but to shoot her best friend.
3. Jesse
Young Mazino’s character will take on a bigger role in what’s to come in The Last of Us’ upcoming episodes, especially since it’s revealed he and Dina will have a child together.
His story, however, ends up quite suddenly and brutally during Ellie’s first attempt to find Abby and have her killed.
After the latter tracks Ellie down in Seattle, she ambushes the Jackson team and shoots Jesse in the head at the moment he opens the door to the theatre where Abby was hiding.
2. Sarah Miller
Joel’s daughter is one of the first victims of the virus outbreak, and this is what makes her death all the way more tragic.
In The Last of Us’ season 1, Sarah wakes up on her father’s birthday surrounded by the sounds of alarms, barking dogs and explosions somewhere in the distance, signaling the start of the deadly outbreak.
She doesn’t make it to another day when, trying to flee the city with Joel and Tommy, Sarah is shot by a police officer. Sarah’s death is the biggest tragedy in Joel’s life, later manifesting itself in his numerous suicide attempts.
1. Joel Miller
Joel’s death holds the leadership when it comes to the level of its violence and, well, originality.
Years after killing Abby’s father, Joel becomes her own victim after Tommy accidentally reveals his identity (in the HBO series Joel is the one to reveal his name).
Later locked up in a remote cabin in the mountains, Joel is beaten to death by a golf club, a sharp piece of which eventually goes straight into his neck when Abby decides to finish what was started.
Joel’s gruesome end also marks another tragic point of no return, when he realizes he did deserve all of this after everything he’s done to other people — even if he got to save his future killer just minutes before.
