The Last of Us Season 2 has come and gone, leaving fans to grapple with its bold choices – one of the most shocking being the fate of Joel. Showrunner Craig Mazin has faced a constant barrage of questions from confused viewers asking, ‘Why did you kill Pedro Pascal?’ To those bewildered fans, Mazin has a clear message: ‘We didn’t kill him! He’s alive and well, and he’s literally everywhere.’ While many may have expected Joel’s death after playing the game, Mazin and co-showrunner Neil Druckmann knew this would stir up strong emotions.
Mazin explained in a Variety panel, ‘Neil Druckmann did something in the game, and everyone lost their minds. 
I had to follow suit, and I loved doing it.’ However, the backlash has been real, with some viewers questioning the decision. Mazin continues to assure fans that Pascal, who plays Joel, is fine and in plenty of other projects. ‘He’s in everything,’ Mazin quips.
Despite the controversy, Druckmann is adamant that the story choices were necessary. ‘People had very strong reactions to our decisions,’ he adds, hinting that the reaction to Joel’s death was just part of a larger fanbase struggle with the show’s direction.
Season 2’s immense expectations put pressure on the creative team. Mazin admitted, ‘You’re expected to meet what people want but also surprise them. The bar was low for video game adaptations in Season 1, but now we’ve set it for ourselves.’ Despite this, HBO is touting Season 2’s success, noting a global audience of over 90 million viewers. Yet, Mazin believes the Memorial Day holiday weekend hurt the finale’s viewership, making it seem less successful than it might have been.
Looking ahead, Mazin suggested that a Season 4 is almost inevitable, though he acknowledges that wrapping up the narrative in just three seasons may not be realistic. As he put it, ‘There’s no way to finish everything in a third season.’ And though fans of the game know how the story progresses, the HBO series creators are still keeping some details under wraps, particularly the fate of beloved characters.
Whether you love or hate the choices made in Season 2, one thing is clear: the conversation surrounding The Last of Us TV series is far from over. From Joel’s death to the evolving arcs of Ellie and Abby, fans continue to express their opinions on how the story is unfolding on-screen.