As Season 2 of The Last of Us arrives on HBO, it delivers a gut-punch early on: Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) meets a brutal end at the hands of Abby, reawakening intense fan reactions. But series co-creator Craig Mazin is telling enraged fans to take a breather — Pascal is alive and well off-screen, and his career keeps thriving in other projects
During interviews, Mazin quipped, “We didn’t kill him! He’s a man, he’s alive. He’s fine. And he’s in literally everything else.” While Joel’s story arc may have ended, Pascal continues making waves across film and television.
Co‑Creators Candidly Reacts to Backlash
Fans were quick to equate Pascal with Joel, and some felt personally affected by the character’s demise. Mazin responded in a candid chat with GameSpot’s Eddie Makuch:
“Everyone lost their sh** … Why did you kill Pedro Pascal?” When pressed, Mazin reaffirmed: “We didn’t kill him! He’s a man, he’s alive … Literally everything else.”
Neil Druckmann, co-creator of the series and original game, echoed the sentiment — noting how strongly viewers feel, calling it a cultural moment.
Creative Choices Behind Joel’s Fate
Why did they sacrifice such a beloved character so early? Mazin and Druckmann wanted the death to serve as the dramatic catalyst for the narrative, not a drawn-out cliffhanger
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. They purposefully placed Joel’s death early in Episode 2 so the series could dive into its emotional and thematic aftermath — especially Ellie’s journey of grief and revenge
Pascal himself called shooting the sequence “an intensely emotional experience,” and behind‑the‑scenes anecdotes show the cast using music (yes, “Peanut Butter Jelly Time”) to maintain energy during such heavy scenes.
Pascal is far from sidelined. Even as Joel, he played a key role in triggering Season 2’s emotional core — and he continues to feature in flashbacks designed to add depth to Abby’s storyline .
Furthermore, Pascal’s star power extends beyond The Last of Us. From The Mandalorian to numerous other high-profile roles and media appearances, he’s become a cultural icon — “a man … in literally everything else” indeed
New to The Last of Us? Prep for a thrilling yet emotionally intense narrative that places relationships and consequences at the forefront.
Pascal devotees: His charisma remains intact — he continues to shine in flashbacks and upcoming roles.
Joel Miller may be gone from The Last of Us, but Pedro Pascal isn’t. As Mazin aptly put it, he “lives on” — not only in future flashbacks but also across an ever-growing portfolio of performances. Take a deep breath, fans: the man behind the character is still very much with us … and definitely not dead.
