Ellie Williams’ Complete Timeline in The Last of Us (So Far)
The game has changed — literally and emotionally.
If you’re still reeling from The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2, you’re definitely not alone. The episode titled “Through the Valley” gave us one of the most gut-wrenching moments in recent TV history: Joel Miller is dead. Yep, the fan-favorite character, played by Pedro Pascal, met a brutal end — and the entire internet is still processing it.
But this moment wasn’t just a plot twist. It was the turning point that reshapes the entire story, and if you’re wondering why it happened, how it happened, and what it means for the future of the show — we’ve got all the answers.
Why did Pedro Pascal’s character have to die?
Let’s just say — the writing was on the wall from the beginning.
Even though Pascal hadn’t played The Last of Us Part II, the 2020 video game the show is based on, he always knew what he signed up for. As he said himself:
“It was always an understanding that it would stay true to the source material. Season 1 was the practical obligation.”
So yes — it wasn’t just a creative decision. It was a commitment to the source, staying faithful to the award-winning game that rocked players five years ago.
What really happened in that shocking episode?
Here’s the scene breakdown: Joel and his new companion Dina (played by Isabela Merced) head out on patrol. Meanwhile, Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) — the daughter of the doctor Joel killed in the season 1 finale — tracks him down to Jackson, Wyoming. The infected conveniently overrun the town, giving Abby and her crew just enough chaos to ambush Joel in a remote house. The result? A brutal and heartbreaking death at the hands of a golf club.
That scene wasn’t just violent — it was emotionally shattering. And that’s exactly what showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann aimed to convey.
Why this moment matters (and hurts)
You can’t just remove a main character like Joel and expect people not to feel something. The creators knew that. The cast knew that. And Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie, felt the weight of it the entire time.
“It feels like too big of a thing to just speak about it,” Bella confessed, reflecting on the silence that hung over set while filming.
This wasn’t just any death. This was the emotional earthquake that sets off Ellie’s next journey — a path filled with grief, vengeance, and chaos.
Filming “Kill Joel Day” was no walk in the park
Filming Joel’s death took place in Kamloops, Canada over two cold and intense days in March 2024. It wasn’t just emotionally demanding — the weather was punishing too. Pascal’s flight from Vancouver had to be rescheduled due to snowstorms.
When he finally walked onto set in full bloody makeup, Pascal remembers feeling the emotional temperature drop.
“It was weird to be on the receiving end of that. You could see grief in everyone’s eyes.”
Even Bella Ramsey kept the energy oddly light before shooting, dancing to Peanut Butter Jelly Time moments before action. As they jokingly wrote in their journal:
“March 7 — I wrote, ‘Kill Joel Day.’”
How fans — and the cast — reacted
It was hard to watch. Even Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby — Joel’s killer — admitted it wasn’t easy.
“Watching the end of you guys was really, really hard for me, as a viewer,” she said during a group interview with Pascal and Ramsey.
The first time Dever and Pascal ever met? On the 2023 strike picket lines. Even then, Pascal knew she’d been cast. And as he later said:
“She is a gangster of an actor.”
Clearly, she had to be — considering she was about to shake the fandom to its core.
So… what now for The Last of Us?
Joel’s death isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of a whole new chapter — one driven by Ellie’s thirst for justice. As Craig Mazin puts it:
“It portrays the shattering nature of loss. What is left behind when someone is torn away from you?”
And that’s what makes The Last of Us hit so hard. Even without monsters, it’s a story that mirrors the pain, love, and vengeance we all feel in our own lives.
Quick Summary for Featured Snippets:
Q: Did Joel die in The Last of Us Season 2?
A: Yes, Joel Miller, played by Pedro Pascal, dies in Episode 2, beaten to death by Abby, the daughter of the doctor he killed in season 1.
Final Thoughts: Is this the end for Pedro Pascal in The Last of Us?
Technically, yes. But don’t rule out flashbacks or cameos — the showrunners haven’t confirmed anything, and let’s be honest: in The Last of Us, anything is possible.
So while this chapter may be closed, Pascal’s impact will linger. As fans, all we can do now is buckle up. Ellie’s story is just getting started — and if this episode proved anything, it’s that no one is safe.
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