Pedro Pascal to remain as Joel in ‘The Last of Us’ despite stunning season 2 death, Here’s how

Pedro Pascal's Joel was brutally killed by Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2, Episode 2, but the actor will not be exiting the show anytime soon. In spite of Joel's untimely death, Pascal is set to make four of the season's seven appearances, with two further appearances following his death, according to ScreenRant. These will be shown in flashbacks that explore key events between the five-year hiatus of Seasons 1 and 2, cementing the uneasy relationship between Joel and Ellie further. The flashbacks will provide direct adaptations of major sequences from ‘The Last of Us Part II’ video game.
A key scene,is where Joel and Ellie visit a science museum to tour space exhibitions-a bittersweet scene that plays up their surrogate father-daughter relationship. There are other scenes that explore the emotional consequences of Joel making the fateful choice to save Ellie from the Firefly hospital in Season 1, something that continues to plague both characters. These flashbacks are intended to "fill gaps and add more depth" to their romance as they put Ellie's anger and grief in the current chronology into perspective. For those worried about the decrease in Joel's role, there is comforting news: Season 2 barely scratches the surface of ‘The Last of Us Part II's’ narrative, setting up Pascal to come back for Season 3. Flashback-worthy from the game, like Joel and Ellie's devastating talk after a community dance in Jackson, are sure to be saved for down-the-line episodes. These scenes will further discuss the manner in which Joel's decisions-and his subsequent demise-create Ellie's ferocious crusade against vengeance towards Abby.
Although Joel no longer exists in the present timeline, his character continues to remain at the heart of Ellie's story. The series will resort to flashbacks to highlight the fact that his impact still prevails, especially as Ellie is forced to contend with loss and revenge. As the article highlights, "His past choices and Ellie's recollections of him will keep pushing the story ahead," keeping Pascal's performance relevant even after his death. The strategic deployment of flashbacks not only maintains Joel's legacy but also reflects the game's non-linear narrative, providing audiences with a better grasp of the characters' motivations. With Season 3 set to cover the rest of Part II, Pascal's ongoing involvement indicates that Joel's story-and his influence on Ellie-is by no means over.
Throughout the series as it chronicles Ellie's dark spiral, Joel's memory will function not only as a comfort but as a catalyst, a reminder that even in death, he is the emotional center of ‘The Last of Us.’