Fans of The Last of Us video game knew what was coming, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't surprising to still see in the second episode of season 2 of the TV adaptation. The series, which continues to give new life to the iconic video game gave viewers a shock when Abby's background and plan was revealed and ultimately followed through: to kill Joel for revenge. So how did it happen?
Here's how Joel died in The Last of Us season 2.
Wait, Joel dies?!
Unfortunately, yes. Joel ends up meeting his fate in season 2, episode 2 as Abby finally finds Joel after hunting him down for many years. Fans of the game also see it happen in The Last of Us Part II, where gamers played as her during the heartbreaking section in the game. However, you don't really know her intentions yet as it's happening, while you discover it before it happens in the TV show.
How does Joel die in The Last of Us?
Abby is out on patrol when she tries to walk down a mountain in an effort to get closer to Jackson where she knows Joel is. However, she eventually trips and falls into a horde that she initially believes to be dead, but they soon become active and trap her in a gated section of a separate town. She almost is crushed underneath a gate as they try to get close to her but she manages to escape. However, one of the passes through the gate and goes after her until she is saved by Joel who takes her inside an abandoned warehouse where he has been hiding with Dina.
Joel tells Dina that they have to go back to Jackson before the infected come inside where they are, but Abby tells Joel about the house where her and the rest of her group are. It is also revealed that Joel and Dina haven't been receiving radio communication from Jackson at all so no one knows exactly where they are.
Close to the safe house, Joel almost separates them to head back to Jackson, but Abby convinces him to go with her to the lodge as it's closer. After arriving to the house, Abby reveals to everyone that their names are Dina and Joel, shocking everyone.
Joel ends up getting distracted when attempts to connect with Jackson via radio and they take Dina hostage. They inject Dina with a sedative that knocks her out for an hour and Abby's real plan begins.
Abby asks him, "Where is the last place you saw the Fireflies?" Joel replies her that it was in Salt Lake City where he took Ellie in season 1. Abby proceeds to shoot him in the knee and Abby tells Mel to give him a tourniquet so he doesn't bleed to death. She reveals to him that he killed 18 soldiers and one doctor: her father.
Abby tells him that she was 19 when it all happened and that she was the one who discovered him dead. She later joined a militia group, seen on her backpack as the WLF, based in Seattle. There, her commander taught her to not kill someone who is unable to defend themselves, but she is planning to break her code in order to settle the score.
Spotting a set of golf clubs, Abby slowly walks over and takes one. He tells her to hurry up and do it, but she tells him that he doesn't get to rush it. She hits him in his knee where he was shot as Jesse and Ellie continue to look for them.
Ellie notices prints in the snow that lead her to the house where Abby and the rest are. Abby moves on to punching Joel as Ellie sneaks into the house in hopes of finding them safe. Owen tries to stop Abby as Ellie notices what is happening, but as Ellie tries to shoot Abby, Ellie is tackled to the ground. Owen tells Abby to finally end it, while Ellie pleads Joel to get up. Weak from all his injuries he is unable to do more than just move his fingers as he look towards Ellie.
Abby picks up one half of the golf club that was previously snapped in half and stabs him in the neck, officially killing him. Manny kicks Ellie to stop her from yelling as she promises revenge on Abby and her group. As they leave, Jesse is seen riding up to the house.
