Summary
- The Last of Us season 2 will feature a supersized episode, likely focusing on Joel's controversial death from Part II.
- This longer episode indicates a significant moment in Joel's story will be explored in depth, shaping the narrative for future seasons.
- Joel's death is a pivotal event with far-reaching consequences, making it the most crucial aspect to dwell on in The Last of Us season 2.
Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Last of Us Part II and potentially The Last of Us season 2.
The Last of Us' controversial Joel moment has been a major talking point heading into season 2, and with the show confirming a supersized episode, it surely has to cover this divisive story. HBO's hit zombie show has announced plenty of news recently, including The Last of Us' plans for season 2 and 3 to cover the events of The Last of Us Part II. There are even suggestions of a potential fourth season, indicating that the drama series still has plenty to cover, but despite season 2's shorter length, Joel's huge moment looks set to happen next year.
The Last of Us season 2 will be released in 2025.
Season 2 is set to have just seven episodes, two fewer than its debut season last year. However, in an interview with Deadline, Craig Mazin revealed there was going to be an episode in season 2 that was "quite big", even hinting at it being close to feature length. While Mazin didn't give anything away about the contents of the episode, this tease suggests this supersized episode will be the show's longest yet, and it only seems logical that it will cover the most crucial moment in Joel's The Last of Us Part II story.
The Last Of Us Season 2's Supersized Episode Must Cover Something Important
Having such a long episode means The Last of Us season 2 is destined to cover something important. Considering The Last of Us season 1's longest episode ran for around 80 minutes, season 2 having a near feature-length episode means that a significant event must happen. While Bill and Frank's story also had a long runtime, it may be more difficult for season 2 to explore a similar concept, especially if the bulk of The Last of Us Part II is scheduled for season 3. Instead, this supersized episode will likely cover an early event from the game.
While season 2 will likely split Abby and Ellie's perspectives, it seems like the show will focus largely on Ellie's story next season as she has a larger involvement early in the game. Early footage from season 2 hinted at Ellie and Dina's journey into Seattle beginning next season, but it seems the majority of the story will be the moments leading up to this point. Seattle will likely be covered predominantly in season 3, meaning the supersized episode will almost certainly cover an event before this, and there is only one significant moment worthy of this runtime.
There's Only 1 Moment From The Last Of Us II That Makes Sense To Dwell On
Joel's The Last Of Us Part II Death Is The Only Moment That Warrants A Supersized Episode
While The Last of Us Part II contains plenty of exciting and emotional moments, there's only one that would warrant a supersized episode: Joel's death. This incident divided fans and is the reason Part II is so controversial, but HBO's show can't avoid it, and this longer episode is the perfect chance to explore it. With so many theories regarding how season 2 will handle Joel's death, it seems fitting that the series would dedicate a huge amount of time to it, and given Joel is one of the most important characters in the franchise, HBO can't rush his final scene.
Although there are other huge moments later in the game, they likely won't happen until season 3, further highlighting that the supersized episode must be about Joel.
Given how important Joel's death is to The Last of Us Part II's story, it is really the only big incident that season 2 can dwell on. Although there are other huge moments later in the game, they likely won't happen until season 3, further highlighting that the supersized episode must be about Joel. With this heartbreaking moment sparking the main plot of the game, the show has to spend a large amount of time building up to this moment, as well as allowing time for Ellie to deal with the aftermath and grieve.
Why Joel's Death Deserves A Supersized Episode In The Last Of Us Season 2
Joel's Death Is The Most Important Moment In The Last Of Us' Story So Far
Of all the moments that deserve a supersized moment in The Last of Us season 2, Joel's death is at the top of the list. He is essentially the main character of season 1 and the first game, meaning his final moments should give him a proper sendoff. The show's directors have already mentioned season 2 will feature flashbacks, meaning the moments leading up to his death and the moments after can feature flashbacks to Joel and Ellie's previous adventures, making his death hit even harder. Additionally, this moment also has huge ramifications for the rest of the story.
Joel's death is what drives Ellie's quest for revenge and is what leads to some of her most vicious moments, meaning the episode can show just how deeply his death affected her. The remainder of season 2 and season 3 will naturally explore this, but focusing on the immediate aftermath is something the game didn't spend too much time on, and the series could improve on this. Likewise, a longer episode would help explore Abby's motivations for killing Joel and showcase her emotions afterward, proving that Joel's final outing deserves plenty of time and care to be fully explored.
