When Naughty Dog launched The Last of Us Part II, it shattered expectancies—not certainly with its bold storytelling and gameplay, but with a unmarried, stunning second early in the game: the lack of lifestyles of Joel Miller. A preferred individual and the emotional middle of the number one exercise, Joel’s brutal and sudden loss of life sparked outrage, heartbreak, and passionate debate amongst fans. So why did they kill Joel?
Let’s unpack the innovative, thematic, and narrative motives in the back of this arguable preference.
Related: Who Are The New Characters In The Last Of Us 2?
The Consequences of Joel’s Actions within the First Game
In the particular The Last of Us, Joel makes a variety that essentially alters the arena: he saves Ellie from the Fireflies, killing many—which includes their leader, Marlene—to accomplish that. By prioritizing Ellie’s existence over a capability remedy for humanity, Joel will become every a savior and a villain, relying on your attitude.
The Last of Us Part II holds Joel accountable. His lack of lifestyles isn't always random—it’s retribution. Abby, the lady who kills him, is the daughter of the Firefly fitness care agency Joel murdered. Her revenge is a proper away final effects of Joel’s morally grey choice. In essence, Joel’s dying is a continuation of the tale, now not a betrayal of it.
A Story About Cycles of Violence
Joel’s loss of existence gadgets the tone for the sport’s vital trouble remember: the cycle of violence and revenge. Just as Abby seeks vengeance for her father, Ellie spirals into her very personal route of revenge in opposition to Abby. This endless loop of tit-for-tat violence suggests how trauma and ache propagate, ingesting everyone in their direction.
By killing Joel, the sport gives emotional weight to this project. It hurts. It’s intended to. And that ache is what drives the rest of the narrative.
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Subverting Expectations
Most sequels play it safe. The Last of Us Part II did the alternative. By doing away with Joel from the tale so early—and in the type of brutal way—it upends the participant's expectations and forces them into uncomfortable emotional territory. It demanding situations the target market to feel empathy not just for Ellie, but ultimately for Abby.
Killing Joel wasn't a gimmick; it have become a storytelling threat designed to initiate concept and reflected photo. It dared to mention: no person is relaxed. Not even our hero.
Growth for Ellie as a Protagonist
Joel’s absence leaves a void in Ellie’s lifestyles—and in the story. That void turns into a crucible for her growth. Stripped of her father discern and protector, Ellie ought to confront her non-public beliefs, morality, and identification.
His death additionally deepens her trauma, and on the identical time as her adventure will become darker, it permits us to look new aspects of her individual—anger, grief, obsession, and ultimately, the fee of vengeance.
A Reflection of Real-World Consequences
In real life, humans don’t typically get heroic send-offs or final speeches. Death can come swiftly, all of sudden, and unjustly. Joel’s dying mirrors that. It’s messy, cruel, and unresolved. That realism, at the identical time as painful, is what The Last of Us Part II so unforgettable.
Final Thoughts
Joel’s loss of lifestyles in The Last of Us Part II wasn’t only a plot twist—it modified proper into a bold narrative preference that served the problem topics of effect, revenge, and empathy. While it angered many enthusiasts, it also improved the sport to a few component more than only a placed up-apocalyptic shooter. It have emerge as a tale about humanity, loss, and the value of our options.
In the stop, Joel’s legacy lives on—no longer honestly in Ellie’s coronary heart, however inside the way his lack of life annoying conditions us to impeach what we'd do in a worldwide wherein every desire includes weight.
Wilman Kala
When Naughty Dog launched The Last of Us Part II, it shattered expectancies—not certainly with its bold storytelling and gameplay, but with a unmarried, stunning second early in the game: the lack of lifestyles of Joel Miller. A preferred individual and the emotional middle of the number one exercise, Joel’s brutal and sudden loss of life sparked outrage, heartbreak, and passionate debate amongst fans. So why did they kill Joel?
Let’s unpack the innovative, thematic, and narrative motives in the back of this arguable preference.
Related: Who Are The New Characters In The Last Of Us 2?
The Consequences of Joel’s Actions within the First Game
In the particular The Last of Us, Joel makes a variety that essentially alters the arena: he saves Ellie from the Fireflies, killing many—which includes their leader, Marlene—to accomplish that. By prioritizing Ellie’s existence over a capability remedy for humanity, Joel will become every a savior and a villain, relying on your attitude.
The Last of Us Part II holds Joel accountable. His lack of lifestyles isn't always random—it’s retribution. Abby, the lady who kills him, is the daughter of the Firefly fitness care agency Joel murdered. Her revenge is a proper away final effects of Joel’s morally grey choice. In essence, Joel’s dying is a continuation of the tale, now not a betrayal of it.
A Story About Cycles of Violence
Joel’s loss of existence gadgets the tone for the sport’s vital trouble remember: the cycle of violence and revenge. Just as Abby seeks vengeance for her father, Ellie spirals into her very personal route of revenge in opposition to Abby. This endless loop of tit-for-tat violence suggests how trauma and ache propagate, ingesting everyone in their direction.
By killing Joel, the sport gives emotional weight to this project. It hurts. It’s intended to. And that ache is what drives the rest of the narrative.
You May Also Like: How much did the Minecraft movie make in the box office?
Subverting Expectations
Most sequels play it safe. The Last of Us Part II did the alternative. By doing away with Joel from the tale so early—and in the type of brutal way—it upends the participant's expectations and forces them into uncomfortable emotional territory. It demanding situations the target market to feel empathy not just for Ellie, but ultimately for Abby.
Killing Joel wasn't a gimmick; it have become a storytelling threat designed to initiate concept and reflected photo. It dared to mention: no person is relaxed. Not even our hero.
Growth for Ellie as a Protagonist
Joel’s absence leaves a void in Ellie’s lifestyles—and in the story. That void turns into a crucible for her growth. Stripped of her father discern and protector, Ellie ought to confront her non-public beliefs, morality, and identification.
His death additionally deepens her trauma, and on the identical time as her adventure will become darker, it permits us to look new aspects of her individual—anger, grief, obsession, and ultimately, the fee of vengeance.
A Reflection of Real-World Consequences
In real life, humans don’t typically get heroic send-offs or final speeches. Death can come swiftly, all of sudden, and unjustly. Joel’s dying mirrors that. It’s messy, cruel, and unresolved. That realism, at the identical time as painful, is what The Last of Us Part II so unforgettable.
Final Thoughts
Joel’s loss of lifestyles in The Last of Us Part II wasn’t only a plot twist—it modified proper into a bold narrative preference that served the problem topics of effect, revenge, and empathy. While it angered many enthusiasts, it also improved the sport to a few component more than only a placed up-apocalyptic shooter. It have emerge as a tale about humanity, loss, and the value of our options.
In the stop, Joel’s legacy lives on—no longer honestly in Ellie’s coronary heart, however inside the way his lack of life annoying conditions us to impeach what we'd do in a worldwide wherein every desire includes weight.