"Creators and Performers Dissect the Crafting of That Pivotal Scene in The Last of Us"
Cracking the Code of The Last of Us:
Taking the story of The Last of Us by storm, the second season unveiled a pivotal moment echoing the games, laying the groundwork for the rest of the season. Ahead of its screen, creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, alongside coworkers Pedro Pascal (Joel), Bella Ramsey (Ellie), and Kaitlyn Dever (Abby), spoke with press regarding this critical scene and teased the directions unfolding for the show's next seasons.
"Through the Valley" ends with Abby, much like in the games, mercilessly subduing Joel utilizing a golf club, an act witnessed by Ellie and Abby's companions. This stark moment hit those familiar with the sequel hard, as it had been the big reveal when the game leaked in 2020. As it turned out, there were considerable discussions between Mazin and Druckmann about when to enact the scene. Versions where it occurred later in the season felt like "dragging our feet," according to Druckmann, leading to their choice to place it "early enough" to intensify its impact.
"Should people know it's coming, they'll feel edgy, and those unawares will discover it in due time," Mazin elucidated. By ensuring that it felt organic and not some form of gratuitous audience provocation, the creators aimed to maintain the scene's significance within the narrative.
Abby and Joel's scuffle, paralleling their initial encounter in the games, transpired as the first joint scene for Pascal and Dever. Dever's interview with Entertainment Weekly exposed the filming schedule's adjustment for Dever to mourn her mother's passing due to cancer. This tragic event altered her acting process significantly–normally, she would have the monologue like Abby's down pat weeks before shooting, but as life events took their toll; she felt the freedom to "let it go and not worry about it excessively."
Joel's end did not alter, but the events leading up to it did. Before her grim deed, Abby delivers a emotional soliloquy to Joel disclosing how he took her father's life during the season's hospital attack, a scene penned specifically for the show by Mazin. He divulged the added significance was necessary for Abby to articulate "that what he did was wrong. The end. Guilty. Sentenced to die. It was about depicting the depth of her anger, the pain, yet also her conviction."[1]
The Last of Us Part II featured Tommy as a supporting character with Ellie during the scene where Joel expired. The show opted for a departure, keeping him within Jackson to safeguard the settlement from the Infected. Joel, in turn, becomes paired with Ellie’s future companion, Dina (Isabela Merced). Druckmann, the creative mind behind the second game, justified this change as a means to illustrate Dina’s devotion towards Joel and provide her a stronger impetus to join Ellie's quest for vengeance.[1]
Ramsey muses that both Ellie and Dina becoming fatherless bonds the women closer, adding nuance to their relationship. Having been in the woods with Joel before meeting Abby, there lurks a hint of jealousy in Ellie's thoughts. "Dina shared a last day with him, and that gnaws at Ellie with a sense of guilt and regret," Ramsey added. "Subtle emotional tensions are woven into their dialogue following Abby's actions."
Given the striking response Joel's death received from the audience–a mix of sorrow and shock mirroring that of Ellie–Dever remains ready to confront the public reactions to Abby's actions. "Projections about public response are beyond my control. I can only hope people appreciate my portrayal of Abby. As my collaborators Craig and Neil were instrumental in fashioning the character, I'm incredibly proud of it."[1]
Pascal, who has dabbled in dying in genre roles, accepts being in "active denial" over Joel's fate. Despite his departure, he admires observing Ramsey establish herself as the franchise’s leading lady. "There's a parental bond between the characters of Joel and Ellie," Pascal stated. "Although Bella was never my daughter, I observed her with awe as she stepped naturally into a leadership position."
Entertainment Weekly's extensive reporting on the episode also delves deeper into Tommy’s defense of Jackson and orchestrating Joel's death. Follow up on Tommy and the latest The Last of Us news by visiting the feature here.
Should you hunger for more updates, check out the chronicles of the upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, unveilings in the DC Universe, and all the keys to the future of Doctor Who.
[1]: Source: Variety[2]: Source: Entertainment Weekly
- In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Kaitlyn Dever revealed that her acting process for portraying Abby was significantly affected by her mother's passing due to cancer, leading to a change in her preparation schedule.
- The show's creators, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, spoke about the pivotal scene where Abby mercilessly subdues Joel, explaining that they wanted to maintain its significance within the narrative while ensuring it felt organic and not sensational.
- Isabella Merced is introduced as Ellie's future companion in the show, replacing Tommy from the games, according to Neil Druckmann, to illustrate Dina's devotion towards Joel and provide her a stronger motivation to join Ellie's quest for vengeance.
- Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie, reflected on the bond formed between Ellie and Dina due to both characters losing their fathers, adding nuance to their relationship and creating subtle emotional tensions in their dialogue following Abby's actions.
- Pedro Pascal, who plays Joel, has expressed being in "active denial" over Joel's fate but admires Bella Ramsey's performance as she establishes herself as the franchise’s leading lady.
- To stay updated on the latest news about The Last of Us, including Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who, visit the sources Variety and Entertainment Weekly.
