The Last of Us Season 2 has started its seven-week run, and the moment we have been dreading has finally transpired in the HBO TV series. Unlike the first season, the second season has headed into gruesome territory by killing Joel in the first act, which brutally kicks off the sequel’s main storyline. This was a bold move from the game’s creators that left us emotionally shattered. It simultaneously made fans question why Abby killed Joel in the first place. So, discover the motive behind Abby’s gruesome beating and murder of Joel, the greatest character in the TLOU series.
Heavy Spoilers Warning: This article contains heavy spoilers about the story of The Last of Us Part 2 game and season 2 of the TV show. Proceed with caution.
What Was Abby’s Problem with Joel?
The Last of Us Part 2 video game takes its time to introduce fans to Abby and her backstory as you progress. But the second season of the live-action series wastes no time highlighting Abby’s intentions as they introduce and reveal her motives in the very first episode. The second season opens up with Abby and her friends mourning the deaths of the Firefly members.
Slowly. When we kill him, we kill him slowly – Abby Anderson
So, why does Abby specifically have a problem with Joel, you ask? It’s because Joel took the life of the chief doctor, Jerry Anderson, who was Abby’s father in the series. Joel slaughtered the whole Fireflies crew to save Ellie from her demise at the hands of the doctor.
After Joel kills Jerry, Abby is heartbroken by the unexpected loss of her father and swears to make Joel pay for taking her father’s life.
Why Did Abby Kill Joel in The Last of Us?
A sequel can only shine if the creators genuinely connect the story and expand on the spirit of its predecessor. So, the only way for them to push the narrative forward was to take the hard decision of killing Joel in the most brutal way possible.
Thus, Abby, who vowed to avenge her father’s death, bashed Joel to death with a golf club in the final moments of The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2. Millions of fans around the world love Joel, and the tragic end of such a fan-favorite ended up traumatizing not only Ellie but also the viewers.
However, if you spare a moment and place yourself in the shoes of Abby, you can understand why she went through all the trouble to beat Joel to his death. The sudden loss of a loved one can drive anyone to pursue vengeance at any cost. Joel did what he had to do to save Ellie.
But the consequences of his acts, i.e. the death of Abby’s father, cost him his own life in the end. I mean, Joel knew this better than anyone, as he once said:
I guess no matter how hard you try, you can’t escape your past – Joel Miller
As Joel is the father figure in Ellie’s life in the TLOU series, the writers opted for a challenging choice to deepen Ellie’s character in the show. Ellie (Bella Ramsey) can be seen shouting at the end of the second episode, “I’m gonna kill you. I’m gonna kill you! You’re gonna die! You’re all gonna fucking die!”
The central themes explored in season 2 are revenge, the cycle of violence, and redemption. People may hate Abby for taking Joel away from us, but once we see the other side of the coin, Abby’s story in season 3, it will change our perception of revenge. Until then, do you think Abby was right to kill Joel brutally in TLOU Season 2? Let us know your thoughts about Abby’s actions in the comments below.
