Hope Rekindled: Joel’s Possible Comeback in…

Editor’s note: This article includes significant spoilers from the season 2 finale of The Last of Us.

By now, it’s likely not much of a surprise that the rugged father figure, Joel, meets an unexpected fate early in HBO’s latest season of The Last of Us. While fans might anticipate this signals the end of Joel’s storyline, the showrunners suggest that his narrative isn’t completely finished.

During a recent press event, showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin discussed the season 2 finale of The Last of Us. When asked if the series might delve into the time between Joel’s daughter Sarah’s death and his meeting with Ellie, both Druckmann and Mazin expressed that it’s not entirely out of the question.

Druckmann remarked, “It’s beneficial to keep some elements a mystery, allowing the audience to use their imagination. We occasionally explore these mysteries when they serve the story we’re telling. Thus, I wouldn’t say it’s impossible.”

Mazin echoed this sentiment, stating they “would never” rule out further exploration of Joel’s character, but acknowledged that the narrative constraints of season 2 made such explorations challenging.