Pedro Pascal's Joel Returns in Flashback as "The Last of Us" Season 2 Explores Ellie's Darkness

HBO's "The Last of Us" Season 2 continues to deliver emotional intensity following Joel's shocking death, with Episode 5 marking a significant turning point for Ellie's character while surprising viewers with Pedro Pascal's return as Joel in a pivotal flashback sequence.

The flashback occurs during Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) brutal interrogation of Nora (Tati Gabrielle), revealing more about Abby's motivations and connection to Joel. This scene, dubbed the "Baby Shark" moment by co-creator Craig Mazin, showcases a darker evolution of Ellie's character.

"[Bella Ramsey] has this quality where they can show you someone who is descending into darkness, but still maintain this remarkably childlike quality," Mazin explained regarding the intense confrontation.

Director Stephen Williams elaborated on the episode's emotional complexity: "Jesse's return is really timely because it brings back memories of Joel. So there's a lot of other things that are resonating emotionally for Ellie in that moment."

Meanwhile, new character Dina, portrayed by Isabela Merced, continues to develop her relationship with Ellie amidst the chaos. Merced teased future developments for her character, hinting at significant storylines adapted from the video game source material.

The episode also expands the show's world-building, introducing the conflict between the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) and the Seraphites, further complicating Ellie, Dina, and Jesse's journey through post-apocalyptic Seattle as they pursue vengeance for Joel's death.