"That's How the World Works": 'The Last of Us' Showrunner on Landing That Devastating Episode 2 Ending

If you’ve recovered from the emotional demolition that was The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 2… you’re doing better than we are. Joel (Pedro Pascal) is gone — brutally murdered by Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) in front of Ellie (Bella Ramsey) — and the audience is left shattered, furious, and somehow still glued to the screen. For co-creator and showrunner Craig Mazin, pulling off this moment was never about shocking people for the sake of it. It was about consequence.