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(Image credit: HBO) A cursory glance around the internet would suggest fans are less than enthused with The Last of Us season 2's third episode – a more measured, slower response to Joel's death than the gung-ho ride to Seattle that players were met with in 2020's The Last of Us Part 2. Co-showrunner and game director Neil Druckmann, however, was pleased to give the shocking demise of Pedro Pascal's Joel the love, care, and attention it deserved. "I love episode three," Druckmann said on The Last of Us' Inside Episode 3 aftershow. "It does something that we just couldn't do in the game." You may like That shocking death in The Last of Us season 2 happened so early in the show because "if people know it's coming, they will start to feel tormented" The Last of Us season 2 director says he toned down some of the "extraordinary violence and cruelty" in shocking episode 2 moment to "avoid overt torture" "In the game after Joel dies, because the mechanics of the game are very action-oriented, the mourning period is relatively short. Here, we can take almost an entire episode and really feel the loss of this character," Druckmann said, also making sure to pay particular mention of "this really beautiful scene where Tommy has to come in and he has to clean up his brother's body." While the third episode follows similar beats to the game – including Ellie (Bella Ramsey) heading back to Joel's house and rifling through some of his belongings – it mostly deals with the trauma of the community and the disruptive effect it has on the people who cared most for him in Jackson. "The entire town of Jackson suffered," co-creator Craig Mazin added. "I have a problem sometimes in television shows where a character we care about loses someone in a battle where a lot of people lose people. Those people matter too." So, The Last of Us season 2 deals with Joel's death in a different, no less powerful way. It echoes quotes from GamesRadar+'s own interview with Mazin, one where he was at pains to say that while the route from A to B could be different in the adaptation of the hit PlayStation series, but would get there in the end. Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. "We get our way to the same goal, but we travel a different path to get there," Mazin told us. The Last of Us season 2 is now streaming. For more, check out The Last of Us season 2 release schedule and The Last of Us season 2, episode 3 game differences. See more TV Shows News Streaming Services Bradley Russell Social Links Navigation I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. That shocking death in The Last of Us season 2 happened so early in the show because "if people know it's coming, they will start to feel tormented" The Last of Us season 2 director says he toned down some of the "extraordinary violence and cruelty" in shocking episode 2 moment to "avoid overt torture" The Last of Us season 2, episode 3: The biggest changes between the HBO show and the PlayStation game Pedro Pascal recalls "shock and heartbreak" making pivotal The Last of Us season 2 scene: "I've never experienced anything like I did that day" The Last of Us season 2 episode 1's big game change is proving very divisive with fans: "That was the whole point" The Last of Us season 2 episode 2 just made a major change to its most heartbreaking moment Latest in Drama Shows Neil Druckmann says The Last of Us season 2's divisive episode 3 does something they "couldn't do" in the game after Joel's death: "The mourning period is relatively short" Netflix confirms Agatha All Along star's hit series won't be getting a season 4, but surprises fans with a welcome twist The Walking Dead boss is confident that the zombie franchise could run for another 15 years: "As long as we have terrific characters, it can go on and on" The Last of Us season 2 episode 1's big game change is proving very divisive with fans: "That was the whole point" Death haunts Ellie and Joel in new horror-themed The Last of Us season 2 trailer featuring Seraphites, a new look at Isaac, and another Bloater Kaitlyn Dever's Abby isn't muscular in The Last of Us season 2 because it wasn't "essential" for the show's story: "There is no gameplay, there is merely observation" Latest in News Neil Druckmann says The Last of Us season 2's divisive episode 3 does something they "couldn't do" in the game after Joel's death: "The mourning period is relatively short" Darth Vader won't appear in Andor season 2 because he "doesn't have a lot to say" A leaked Lego set seemingly reveals the first full look at Fantastic Four's towering Galactus "The demonic lovechild of Balatro and Buckshot Roulette" is a roguelite horror game where you out-gamble the devil and it got over 100k Steam wishlists in a week Despite positive reviews, indie dev declares their early access roguelike "fails in fundamental ways," makes it free forever, and moves the heck on After several popular mods, REPO devs are thinking of a Lethal Company-inspired mimic monster of their own but "it needs to be really interesting" GAME REVIEWS MOVIE REVIEWS Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review: "An old-school feeling JRPG as dynamic as Persona but with parry-filled battles as hard-won as Sekiro" Lost Records: Bloom and Rage – Tape 2 review: "Don't Nod's new coming-of-age series ends with teen defiance and queer rage" Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread review -"Manages to give everyone something D&D can't match" Blue Prince review: "Thisexploration roguelike is like nothing else I've played, and became a puzzle obsession I just couldn't shake" Promise Mascot Agency review: "Yakuza management mechanics are messy, but I'm won over by its truly immaculate bizarre vibes" A Minecraft Movie Review: "Jack Black's irrepressible star turn helps elevate this video game adaptation" The Electric State review: "Although this may be their most visually stunning movie yet, it looks like the Russos are yet to find their footing outside of the MCU" Fight or Flight review: "Slick and silly action sequences garner well-earned John Wick and Bullet train comparisons" Mickey 17 Review: "Bong Joon Ho's best English movie to date and arguably Robert Pattinson's best movie ever" Captain America: Brave New World review: "Anthony Mackie's Cap earns his Stars and Stripes in this uneven, un-MCU thriller" Doctor Who season 2, episode 3 spoiler review: 'The Well' is a "ruthlessly gripping" installment that challenges Belinda Andor season 2 review: "Every bit as stellar as its predecessor – at times, it even surpasses it" Doctor Who season 2, episode 2 spoiler-free review: 'Lux' is a "bold, bonkers" second episode with an amazing villain Doctor Who season 2, episode 1 spoiler-free review: "'The Robot Revolution' is an impressive first episode for new companion Belinda Chandra" The Last of Us season 2 review: "Brilliant and visceral but fails to capture the magic of season 1" GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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