The Last of Us Season 2: Why Jesse’s Death MUST Stay and Break Our Hearts Again

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Another week, another piece on The Last of Us, am I right?

Indeed, to put it simply, I’ve been eagerly and restlessly anticipating the arrival of The Last of Us Season 2 ever since Season 1 concluded, given my long-standing affection for the series. Frankly, I never thought HBO’s adaptation would garner as much attention as it did when it debuted, but truth be told, I’ve been completely captivated by it, and its popularity has only escalated since then.

In my opinion, as a devoted fan of The Last of Us series, I’ve appreciated many changes that have unfolded throughout the storyline. However, there are certain twists and turns that didn’t sit quite right with me. Among these, there’s one decision that I hope remains untouched – a heart-wrenching death that I believe should remain an integral part of the narrative. So, please be aware, this discussion may contain spoilers from The Last of Us video games.

As Someone Who’s A Fan Of The Games, A Lot Has Changed So Far

The TV show based on this series has undergone quite a bit of transformation compared to the original video games. However, it’s important to clarify that the overall narrative hasn’t been drastically altered. This isn’t like an unexpected adaptation of Until Dawn. Instead, we’re witnessing a skillfully adapted video game franchise that is choosing to delve deeper into unexplored areas and enrich the story with more depth.

It’s not necessarily implying that all the alterations were positive. To be frank, one element I was keen on preserving from Part 2 of “The Last of Us” was Joel’s demise. I believe the overall narrative and the powerful message about the impact of grief and the price of love in a world where everything perishes wouldn’t have been as potent if he hadn’t met his end with that golf club.

In the game, it’s Tommy, not Dina, who witnesses his brother’s death, which carries a more powerful emotional impact for me. While adding depth to Dina and Joel’s relationship is valuable, it doesn’t resonate as strongly. In the game, the moment when you understand that Tommy watched his older brother die is like a heavy blow – something I believe would have been more impactful in the show if they had kept Tommy as the witness. The change to Dina isn’t a decision I’m particularly thrilled with.

Even so, there are plenty of Last of Us changes that I do like.

But I Don’t Mind Them – In Fact, I Welcome The Change

This piece isn’t focused on the alterations to “The Last of Us”. On the contrary, I generally appreciate many of the adjustments made.

In this new version, I’m really enjoying the increased focus on Jackson’s character as it adds depth to the game storyline instead of just being a minor detail. Also, I appreciate how we’re delving deeper into certain characters and factions without revealing too much about their identities.

I too appreciate the introduction of fresh characters. The therapist character portrayed by Catherine O’Hara wasn’t exactly what I had imagined for the show initially, but it felt incredibly appropriate when Joel finally opened up and discussed all his experiences with her.

Even if we’ve only seen one scene of that so far, that’s beside the point.

These alterations don’t detract from the narrative; instead, they elevate it. Although I may not fully concur with all aspects, it’s hard to deny that they’ve been carefully considered and carry a unique significance compared to what we typically encounter.

A modification I appreciate is that we’ve delved a bit more into Jesse’s background, which leads me straight to my key observation.

However…I Really Hope They Keep Jesse’s Death The Same

This is quite hard for me to say, but I need them to keep Jesse’s death, and I’ll tell you why.

As a passionate film enthusiast who delved into “The Last of Us” games, I was already privy to Joel’s fate due to leaks that surfaced a month prior to its release. Contrary to some, I didn’t feel dismayed by his demise; instead, I appreciated it as a testament to daring and compelling storytelling. However, my foreknowledge of the twist took away from the emotional impact it could have had on me if I were experiencing it for the first time.

As a movie buff putting it in my own words, let me share what happened when Jesse met his end: I first encountered Jesse at the outset of this gripping tale, and he struck me as a decent chap with a dash of cynicism. However, there was something more to him than just his facade. Later on in the storyline, Jesse made a selfless decision to accompany Ellie and Dina to Seattle, despite knowing that it wouldn’t sit well with Jackson. It became evident that Jesse was not only a kind-hearted individual but also a man of great courage. Unfortunately, this noble act ultimately led him to his demise.

Then Abby suddenly fires a shot at him, leaving you stunned and in disbelief for a moment, until tears start flowing as we transition to the next scene. It was such a shocking turn of events that I found myself exclaiming, “Oh my goodness, NO!” and started crying almost immediately because it seemed unreal.

Currently, we’re observing Jesse more frequently, as Young Manzino from the Beef cast is stepping up his game by portraying a sarcastic yet compassionate and astute version of Jesse. We’ve witnessed their friendship with Ellie more often, and I must admit, it has me on edge, thinking they might alter things and spare him this time…or perhaps they could even off Tommy instead. I can’t say for certain.

It Would Double The Impact Because We Know Him More And Push Ellie To Seek Further Revenge

To clarify, I believe it’s crucial that he passes away immediately because, as things stand, we’ve come to know him far better than we anticipated. The demise of Jesse in this context carries much deeper significance than it did within the game.

Contemplating the possibility that the characters from “The Last of Us” may diminish, particularly Jesse, is undeniably disheartening. However, if Jesse were to meet his end, it would resonate deeply with viewers and serve as a catalyst for Ellie’s determination to pursue Abby in Season 3 (assuming there is one). Such an event would provide a poignant conclusion to Jesse’s character arc and could very well be among the most heart-wrenching deaths portrayed on the series. In fact, it would undoubtedly keep “The Last of Us” on HBO as a show that captivates global audiences with its emotional depth.

In the series we’re watching, I seem to have a knack for correctly guessing which characters will meet their demise due to the game’s hints. However, there are instances where the plot takes an unexpected turn and my predictions are flipped upside down. Jesse’s possible death might be another instance of this surprising twist.

Well, it’s worth noting that this series doesn’t shy away from tugging at one’s emotions deeply, as evidenced by the poignant death of Joel. So, it might be that I’m reading too much into things without any real cause.

Regardless of the scenario, I’m planning on catching the following three episodes, and I’ll likely shed tears during each one since I’m deeply fond of this series. Fingers crossed that the grim events start unfolding soon, though it seems we may have reached that point already, if you catch my drift.

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2025-05-07 12:46