Entertainment

Over the last day, the world seemed to lose its sense of right and wrong, but we’re not referring to Pope Francis; we’re talking about the character Joel from The Last of Us. In the second episode of the series’ second season, Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of the reluctant foster father was brutally killed by a new character named Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever. As viewers watched in shock, Abby shot Joel in the leg, attacked him with a golf club, and ultimately impaled him with a broken club while Ellie, his surrogate daughter, looked on helplessly. Anyone who may have forgotten that this show specializes in tearing at audience heartstrings was given a stark reminder by the final scene, where Ellie lay beside Joel’s lifeless body. Interestingly, Joel’s death takes place early in The Last of Us Part II, although Abby shares her motivation during an interrogation with Joel rather than later in the game.

After her stint on SNL, Leifer has persistently pursued stand-up comedy and has garnered a substantial collection of TV-writing credits for shows such as Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Hacks. She’s also penned jokes for the Oscars and Emmy Awards. These engagements have inspired several books, with her latest being a collaborative effort with Rick Mitchell titled How to Write a Funny Speech for a Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, Graduation & Every Other Event You Didn’t Want to Go to in the First Place. Additionally, these experiences make her a rich source of comedy stories, from her musings on being known as Seinfeld’s “real Elaine” to drawing upon her own career hurdles when creating the character Deborah Vance on Hacks. Regarding the character, she states, “I understand not only what it was like to break through, but also what it’s like to remain relevant and current as an older figure in the industry amidst a sea of millennials and Gen-Zers. In that sense, I can certainly empathize with her struggles.

In simpler terms, he’s saying they are genuinely making an effort, though slightly exaggerated for television, to discover and enhance methods for better communication among pilots within the cockpit. He clarifies this as he anticipates a certain reaction, stating that ‘somewhat’ is used because it’s a show meant for entertainment. While some might call it a documentary, Fielder, the creator of Nathan for You, The Curse, and this show’s first season, prefers to use that term loosely. In essence, it appears to be a fruitful discussion, so Fielder heads to another room to inform the actress portraying the United Airlines media person that they are now ready to perform authentic scenes. She is sitting in an office resembling a United employee’s workspace.

Perhaps it’s worth mentioning that the story initiates not with Ellie or Joel, but with Abby, who starts off in a state of distress as she recalls walking into the operating room where Joel had killed her father. She finds herself in what used to be opulent surroundings, a lodge overlooking Jackson. Accompanying her are Owen and other survivors from Joel’s massacre five years ago in Salt Lake City: Nora (Tati Gabrielle), Mel (Ariela Barer), and Manny (Danny Ramirez). As they survey Jackson, they acknowledge the challenges of their mission to seek retribution against Joel. It’s a heavily fortified settlement and they have no clue where Joel is. Furthermore, Abby’s associates are willing to aid her, but they propose certain conditions. Primarily, they want to ensure that only Joel suffers harm.

In a notable divergence from its source material, The Last of Us features “Jackson” instead of the video game locations. On the other hand, Game of Thrones presents “Hardhome,” while Lord of the Rings offers “Helm’s Deep.

In the opening of the episode, Joe is found by Chee in the desert, critically injured but conscious enough to provide radio directions. His truck and wallet have been looted and left behind, suggesting that George was supposed to meet with the lieutenant there. As Chee gets closer, Joe’s voice comes in more clearly over the radio. When Chee finally locates him, Joe insists that they pursue the suspect first, as he is still injured and hasn’t gone far yet.

“Me? I’m merely shitting.” 

Moving away from the city seems like the wisest decision for our show, given the escalation of issues surrounding the gun incident. It’s become a hot topic, both on-screen and off, and I feel like echoing Taylor Armstrong’s “enough” is appropriate to bring this situation to an end. Ideally, we would resolve this storyline in this episode, leaving any further discussions for blogs, social media enthusiasts, and Kenya’s YouTube vlogs. Regrettably, Brit brings remnants of her personal drama into the episode during a car shopping scene with her husband, which lacks any chemistry. Later, at dinner with Drew, she persists in her behavior, while Drew continues to challenge her victim narrative. He advises the new girl that Brit’s aloof attitude following Kenya’s dismissal is pushing people away. Brit claims to be an “open book,” giving Drew leeway to ask probing questions about the newcomer’s background.

You now understand that “The Last of Us: Part II” has been eagerly awaited by players for years, even if you were not previously familiar with the story. The buzz surrounding the new season may have hinted at something significant due to the extensive coverage leading up to its release. Specifically, the character Abby, portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever in the HBO adaptation, was frequently described as “controversial,” reflecting the controversy that arose when the game was launched in 2020. The episode titled “Through the Valley” explains why: Abby is introduced as the vengeful daughter of the surgeon whom Joel (Pedro Pascal) killed at the end of the first season. She brutally beats Joel, leaving him severely injured, and then executes him in front of Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced). For new viewers, this death comes as a surprise, especially given that we’re only two episodes into the season. However, for players, Joel’s death serves as a pivotal moment, similar to the infamous “Red Wedding” in “Game of Thrones,” an event they knew was coming and were intrigued to see others’ reactions to it. (By the way, how many times will Pedro Pascal die for HBO?)

Initially, Hurley hinted at a possible relationship with Cyrus by sharing a bikini selfie featuring one of his songs on Instagram. Later, they both worked together on the set of “Christmas in Paradise” in 2022. After that, Cyrus got married and divorced Australian singer Firerose, while Hurley appeared in a film directed by her son, where she played a lesbian character in a romantic scene. Needless to say, they’ve all been quite active!