The Shocking Truth About Eugene in The Last of Us Season 2

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In The Last of Us Season 2’s first episode, Eugene makes a few appearances, and it’s revealed that he plays a crucial, hidden role in the strained connection between Joel and Ellie.

In the premiere of The Last of Us’ latest episode, there are more moments of sadness and tension (apart from Ellie and Dina’s cheerful banter and New Year’s Eve barn dance). Joel is troubled by Ellie’s frosty attitude towards him, Ellie is irked by his decisions to keep her away from patrols and over-guarding, and things become even more complex with the introduction of Abby.

One notable scene that shines in this production features Joel and Gail, a therapist character introduced for the first time, who wasn’t present in the original game.

After having a couple of whiskeys, she confronted Joel regarding his actions towards Eugene, her deceased husband, which also brought up some additional queries.

Who is Eugene in The Last of Us Season 2?

The only information available regarding Eugene is that he was married to Gail for forty-one years, and when he makes an appearance (likely in a flashback scene), he will be portrayed by actor Joe Pantoliano.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but express my curiosity about the mystery surrounding his time at Jackson. The specifics of his role and the duration of his stay remain unclear, and the circumstances of his death – both when and why it occurred – have yet to be disclosed.

In response to Joel’s complaints about Ellie, Gail chooses to no longer validate his feelings and instead expresses her own sentiments. “You took the life of my husband,” she declares.

Your actions led to Eugene’s death, and I harbor intense feelings of resentment towards you – feelings that go beyond simple resentment, I despise you for what you’ve done. I understand that you had no other option, but forgiveness eludes me. Despite knowing I should, I can’t seem to forgive you… not because you didn’t have a choice, but due to the manner in which it was carried out. Your presence here, within our home, only serves to enrage me.

In a different wording: It strongly suggests that Eugene contracted the infection and Joel had no choice but to terminate him before he transformed, potentially endangering others. However, Gail’s question, “How [he] did it,” implies some doubt about whether it was truly necessary for him to kill him or if he handled the situation compassionately. These points are still open to interpretation.

For individuals who’ve experienced the game, they might assume the strained relationship between Joel and Ellie is due to Joel’s deception about the Fireflies and the incidents at the hospital in Season 1’s finale. However, could it be that this tension has a connection to Eugene instead?

During a conversation with Variety, Neil Druckmann hinted: “This new character’s entrance significantly impacts Joel and Ellie’s bond.

Is Eugene in The Last of Us games?

Yes, but he’s been significantly expanded for The Last of Us Season 2.

In the course of the games, Eugene Linden appears just twice, always in photographs. One snapshot captures him with Tommy, while another shows him with his immediate family.

Leaving behind his spouse and offspring, he opted to align himself with the Fireflies, battling alongside Tommy and participating in ruthless assaults (even resorting to tormenting a high-ranking FEDRA officer). Eventually, he found himself with Tommy at Jackson, but frequently sought solitude at a deserted library in Seattle.

While on duty, there’s a note about Eugene passing away due to a stroke at the age of 73. Later, Ellie and Dina stumble upon some of his personal items such as his Firefly charm.

Druckmann expressed enthusiasm for these chances, saying something along the lines of, ‘I’m not very familiar with Eugene!’ He added that the narrative they presented [during the game] was relatively shallow.

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2025-04-14 09:20