Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us Part II, the game on which The Last of Us season 2 is based.
Pedro Pascal's performance as Joel in Pedro Pascal's best movies and TV shows were very action-driven. The Last of Us took his talent to a new place, showing his more serious range while playing to his strengths.
Thanks to Mando and Grogu, Pedro Pascal was the perfect Joel. The Last of Us season 2 looks set to build on his success in season 1, with Pascal likely giving his best performance yet.
Joel's First Scenes In The Last Of Us Season 2 Will Give Pedro Pascal A Lot To Work With
The Last Of Us Part II Gives Joel Some Powerful Scenes
As Joel has been keeping a large secret from Ellie while trying to keep her safe, the moment when the truth is exposed provokes a range of emotions from both main characters in The Last of Us Part II. This mix of guilt, fear, pain, and helplessness will give Pedro Pascal a lot to work with in this scene alone. That's not to mention the scene where Joel tells Tommy what happened, which is how Part II opens. Additionally, Joel will certainly be in many The Last of Us flashbacks set between seasons 1 and 2.
Joel might even have a larger role in The Last of Us season 2 than he does in the game. The potential flashbacks in The Last of Us season 2 can allow Pedro Pascal to have an even bigger presence and build Joel's relationships with the other characters. The trailer has implied that he may only have a few scenes, but each will be significant, with two heartbreaking discussions certain to feature. When Ellie discovers Joel's secret, their emotional discussion is a key point in the story, just like his confession to Tommy. These are all moments that will allow Pascal to shine.
Pedro Pascal Will Show Even More Of His Range As Joel In The Last Of Us Season 2
The Last Of Us Season 2 Might Top Pedro Pascal's Best Episode In Season 1
Joel is a character that has the fate of humanity under his control and makes the "egoistic" choice, which gives Pascal several opportunities to show his range. The Last of Us season 2 sees Joel fighting his guilt over potentially depriving humanity of a cure for the virus just to save Ellie. The Last of Us season 2 may be different from the game, but the trailer shows that one major scene will appear in both. Joel tells Tommy, "I saved her," while confessing what he did, which could be one of the most emotional scenes of Pedro Pascal's career.

The Pressure Is On The Last Of Us Season 2 Thanks To Sony's Video Game Adaptations
The Last of Us was a massive hit for HBO when it debuted in 2023, but season 2 has a lot of pressure after PlayStation's recent announcements.
Pedro Pascal's best Joel scene in The Last of Us season 1 displays his talent for showing conflicting emotions. Pascal's Joel is more vulnerable than the video game character, making him more relatable. Freezing when afraid, as Joel sometimes does, is a natural response, and Joel's more vulnerable scenes were some of season 1's best. When Joel tells Tommy about his massacre, this could be an even more intense moment for Pascal, topping season 1's powerful scenes and potentially making The Last of Us season 2 his best performance yet.

- First Episode Air Date
- January 15, 2023
- Cast
- Nick Offerman, Rutina Wesley
- Created by
- Neil Druckmann, Bruce Straley
- First TV Show
- The Last Of Us
- Latest TV Show
- The Last Of Us
- Current Series
- The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure franchise created by Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley, developed by Naughty Dog. It centers around survivors in a world ravaged by a fungal infection turning humans into aggressive creatures. The story primarily follows Joel and Ellie in the original game, while the sequel adds new characters like Abby. The franchise includes video games, a television series, comics, and other media.