Overview

• Joel's death in Episode 2 closely follows the video game's storyline but incorporates new elements to deepen its emotional impact.
• The episode introduces a simultaneous infected horde attack on Jackson, a departure from the game that expands the stakes for the community.
• Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann emphasized the importance of Joel's death as the season's inciting incident to propel the story forward.
• Changes to the source material include Joel patrolling with Dina instead of Tommy, highlighting Dina's connection to Ellie and Joel's loss.
• Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey reflected on the emotional weight of filming the scene, with Ramsey describing it as one of the most heart-wrenching moments of the series.