The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 Ending Explained: Who died and What will Happen next?

The Last of Us season two, episode two, titled “Through the Valley”, delivers one of the most devastating and unforgettable endings in HBO history. If the first season was about survival and connection, this episode brutally reminds us of what’s at stake in a world built on loss. And yes—just like Game of Thrones fans watched Ned Stark fall in season one, The Last of Us just did the unthinkable.

One of the main characters is dead. The episode ends with his violent and drawn-out murder—an act of vengeance years in the making and the emotional turning point that will define Ellie’s journey going forward.

How Joel and Abby Cross Paths

The Fireflies that Joel left in ruins during the season one finale haven’t forgotten—or forgiven. Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), now allied with the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), is still burning with rage over Joel killing her father. In episode one, her group—Manny, Mel, Nora, and Owen—tracked Joel to Jackson, Wyoming.

Episode two opens with Jackson preparing for an approaching storm and whispers of an unusually intelligent Infected, known as Stalkers. As Ellie (Bella Ramsey), Dina (Isabela Merced), Jesse (Young Mazino), and Joel all go on scouting runs, chaos erupts.

Caught in the storm, Abby becomes separated from her group and nearly dies in an Infected nest—until Joel saves her. Recognizing him, she lures Joel and Dina back to her lodge under false pretenses.

Who dies in The Last of Us Season 2?

Once inside the lodge, the trap is sprung. Because Dina is viewed as innocent, she’s knocked out. Abby shoots Joel in the leg and orders her group to tourniquet the wound—not out of mercy, but so he can suffer longer.

As in the video game, the weapon of choice is haunting: a golf club. Abby begins to beat Joel with it, and when Ellie bursts in, she’s overwhelmed and restrained. She watches, helpless, as Joel—bloodied, broken, and barely breathing—locks eyes with her one final time. Abby drives the shattered club into Joel, killing him in front of Ellie.

Is Joel Really dead?

Yes. There’s no ambiguity here. Joel is 100% dead, and his final scene mirrors the game’s infamous moment almost beat-for-beat, with one key change: instead of Tommy, it’s Dina with him when he dies.

Was Jackson Destroyed?

Not quite. The Infected horde nearly breaches Jackson’s defenses, and many residents are killed. The chaos includes a major siege sequence, with Tommy (Gabriel Luna) facing off against a Bloater to save Maria (Rutina Wesley). Thanks to a mix of firepower, grit, and timing, Jackson survives—battered but not broken.

Why does Abby Kill Joel

For Abby, this was never about strategy—it was personal. Joel killed her father in the Salt Lake City hospital when rescuing Ellie, and that loss has defined her life ever since. Though her group had the chance to kill Ellie and Dina, they chose not to. Abby wanted Joel to suffer, to see the pain in Ellie’s eyes, to feel something close to what she’s carried for years.

How the Scene Differs from the Game

While Joel’s death unfolds much like in The Last of Us Part II, there are a few differences. In the game, Tommy is with Joel when they save Abby. In the show, it’s Dina. Also, the expanded siege on Jackson is unique to the series and not part of the original game.

Despite these changes, the heart of the scene—its emotional brutality, its shock, and its consequences—remains devastatingly faithful.

What Joel's Death Means for Ellie

Joel’s death isn't just about revenge—it fractures Ellie’s entire world. Despite the distance between them in recent years, Ellie’s love for Joel is undeniable. Her cries for him to get up, her collapse beside his body—these moments mark a seismic shift for her character.

The trauma will ripple through every relationship she has in Jackson and shape the dangerous road she’s about to walk.

Will Ellie Go After Abby?

If the game is any indication—yes. Revenge becomes Ellie’s obsession. Episode two hints at this path, showing a glimpse of Ellie and another rider heading toward Seattle, the current home of the WLF. Whether she follows Abby immediately or Tommy goes first, as in the game, remains to be seen.

Where is Abby’s Group Going?

After killing Joel, Abby and her friends are likely returning to Seattle, where they’ve spent the last five years embedded in the WLF. If the series continues to follow the game, Seattle will become the new battleground—where Abby faces both external enemies and the consequences of her actions.

Why the Infected Attacked Jackson

This plot twist is a major deviation from the game and adds a terrifying new dimension to the show’s worldbuilding. Episode one revealed Jackson had been expanding and accidentally disturbed a hidden underground network of cordyceps fungus. These fungal networks allow Infected to communicate across distances, effectively summoning a horde once triggered.

Creator Neil Druckmann previously spoke about these cordyceps networks with Polygon, revealing how they work: “[We wanted] to feel like these things are interconnected. They can come out against us as a mass.”

How Tommy Survives the Bloater

In one of the episode’s most intense action scenes, Tommy faces off with a Bloater—the most fearsome mutation of the Infected. When it goes after Maria, Tommy risks his life to draw it away and ultimately kills it using fire and sheer willpower. It’s a heroic moment that underscores the stakes of the battle and his commitment to protecting his people.

The Last of Us Season two, episode two doesn’t just deliver the franchise’s most heartbreaking moment—it sets a bold tone for what’s to come. Joel is gone. Ellie is broken. And the war between justice and vengeance has only just begun.

Where can you Stream The Last of Us Season 2?

The Last of Us season two is now streaming on HBO and Max, with new episodes airing weekly on Sundays. The third episode will premiere on April 27, 2025. If you want to refresh your memory, we have a recap of Episode 1.

You can also check out the making of episode two below.

Episode three preview is also here. Watch it below.

Also Read: The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 1: All the Easter Eggs and Game Changes you Might have Missed