Spoiler warning: This article discusses major events from The Last of Us season 2, episode 2.

Mark Mylod on Filming One of the Show’s Most Devastating Scenes

The Last of Us season 2 has delivered its most harrowing moment yet — and even the director was left emotionally wrecked.

Episode 2, Through the Valley, saw the brutal death of Joel (Pedro Pascal) at the hands of Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), and director Mark Mylod has now opened up about filming the intense sequence and the reasons behind key changes from the video game.

“There was one take where I just couldn’t talk afterwards with tears running down my face,” Mylod told Variety, recalling how Bella Ramsey, embodying Ellie in this shattering scene, pushed herself emotionally. “That’s the lovely moment as a director where you know that’s the one.”

Though this marks his first episode of The Last of Us, Mylod is no stranger to high-stakes HBO television, having directed 16 of Succession’s 39 episodes — including the Emmy-winning “Connor’s Wedding” — as well as six episodes of Game of Thrones. His feature credits include the acclaimed 2022 satirical thriller The Menu.

Why the Show Didn’t Hold Back Like the Game Did

Abby kills Joel the game The Last of Us Part II, but the precise moment of impact is kept offscreen. In the HBO series, the moment is seen in full. According to Mylod, the original plan was to stay true to the game’s approach, but it didn’t feel right.

“It felt like we were ducking out,” he said. “So much of the game is about consequences and facing the music. The idea of them blinking and hiding from that felt coy and almost dishonest and disingenuous.”

Instead, the camera doesn’t cut away as Abby drives the broken shaft of a golf club into Joel’s neck, while Ellie looks on in horror.

Changes from the Game: Dina, the Group, A Spit

Alongside the decision to show Joel’s death more explicitly, Mylod and the team also made several changes to the surrounding story elements. In the game, Joel’s brother Tommy is with him at the time of the attack — but in the show, it’s Ellie’s friend Dina (Isabela Merced) who’s nearby.

Abby’s group has also been pared down. Instead of arriving with a large crew, the show limits her allies to Manny (Danny Ramirez), Owen (Spencer Lord), Mel (Ariela Barer), and Nora (Tati Gabrielle). One detail from the game — Manny spitting on Joel’s body — was also left out.

“There was a spit version,” Mylod confirmed, “but it didn’t feel right in the edit… It became what felt like the most powerful incarnation of that moment, rather than wanting the spit because it matched the game.”

Creating the Emotional Weight of Joel’s Death

One of the episode’s most haunting visuals features Ellie embracing Joel’s lifeless body. “It was just about desolation, absolute finality,” Mylod said of the shot. “We specifically shot the scene in a very unflashy way. It was very much about the humanity, vulnerability, anger, all the emotional elements of the character. It had to be honest and observational and not standing too far back, so there was almost a voyeurism of being uncomfortably close to to the action and emotion.”

The sequence ends with Ellie, Dina, and Jesse (Young Mazino) dragging Joel’s wrapped body through the snow back to Jackson. The image, paired with Ashley Johnson’s (who played Ellie in the games) haunting rendition of “Through the Valley,” became a powerful visual coda.

Inside the Infected Battle and Harsh Filming Conditions

Beyond Joel’s death, the episode also featured one of the show’s most elaborate action set-pieces: a massive infected horde attacking Jackson. Shot in the mountains of Alberta, the conditions were harsh — and the preparation was extensive.

The siege on Jackson — complete with a rampaging bloater, fire, and snow — was a monumental task behind the scenes. Shot across mountainous regions in Alberta and north of Vancouver, the sequence took months of planning.

“There were days up there when it was just frigid,” Mylod recalled. “We really needed those warming tents and every bit of clothing we could get.” He added that the stunt team bore the brunt of the conditions, often being buried in snow and sprinting through freezing terrain between takes.

The crew underwent “boot camp” training to perfect the infected movement, and meticulous coordination was required between special effects and stunt teams. “It was literally months of sitting in the boardroom and walking through it,” Mylod said. “If we’ve done our job right, then you can focus on performance — and find the emotional connection in the chaos.”