No Happy Endings

Spoiler alert: This post contains major plot details about The Last of Us Season 2, including Episode 2. If you haven’t watched it and care about spoilers, stop reading now. For real.

Let’s talk about Joel.

There’s been a tidal wave of outrage since Episode 2 aired, mostly from viewers who can’t believe the show had the audacity to kill off its “main character.” Some even say they’re done with the show. And look, I get that Joel is beloved. Pedro Pascal gave him layers and warmth and pain, and it was devastating to see that brutal end. But if you know the source material—or honestly, if you’re paying attention—it’s not just a shocking moment for the sake of being edgy. Joel’s death is the fuse that lights everything else that follows.

Without it, there’s no real story.

This isn’t a universe that traffics in fairy tales. It’s about trauma, grief, vengeance, and the impossible weight of survival. That pain drives Ellie, and it forces everyone else in her orbit to confront who they really are. It’s messy. It’s not satisfying. And that’s the point. Joel’s death matters because it hurts. That doesn’t make it bad storytelling—it makes it honest.

People have gotten so used to stories that reward them with happily-ever-afters or at least “earned” character deaths. But that’s not The Last of Us. This isn’t Marvel. Joel doesn’t get a slow fade-out with a final monologue and orchestral send-off. He’s ripped away, because that’s what violence does. If you can’t handle a story with consequences, maybe this isn’t the story for you.

And while we’re here, let’s talk about the other wave of so-called “criticism”: Ellie’s line, “I’m going to be a dad.”

This isn’t just people being confused about a character beat. This is backlash rooted in homophobia, plain and simple. The same people losing their minds over that line are the ones who threw fits over a Black Little Mermaid or over Hamilton’s diverse cast. They cling to “tradition” as a thin excuse for their bigotry. And they’re not just “fans with opinions”—they’re garbage people who have no interest in growing or understanding. They want the world to reflect only their version of it, and anything outside that becomes an affront.

These are the same voices who pretend they’re being silenced while shouting down others. Who cry “woke” every time a queer character is treated like a full human being. And when that character dares to make a joke, or express joy, or imagine a future for themselves that doesn’t fit the bigot’s idea of “normal,” they throw a tantrum.

So let me be clear: if that’s you, you are not welcome here.

The Last of Us is about love, loss, and how both can change us. If you can’t handle that because the love looks different than yours, then this story was never meant for you.

And frankly, neither is this blog.