All the major deaths in The Last of Us Season 2

The Last of Us Season 2 wrapped up with its finale episode on May 25, 2025, on HBO. This season delivered some hard-hitting and devastating moments, including the deaths of multiple characters.

From shocking revenge-fueled killings to heartbreaking consequences, HBO's masterpiece reminded us that survival in the post-apocalyptic world is quite tough, and no one is safe.

This season delivered some of the most unforgettable deaths in the series to date. Here's a breakdown of the pivotal characters that we lost in The Last of Us Season 2

Every major death in The Last of Us Season 2

1) Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal)

Joel Miller was killed by Abby in The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 (Image Via Instagram/@thelastofus)

One of the biggest gut punches of the season came quite early. In The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 titled Through the Valley, Joel was brutally killed by Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), who wanted to seek revenge for her father's death. For the unversed, Joel killed Abby's father, a surgeon at the Saint Mary's hospital in Salt Lake City, where Ellie was about to get operated on to find a remedy to the Cordyceps infection. Abby initially tricked Joel into the chalet where other Firefly members were waiting. She stabbed Joel to death right in front of his 'adoptive daughter' Ellie. This scene shocked the viewers not just for violence but for its suddenness. It was a shocker for those who had not played Naughty Dog's video game, The Last of Us Part II. Joel's death became an important narrative engine of the season, fueling Ellie's revengeful journey to Seattle to kill Abby.

2) Jesse (Young Mazino)

Jesse was shot by Abby in The Last of Us Season 2 (Image Via Instagram/@streamonmax)

Jesse, a respected member of the Jackson community and a father-to-be, died unexpectedly in The Last of Us Season 2. After joining Ellie and Dina in Seattle, Jesse was on his mission to bring them back to Jackson safely. However, his life was cut short when he was hit in the head by Abby, who was raging about the death of Owen and Mel. Jesse's sudden death marked one of the season's most jarring turns. Jesse, who had come to rescue Ellie and Dina, was an innocent victim of the deadly revenge game between Abby and Ellie.

3) Owen (Spencer Lord)

Owen was shot by Ellie in The Last of Us Season 2 finale episode (Image Via Instagram/@spennylord)

Owen, was a member of the Salt Lake City crew who was part of Abby's team during her quest in Jackson to track Joel. When Ellie finally tracked Abby's location, she reached the city's aquarium. When Ellie held Owen at gunpoint, he begged for his life. Owen pointed out to Ellie that when Abby killed Joel, it was due to his interference that Ellie's life was spared. But Ellie was blinded by revenge and asked for Abby's location. When Owen tried to get near his weapon, Ellie shot and killed him instantly. Owen's sudden death is not only tragic, but it also represents Ellie's collapsing morals.

4) Mel (Ariela Barer)

Mel was caught between the crossfire between Owen and Ellie and was killed alongwith her unborn child (Image Via Instagram/@arielabarer)

In the aquarium site, Ellie also encountered Mel, a WLF doctor and a member of Abby's group. When Ellie shot Owen, the bullet passed through him and straight up hit Mel's neck as she succumbed to the injuries. The heart-wrenching scene features Mel revealing that she is pregnant as she pleads for her unborn child's life. She asks Ellie to perform an impromptu C-section on her, but Ellie seems quite confused, and thus the mother and unborn child die a painful death. The scene is quite haunting, proving that Ellie has truly become a ruthless revenge seeker and is finally learning the heartbreaking consequences of it.

5) Unconfirmed fate- Ellie (Bella Ramsey)

Ellie's fate remains uncertain as Abby held her at the gunpoint in the closing scenes of the finale episode (Image Via Instagram/@thelastofus)

The finale ended on a cliffhanger with Abby pointing a gun at Ellie as she pulled the trigger, and the screen went blank. While it's improbable that Ellie is dead-given her lead role, this moment underscores how fragile life is in this world.

Each death in Season 2 of The Last of Us carried weight, forcing characters to confront what they've become in the process. With season 3 already confirmed, one thing is clear- survival in the post-apocalyptic world comes at a steep price.