If you played The Last of Us Part II, you remember Eugene as a footnote. He was the guy who owned the weed-filled library hideout, the guy Dina spoke about with a sort of fond reverence. In the game, he died of a stroke at 73. A "good" death for the apocalypse. But the HBO series decided to rip that peaceful ending away. In the show, Joel kills Eugene, and honestly, it’s one of the most brutal character shifts we've seen since the hospital massacre in Salt Lake City.
This wasn't some random act of violence. It was a calculated, heartbreaking moment in Season 2, Episode 6, "The Price," that completely rewired the relationship between Joel and Ellie.
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What really happened in the woods?
During a patrol on Ellie’s 19th birthday, things went south. They found Eugene (played by Joe Pantoliano) out in the wilderness, bitten and terrified. He wasn't a monster yet. He was just an old man who knew his time was up but desperately wanted one last thing: to see his wife, Gail.
Ellie, being Ellie, pushed for the humane option. She did the cognitive tests. She proved he had time. She begged Joel to take him back to the gates of Jackson so he could say goodbye. And Joel looked her in the eyes and promised he would. He even had her go fetch the horses to get her out of the way.
Then he led Eugene to a clearing overlooking a lake and shot him in the head.
The lie that broke Ellie
The killing itself is "Joel being Joel." He’s pragmatic to a fault. In his mind, bringing an infected person—even a friend—anywhere near the walls of Jackson is an unnecessary risk. He doesn't care about "final words" or closure; he cares about the safety of the colony and, more importantly, Ellie.
But the real damage came afterward. Joel told Gail (Catherine O'Hara) that Eugene had chosen to end it himself to protect her. He framed it as a heroic sacrifice. It was a "kind" lie, or at least that’s how Joel justifies it.
The problem? Ellie was done with the lies. She had been sitting on the suspicion of what happened with the Fireflies for years. Seeing how easily Joel could look a grieving widow in the face and rewrite history was the tipping point. When Ellie tells Gail the truth—that Eugene begged for her and Joel broke his promise—it isn't just about Eugene. It’s Ellie finally screaming that she knows Joel is a liar.
Why this change exists
In the game, the rift between Joel and Ellie is a slow burn of unspoken tension. By having Joel kill Eugene, the showrunners (Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann) gave that tension a physical, undeniable catalyst. It serves a few purposes:
- Establishing Gail’s character: In the show, Gail is Jackson's therapist. Her resentment toward Joel adds a layer of community tension that the game lacks.
- The "Firefly" Connection: Eugene was an ex-Firefly. While the show hasn't explicitly confirmed if Joel killed him to keep the Salt Lake City secret quiet, the subtext is heavy. Eugene knew things. Dead men tell no tales.
- Mirroring the Ending: This scene mirrors the Season 1 finale perfectly. Joel does something morally gray "for the greater good" or "for Ellie," then lies about it to maintain their relationship. Only this time, he gets caught immediately.
The impact on Season 2
This moment is essentially the "point of no return." It’s why their relationship is so incredibly strained in the present-day timeline of the show. It recontextualizes Ellie's grief later on; she isn't just mourning Joel, she’s mourning the fact that they spent his final years in a state of radioactive anger because of moments like this.
Most people get it wrong—they think Joel killed Eugene because he’s a "bad guy." He’s not. He’s a man who has decided that the truth is a luxury the world can no longer afford. But as Ellie proves, the truth usually finds a way out, and it usually leaves a scar.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking the differences between the game and the show, keep an eye on these specific details in future episodes:
- Watch the eyes: Notice how Ellie looks at Joel after the Eugene incident; the trust is physically gone from her performance.
- The Gail factor: Catherine O'Hara’s Gail isn't just a cameo. Her role as a therapist means she knows the psychological "why" behind Joel's actions, even if she hates him for them.
- Check the timeline: This flashback happens on Ellie's 19th birthday, which is the final major milestone before the events that kick off the main plot of Part II.