In a recent celebration for the Emmy-nominated series ‘The Last of Us’, Kaitlyn Dever reflects on her character’s emotional journey and the impact of pivotal scenes.
Kaitlyn Dever Reflects on Emotional Moments in ‘The Last of Us’
After landing 16 Emmy nominations for season two of The Last of Us, its stars and creative team gathered to reflect on the emotional journey of the season at HBO Max’s Nominee Celebration on Sunday.
Behind the Scenes of a Pivotal Episode
Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dever, Joe Pantoliano, and editor Timothy Good joined co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann at the event. Much of the conversation centered around the season’s second episode, where Dever’s character, Abby, brutally murders Pascal’s main character, Joel.
“You’re so inside of it that you really kind of lose sight of what it will mean when a TV audience experiences episode two of season two,” Pascal shared with the audience. Given that Joel also dies in the video game the series is based on, he added, “I’m like, ‘Well, everyone knows this is gonna happen,’ because I’ve just been living with it for such a long time.”
Introducing Abby: A Character Driven by Revenge
This shocking moment surprised many fans and serves as a pivotal part of the series. After her appearance in the first episode of season two, the second episode formally introduces Abby, who will take over as the lead character in the upcoming third season, seeking revenge for her father’s death at the hands of Joel.
“Kaitlyn just came in; I had no doubt she would excel, having seen her perform brilliantly in everything she’s done,” Pascal praised. “It was a dance we got to enjoy, being scene partners in such an intense moment.”
The Emotional Toll of Acting
Pascal also noted the emotional distance he and Ramsey experienced between seasons, which added to the complexity of their characters’ strained relationship. “We were apart for a long time, and then when we got back together, our characters weren’t together. That was strangely painful in a way I hadn’t experienced before,” he explained.
See More ...
Mazin commended Dever’s performance in the violent scene, saying, “I don’t know how Kaitlyn was looking at Pedro, turned to look at golf clubs, turned back, and a tear fell. I don’t know how she did it.” Dever reciprocated the compliment, expressing her admiration for Ramsey’s emotional scene where Ellie mourns Joel’s death.
“When Joel is lying there dead, I don’t know how you guys did that moment,” she told Pascal and Ramsey. “I had to leave the room. I couldn’t watch it.”
Understanding Abby’s Grief
Dever emphasized the importance of portraying Abby’s grief authentically. “I wanted people to really see and feel her pain, to understand how much she has thought about this and calculated her actions when facing Joel,” she said.
“At the very end when she kills Joel, she doesn’t feel better; she has to live with that,” Dever continued. “I aimed to show the human side of her, that she isn’t just an evil person who did something horrible.”
