The Last of Us season 2 introduces several new characters to the post-apocalyptic world of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), including familiar faces from the games and a few completely new ones created for the HBO series.
One of these new characters is Gail (played by Catherine O’Hara), the resident psychotherapist of Jackson. She’s introduced in the first episode of the second season when Joel arrives at her house for a therapy session.
However, Gail soon reveals that she was married to a man named Eugene, who has an unfortunate link to Joel. Those who have played the games will instantly recognise Eugene’s name, but who is he really, and how does he fit into the TV series?
What happened to Eugene in ‘The Last of Us’?
In one of the premiere’s biggest bombshells, Gail reveals that Joel killed Eugene, her husband of 41 years. “You shot and killed my husband. You killed Eugene. And I resent you for it. No, maybe a little more than that. I hate you for it,” she says, adding: “I know you had no choice. I know I should forgive you. Well, I’ve tried, and I can’t. Because of how you did it.”
This revelation sets Eugene up as a critical figure, despite his death occurring off-screen before the season begins.
Eugene is portrayed by Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix, The Sopranos), though he has not yet appeared in the flesh as of the premiere. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have confirmed that Eugene will feature in flashbacks.
As of the season 2 premiere, Eugene is already dead, yet the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery. However, based on Gail’s comments – “I know you had no choice [but to kill him]” – it’s likely that Eugene was infected with the Cordyceps fungus, and Joel had to carry out a mercy killing.
What role does Eugene play in ‘The Last of Us’ games?
In The Last of Us Part II video game, Eugene Linden is a minor character who never appears on-screen, existing only through photographs, logbooks, and conversations. He is a former Firefly, a resistance group fighting against the oppressive FEDRA regime, and a friend of Tommy, Joel’s brother.
He’s described as funny, sharp, and a talented marijuana grower, with a hideout in an abandoned library stocked with cannabis and adult videotapes. According to Ellie and Dina in the game, Eugene died of a stroke at age 73, a natural death that left him a fondly remembered, if peripheral, figure.
The HBO series significantly reworks Eugene’s story. While he retains his Jackson residency and marijuana-growing prowess, his death is far more dramatic in the series.
The Last of Us season 2’s opening episode has been heavily praised by fans, while NME has given the entire season a glowing four-star review, writing: “At its best, The Last Of Usis unsettling enough to make you question your own hypothetical moral code… This show doesn’t just go deep narratively – it also cuts deep emotionally.”
‘The Last Of Us’ season two is available to watch in the UK on Sky Atlantic and NOW