What happened to Eugene in The Last of Us season 2?
He's going to have a bigger role in the show.
**Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Last of Us season 2 episode 1.**
The Last of Us season 2 has landed, reintroducing fans with Pedro Pascal's Joel and Bella Ramsey's Ellie, as well as launching a new host of characters onto our screens.
One new addition to the cast this time around is Catherine O'Hara, who plays Joel's intriguing therapist Gail.
In episode 1, Joel goes to Gail's house for a session and we learn that Gail was married to a man called Eugene, who was killed by Joel.
Fans of the video game will recognise Eugene's name, but those new to The Last of Us world might be wondering who he is, why Joel killed him, and why his character matters for the show moving forward? Here's what we know about him so far.
Who is Eugene in The Last of Us season 2 and what happened to him?
In the game, Eugene was a former Firefly who joined the community at Jackson after leaving the group. He had served in the Fireflies alongside Tommy, Joel's brother.
It's clear that Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have changed some aspects of Eugene's story for the show – most notably, his death. In the game, he died of a stroke, whereas it seems his demise in the show is going to be a little more gruesome.
Gail also doesn't exist in the game – whereas in the show, she's portrayed by actress Catherine O'Hara and has a fairly prominent role so far. In episode 1, Gail marks her first birthday without Eugene, meaning his death must be fairly recent.
To learn more about the game version of Eugene, see our video below!
Why did Joel kill Eugene?
Joel shot and killed Eugene – but we don't know exactly why yet. However, we can make some guesses from what Gail says.
After telling Joel there's something she's scared to say, Gail tells him: "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.
"I hate you for it. Yes, I know you had no choice. I know that. I know I should forgive you. I've tried but I can't because of how you did it, and looking at your face, sitting in our home, makes me so f**king angry."
The most likely possibility is that Eugene somehow became infected and Joel had to shoot him to protect the rest of the community at Jackson.
We're expecting to find out more about Eugene and his death later in the series, likely in a flashback, as fans glimpsed him in the season trailer.
Who plays Eugene in The Last of Us season 2?
Eugene will be played by Joe Pantoliano (although he's yet to appear in the show).
The actor is known for playing Ralph "Ralphie" Cifaretto on The Sopranos and has appeared in films and TV shows including The Goonies, Empire of the Sun, and NYPD Blue.
He's also had a successful working relationship with The Wachowskis, appearing in The Matrix, Bound, and Sense8.
The Last of Us season 1 is available on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. Season 2 is released weekly.
Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on this week. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.
