Digging Into Joel's Unveils a New Side of "The Last of Us"

In crafting the bond between Joel and Ellie, the creative minds behind The Last of Us found themselves facing deeper questions about Joel’s past. What experiences shaped his moral compass? Where did his instinct to use force in the name of protection come from? And what fueled his need to play the reluctant hero?

Those inquiries sparked the idea for a powerful flashback that opens Episode 6 of Season 2, titled "The Price." The episode was penned by showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, joined by Halley Gross, who previously collaborated with Druckmann on The Last of Us Part II video game.

In this pivotal sequence, viewers are transported to Austin in 1983, where they meet Javier Miller—Joel and Tommy’s father—portrayed by Better Call Saul standout Tony Dalton. Dalton, recently seen in Marvel’s Hawkeye and Daredevil: Born Again, brings Javier to life as a no-nonsense cop with a violent streak and a complicated relationship with his sons, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Tommy (Gabriel Luna).

“I had Tony in mind from the start,” Druckmann told Entertainment Weekly. “His presence in Better Call Saul just blew me away. He’s got this rare combination of charm and menace that was exactly what we needed.”

Dalton’s performance made such an impression that Druckmann went on to cast him in Naughty Dog’s upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, where Dalton stars alongside Tati Gabrielle (Nora in The Last of Us). “The moment the role came up, I knew he was perfect,” Druckmann added.

For the younger versions of Joel and Tommy, the team cast Andrew Diaz and David Miranda, respectively. Though Diaz previously worked with Pascal in We Can Be Heroes, Druckmann insists the casting was purely based on Diaz's strong audition and his uncanny resemblance to a young Pedro Pascal. “He’s got that same quiet intensity,” said Druckmann.

The flashback shows a tense moment in the Miller household. A young Joel sits nervously as his father walks through the door—expecting punishment for intervening in a drug deal gone wrong to defend Tommy. But instead of a beating, Javier unexpectedly offers Joel a beer.

This interaction marks a turning point. “Joel’s act of violence wasn’t random—it was to protect someone he loved,” Druckmann explained. “And in that moment, his father sees a reflection of himself. There’s a strange, almost painful connection. Javier admits that he wasn’t perfect, but he did better than his dad. That legacy of trauma and doubt sticks with Joel for the rest of his life.”

This theme resonated deeply with Druckmann, especially after becoming a father himself. He describes the scene as evolving from a depiction of inherited trauma into something more layered—about the possibility of healing and breaking the cycle.

“It’s not just about pain passed down,” Gross adds. “It’s about learning, growing, and maybe doing better the next time. Joel’s history is full of darkness, but we’ve also seen him make conscious choices to rise above that. This episode shows the possibility for change—not just for Joel, but for Ellie too. If they can face their pasts, they can choose who they want to become.”

The Last of Us continues its second season with the finale airing Sunday, May 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and streaming on Max.