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Eugene Linden is more than a fleeting mention in The Last of Us Season 2. Joe Pantoliano plays him, and according to the show's creator, he has a larger role in the HBO series than he did in the game. While his presence is only felt within the game using notes and secrets, the series makes him real—completing his background, friendships, and the kind of individual he became in Jackson, Wyoming.
Although Eugene is already dead when The Last of Us Season 2 starts, the series makes use of flashbacks and what his friends have to say about him to inform the audience about his history. Eugene is referred to as an ex-Firefly member and a close friend of Tommy Miller in the original base video game, The Last of Us Part II. He was a patrolman for Jackson and peacefully passed away due to a stroke when he was 73 years old.
In the series, Eugene was the husband of Catherine O'Hara's Gail. Though the game depicts Eugene as having died of natural causes, the show implies Joel had murdered him—offering a plot development that could affect the future of the story. The news is brought as a part of a time jump during which Joel and Ellie are settling into life in Wyoming.
Ellie and Dina stumble upon his underground bunker that has Firefly gear, marijuana, and older surveillance gear stored there, giving players a peek at his multifaceted life. He was not a main character, but these secrets made his character richer and more mysterious, showing him to be a man who held on to the past.
How was Eugene killed by Joel in The Last of Us Season 2?
In Episode 1 of The Last of Us Season 2 , Gail confronts Joel, blaming him for killing her husband, Eugene, but there is no clarity why he did it. She mentions that it's her first birthday without Eugene in 41 years, suggesting that his death was recent. Since Joel has an established history of employing deadly force to defend Ellie, such as in the Season 1 finale when he executes the Firefly unit, Eugene's death may be linked to this existing tension.
Eugene was discovered to be a member of Jackson's Firefly unit, and his participation might have put him in the middle of growing tensions. Now that Abby and the remaining Fireflies pursue Joel in retaliation, Eugene's demise may have been an outcome of the widely raging war.
Character development of Eugene in The Last of Us Season 2
The HBO show develops Eugene's character while staying true to the spirit of his game counterpart. Even though viewers don't get to see him alive in the present timeline of the show, flashbacks and backstories will reveal more about the kind of person he was and how he impacted the community. He's also demonstrated to be a troubled character with a history—most likely still haunted by his Firefly past—and possibly more deeply involved in the events that have led up to the show's present time than previously.
The series has not yet brought in the iconic bunker or fully explained his relationships to Joel or the Fireflies, but it does leave some emotional currents of interest tantalizingly hinted at.
Gail's character addresses the emotional fallout of Eugene's death in The Last of Us Season 2.
Gail's presence in The Last of Us Season 2 is important in addressing the emotional fallout of Eugene's death in The Last of Us Season 2. Gail is new to the HBO show but appears nowhere in the video game. Her addition provides important context on how the emotional shock of Eugene's death should be interpreted. Gail, being a Jackson therapist, exists to break down the complexities of the emotions experienced after Eugene's death, specifically about the community and Joel.
Gail's grief and her anger surrounding Eugene's death indicate the emotional and moral complexity that the characters face. In her therapy sessions, she bemoans the loss and is conflicted over Eugene's fate. Her words suggest that Eugene's death was not a simple event but a deeply traumatic one for the individuals involved.
The ambiguity of the conditions under which he perished—particularly Joel's role—adds depth to emotional tension. Through Gail, the series also recognizes how the consequences of such loss can impact those left behind, presenting a more complex perspective on survival, guilt, and the emotional toll of choices in a post-apocalyptic setting.
Lastly, Eugene's increased exposure in The Last of Us Season 2 heightens the series' investigation into loss, survival, and the complexity of human relationships. Although his story is distinct from the original game—especially how he passes away—it still respects the character.
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The series enriches Eugene's presence, links him to Joel's background, and leverages his absence to create increased emotional tension in the present timeline.
Also read: What is The Last of Us about?
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