Fans of the Naughty Dog video game were braced for this grim development, while those unfamiliar with the game were left stunned. Now, some viewers are wondering whether this really is the end for Joel. Or if there's a chance he might have miraculously survived. Here's everything you need to know about Joel's death and the possibility of his return, according to Mirror US . The former smuggler met his demise at the hands of Abby Anderson (Kaitlyn Dever) in a prolonged and gruesome attack involving a golf club. Joel had just saved Abby when she turned the tables and exacted her revenge, hoping it would ease the pain of her father's death. Joel was subjected to horrific torture before being killed, with Abby's allies witnessing the act in pure horror and disgust. Abby had vowed revenge on Joel after he killed her surgeon father, who was set to perform a deadly brain operation on Ellie ( Bella Ramsey ) to cure the Cordyceps virus. Joel wreaked havoc at the hospital upon learning that Ellie could die if the surgery went ahead. Despite finally taking Joel's life, Abby didn't seem to find any peace in her actions. Craig Mazin, the co-creator of The Last of Us, recently revealed to The Hollywood Reporter a crucial aspect of the series by saying: "We felt that the point we needed to get across was that Abby was not in control of herself. "That despite her reasoned, carefully articulated point to Joel, that this is not rational. She's going too far." Going into detail about Abby's emotional turmoil , he said, "There is a rage in her that I think we should understand is not the kind of anger that goes away simply because you killed someone. "That's the irony, or, I guess, the tragedy really of being consumed by something like this - there is no way to fix it except to somehow make your peace with it and let it go." Mazin further elaborated on the complex morality at play in Abby's decision-making process: "Killing Joel isn't going to fix this for her. She's doing something wrong. "And we needed to show how lost she was and we needed to show that other people in the room are horrified by this." In response to queries on Joel's fate, the show leaves no room for doubt, confirming that he has perished just as in the original video game . The story now follows Ellie in her pursuit of retribution, prompting questions about her potential descent into a cycle of revenge akin to Abby's, or her ability to overcome it. For enthusiasts of Pedro Pascal, who brings Joel to life, there remains a silver lining - his role in the series is not finished. Trailers for the second season have already hinted at Joel's return in flashbacks, providing viewers with a peek into his past encounters, including the events that led to Eugene's deadly showdown with him. For those still grappling with Joel's death and in need of a pick-me-up, Pascal can be spotted in several new projects, including The Mandalorian and Grogu, Materialists and The Fantastic Four.