The last US seasonal director explains why he attenuated the brutal episode of the 2nd moment “I wanted to avoid clear torture”

This article continues to spoiler for The last of us Season 2 episode 2.

Whether you saw him arrive or not, The last of us Season 2 offered an emotional punch with Joel’s death in episode 2, “through the valley”. But according to the director Mark MylodThe scene could have been even more brutal, if not for a conscious decision to retire to ferocity.

“I don’t have much interest in showing violence itself,” Mylod said to Hollywood Reporter. Instead of fixing on the blood and broken bones, he was more interested in the Why Behind Abbies’s attack.

“But what motivated Abby into a place where she was transforming such extraordinary violence – which is infinitely fascinating. Therefore, after having established brutality and, hopefully, exploring some of the context to the reason why this young man was driven to such extraordinary violence and cruelty [Mazin] It was very on the same page. “

Having said that, let’s see Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) shoot Joel (Pedro Pascal) On his knees, hit him with his fists and beat him with a golf club. But the camera doesn’t focus forever. The moment is cut to the arrival of Ellie (Beautiful ramsey), letting the emotional weight take control in which Gore could overwhelm the public.

“What was important for me was to do my best to deliver those extraordinary words on the page and do justice at that moment,” said Mylod. This meant guiding its actors through a strong emotional territory.

“This becomes to work with the actors and, in this case, protect and support Kaitlyn and Bella that both had to go to get incredibly vulnerable.”

Although he was preparing for the scene for months, Mylod was not ready for what Ramsey brought to the table. “Bella led him to a level in which I was just destroyed.

“I can’t help but connect to a certain level, as a parent, to see a young man in such pain when the performance is so good. It is a little difficult in the room that he dissociated himself and thinking” is just reciting “because he was transcending him.”

For Mylod, the shot that will persecute him is not the killing of Joel of Abby, he is Ellie’s face. “That first floor on Bella” while elaborating Joel’s death, he says, it was both “the most frightening” and “more satisfying” of the episode. “It will remain with me forever – and hopefully even with a little of the audience.”

Toning things have not diluted the impact. If anything, he has currently given more space to breathe and hit even stronger.