Eugene is a character introduced in The Last of Us Season 2 TV series, portrayed by Joe Pantoliano. He is the husband of Gail, Jackson’s resident therapist, and they had been married for 41 years before his death
. Eugene was bitten by an Infected during a patrol outside Jackson’s borders. Joel and Ellie encountered him when he wished to return to Jackson to say goodbye to his wife. Although Joel initially agreed to help Eugene return, he ultimately decided it was too dangerous and led him to a secluded spot where he shot and killed Eugene to prevent him from turning into an Infected
. Joel lied to Gail about Eugene’s death, telling her that Eugene chose to end his own life to keep her safe. However, Ellie later revealed the truth to Gail, causing tension between Joel and Gail and contributing to the strain in Joel and Ellie’s relationship
. In summary:
- Eugene was Gail’s husband, bitten by an Infected.
- Joel killed Eugene to prevent him from turning into a zombie.
- Joel lied about the circumstances of Eugene’s death to Gail.
- Ellie exposed the truth, deepening conflicts among the characters
This storyline is a significant departure from the video game, where Eugene is only mentioned and dies of natural causes, but the show uses this event to explore themes of morality, trust, and the consequences of Joel’s actions
