When The Last of Us returned to HBO for its second season, it reintroduced fans to Joel, Ellie, and the town they’re now calling home, purportedly Jackson, Wyoming—but also brought a new name to the forefront: Eugene.

Spoiler alert: This article contains plot details from Season 2, Episode 1 of The Last of Us.

Though his appearance is brief and his death occurs offscreen, Eugene’s story adds emotional weight to Joel’s arc and introduces tension within the community.

Season 2 picks up five years after the events of Season 1. Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) have settled into life in their new hometown, but tensions simmer beneath the surface. One of the season’s key revelations comes during a therapy session between Joel and Gail, a therapist played by Catherine O’Hara.

“You shot and killed my husband,” Gail tells Joel. “You killed Eugene. And I resent you for it. No. Maybe a little more than that. I hate you for it. I hate you for it. And yes, I know you had no choice. I know that. I know I should forgive you. Well I’ve tried, and I can’t. Because of how you did it.” She continues, “And looking at your face, sitting in our home, makes me so f****** angry.”

Who is Eugene in ‘The Last of Us’?

Eugene is a survivor living in the town who once fought as a member of the Fireflies—a militant group seeking to restore order and develop a cure for the infection blighting the planet.

In the video game The Last of Us Part II, Eugene is mentioned briefly and only appears in photographs and journals. He is described as a former Firefly and friend of Tommy, Joel’s brother. In the game, Eugene dies of natural causes before the events unfold.

However, HBO’s adaptation takes a creative departure. Eugene is reimagined as a key figure in Jackson’s community and is shown to have been close to Dina (played in the show by Isabela Merced), Ellie’s best friend.

Series co-creator Neil Druckmann said the writers aimed to deepen the character for the TV version: “Someone like Eugene, we had a take on that character to say, ‘OK, well, how does that expand Joel and Ellie’s relationship? How does it expand the town of Jackson? How does that expand what the story’s about, which is this idea of love and the extremes that love can take you to?'”

Which Actor Plays Eugene in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2?

Although Eugene hasn’t yet appeared on-screen, viewers will eventually meet him through a flashback. He is set to be portrayed by Joe Pantoliano, a veteran character actor known for roles in The Sopranos and The Matrix.

This kind of backstory treatment echoes the show’s approach to other secondary game characters, such as Bill and Frank in Season 1. Like them, Eugene was given more depth and significance in the TV adaptation, providing fresh emotional stakes for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

How Many Episodes are in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2?

HBO has announced that The Last of Us Season 2 will consist of seven episodes. This shorter run is a deliberate pacing decision as the creators plan to split the events of The Last of Us Part II game across multiple seasons. Each episode aims to delve deeply into character dynamics and emotional fallout, including the complex decisions Joel has made since Season 1.

“If you’ve watched the first episode, they talk about Eugene and why that’s important. And you’ll see even more of why that’s important as the season goes on,” Druckmann said in an interview with IGN.

Whether Eugene’s story ends with a simple flashback or further reshapes the relationships in Jackson remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: his legacy looms large in the decisions and regrets of those he left behind.