WARNING: This article contains significant spoilers from The Last of Us season 2, episode 2

This week's episode of The Last of Us delivered a heart-wrenching blow with the savage killing of Joel Miller (portrayed by Pedro Pascal).

Devotees of the Naughty Dog video game anticipated this grim turn of events, while those unfamiliar with the source material were taken aback.

Speculation is rife among viewers about whether this marks the end for Joel or if, miraculously, he might have survived.

Here's everything you need to know about Joel's demise and the possibility of his return, reports the Mirror US.

Who is responsible for Joel's death in The Last of Us?

The ex-smuggler met his end at the hands of Abby Anderson (Kaitlyn Dever) in a drawn-out and brutal assault involving a golf club.

Joel had just rescued Abby when she retaliated, exacting her revenge in the belief that it would alleviate her sorrow over her father's death.

Joel was subjected to horrific torture before being killed, with Abby's allies witnessing the gruesome scene in utter horror and revulsion.

Abby sought vengeance on Joel after he killed her surgeon father, who intended to perform lethal brain surgery on Ellie (Bella Ramsey) to cure the Cordyceps virus.

Joel unleashed havoc at the hospital upon learning that Ellie could die if the surgery proceeded.

Despite finally executing Joel, Abby appeared to derive no comfort from her act of revenge.

The Last of Us co-creator Craig Mazin revealed to The Hollywood Reporter: "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.

"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.

"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."

Is Joel really dead and will he return?

Indeed, he is. In alignment with the video game narrative, Joel has met his end.

The narrative now shifts to Ellie's quest for retribution, questioning whether she will succumb to a destructive cycle of vengeance like Abby, or if she can rise above it.

For enthusiasts of Pascal, there's good news – his portrayal of Joel isn't over in the series.

As teased in season two trailers, Joel will return in flashbacks.

Viewers will also delve into the backstory of Eugene and Joel, exploring the circumstances that led to the latter's demise.

For those still reeling from Joel's demise and seeking a refreshing change, Pascal is set to appear in several new ventures, including The Mandalorian and Grogu, Materialists and The Fantastic Four.

The Last of Us season 2 airs on Sundays on HBO in the USA and on NOW and Sky Atlantic on Mondays in the UK