This text accommodates spoilers for Episode 3 of Season 2 of “The Last of Us.”
“Give Sarah my love.”
Spoken in a voice inflected with exhaustion and grief, they’re the one phrases that Tommy, performed by the actor Gabriel Luna, is ready to muster to Joel (Pedro Pascal), whose lifeless physique lies shrouded on a desk in a makeshift morgue in Jackson.
As Tommy’s eyes effectively up and he runs a moist fabric in opposition to Joel’s pores and skin, we get a close-up of Joel’s arm and the previous, damaged army watch on his wrist. It’s a poignant image that brings us again to the very starting of “The Last of Us,” once we meet Joel, Tommy and Sarah. It was Sarah who repaired the watch as a birthday reward to her father, and her sudden loss of life was central to Joel’s grief. And now that grief passes on to Tommy as he says goodbye to his brother.
For this scene that opens Episode 3 of the second season of HBO’s “The Last of Us,” Luna says he tapped into the grief that he’s skilled through the years after dropping shut members of the family, together with his grandfather in 2013.
“I remember being the only one in that chapel, walking up to my grandfather’s coffin, and that’s what I had in my mind when I was shooting the scene … the young lady gives me the rag to wash [Joel’s] body, and she exits. Now I’m the only one in there,” he says. “But as I’m walking up to Joel’s body, that’s what I was thinking of — my grandpa and being the only one there.”
“I’ve been to a lot of funerals in my life so it felt very familiar,” he provides.
If Episode 2 was the depiction of fireplace and uncontrollable rage — with Tommy flaming down an unrelenting monster often known as a bloater, and Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) torturing and killing Joel — Episode 3 is the alternative. It’s pensive and introspective about what was and what can be, very like Luna on this second of his profession on considered one of TV’s greatest reveals.
“I’ve been to a lot of funerals in my life so it felt very familiar,” says Gabriel Luna concerning the opening scene of Episode 3 within the second season of “The Last of Us.”
(Liane Hentscher / HBO)
After showing in small indie movies and doing stage work, Luna was solid because the lead within the El Rey sequence “Matador.” Although “Matador” solely lasted a season, the actor went on to affix ABC’s lauded Marvel sequence “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” as Robbie Reyes, a.ok.a. Ghost Rider. In 2019, he starred in “Terminator: Dark Fate” as Rev-9, the place he went face to face with the unique cybernetic murderer performed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. That led to a task in Netflix’s “FUBAR” with Schwarzenegger as soon as once more, after which “The Last of Us.” (Peacock’s “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” and Season 2 of Prime Video’s “The Terminal List” are amongst his upcoming initiatives.)
Luna and I meet to speak about his position within the postapocalyptic sequence at Bludso’s BBQ on La Brea Avenue, a favourite restaurant of his for a easy cause: It reminds him of house. Luna was raised in Austin, Texas, and in the event you’ve ever been, smoked meats are virtually a meals group there. It’s two days after Episode 2 has aired, and he is aware of the shockwave it has despatched to viewers. However he’s comfortable, sporting a pointy outfit of darkish Japanese denim and black leather-based boots that complement the Texas-themed eating room. He speaks softly however passionately about his work and the present as we converse earlier than a meal of brisket, cornbread and an assortment of sides.
Right here, in a dialog edited for size and readability, Luna discusses the aftermath of Joel’s loss of life, how the scene the place he says goodbye advanced, and why as a Latino actor it issues that he avoids stereotypical roles.
There’s been a whole lot of response to Episode 2, the place we see Tommy maintain the fort and Joel die. Have you ever been following it?
It’s been a twister of a few days. I used to be at WrestleMania when the episode aired. I left … slightly early to catch a flight, and once I landed, my telephone was completely lighting up like a Christmas tree, simply everybody calling and saying, “Oh, that was amazing. Congratulations.” While you learn the script, you knew that there was potential there for it to be one thing extraordinary. Then if you bought there on the day — we spent nearly two months taking pictures the second episode with Mark Mylod, our wonderful director of [shows like] “Succession” and “Game of Thrones.” After which, after all, Craig Mazin and Neil [Druckmann], the geniuses behind the entire thing.
You begin to see it come collectively. We’d really be doing one thing that’ll go down in historical past, not simply the large battle sequence, but additionally simply the iconography of that Joel scene on the finish. All these issues collectively have been gonna make for a seismic response, or at the least I hoped taking pictures this a 12 months in the past. I’m sitting right here two days after that, and all of it got here to move. All people reacted the best way we thought they could, and individuals are nonetheless watching it. I’m certain if I verify my telephone there can be one other dozen texts from people.
[Later, Luna flashes his phone, which is filled with rows of notifications.]
For me, it’s unforgettable. I nonetheless take into consideration these moments. Craig Mazin as soon as stated, “You know, this is the one that they’re going to remember us for.” I feel he was proper. And if this is without doubt one of the main issues I’m remembered for — I couldn’t be extra proud.
Gabriel Luna within the second episode of Season 2 of HBO’s “The Last of Us.” “If this is one of the major things I’m remembered for — I couldn’t be more proud,” he says. (Liane Hentscher / HBO)
Did Craig and Neil speak to you concerning the divergence from the video-game storyline to your character? [In the game, Tommy is with Joel when he’s killed.]
In direction of the top of the primary season, I instructed them, “You know, it always rubbed me the wrong way that Tommy was knocked out, completely incapacitated during Joel’s murder. Is there a possibility that we shift things around?” Craig’s like, “You know what? I got an idea.”
Proper earlier than the strike in 2023, Craig sends me a giant, lengthy textual content, explaining the way it all goes to go down, how Tommy is changed with Dina on the scene of Joel’s homicide, and is now in Jackson together with his spouse, Maria. Your complete city is making an attempt to outlive this onslaught and initially, within the textual content, there’s like two or three bloaters. We shot it as if we have been being attacked by two or three. We needed to shave a whole lot of it down. I simply bought goosebumps studying it. My coronary heart was beating simply studying this textual content.
The truth that this modification was made primarily based off of enter from me and speaking to Craig and all people else — possibly that they had designs of doing that earlier than, however I simply love them a lot for being so open to the probabilities.
I really feel that closeness reveals. On the press tour, you guys appear to essentially get alongside.
To like the individuals you’re employed with, that’s an unimaginable blessing. There’s actual love there, even among the many people who find themselves onscreen nemeses, mortal enemies.
Have you ever talked to Pedro or anybody else within the solid since?
Craig has a textual content thread known as “The Crazy of Us,” and so we’re all simply speaking to one another. It’s thrilling now for the second episode, however we bought much more to come back, we’re simply getting began. However we thought we’d give them a pleasant little shock to the guts proper firstly.
“It’s exciting now for the second episode, but we got a lot more to come, we’re just getting started,” Gabriel Luna says.
(JSquared Pictures / For The Occasions)
In Episode 3, you’re one of many first characters we see. What was going by means of your thoughts if you have been filming?
We talked about my grandfather earlier on this interview. I keep in mind when he handed away. Peter Hoar was the director for [this episode], and he did the Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett episode [“Long, Long Time”] final season. I simply breathed and let it occur.
Pedro was not really there, it was the physique double. They requested me,”Would you prefer to have him in full make-up?” “I would. Just to see all the damage, right?” And so they put him in full make-up, his eyes swollen and bloody, so once I elevate the shroud, I may see and have a bodily response.
I’ll say another factor relating to that. We had a whole lot of dialogue there that I’m glad they lower. As a result of all you actually need to say is, “Give Sarah my love.”
Was that within the script?
That was within the script. There was a complete different bit within the script [about Ellie]. She’s OK, she’s harm dangerous, however she’s going to be all proper. And me promising to handle her. Which didn’t must be stated as a result of I’m the one factor she has left.
However from this level, it’s now Bella [Ramsey] and Kaitlyn’s dance. Me, in a supporting capability, slightly bit extra central shifting ahead, however … these are the characters that begin shifting the story ahead. It was additionally this fascinating double that means, as I used to be saying these phrases, it’s not solely will I handle Ellie, however we are going to handle the present shifting ahead.
Rutina Wesley, who performs Tommy’s spouse Maria, with Gabriel Luna in “The Last of Us.”
(Liane Hentscher / HBO)
This episode additionally reveals the distinction between Tommy and Joel. You’re married, you’ve gotten a child, you’re the city chief. You’re making an attempt to determine, can we go avenge him?
I really like how far more torn Tommy must be to make the alternatives he’s about to make. My tasks to my spouse [Maria, played by Rutina Wesley], to my son, to this metropolis, find yourself superseding my want to go and assist with my brother. You possibly can see this completely different facet of Tommy that you just don’t see within the sport, the place he’s slightly bit extra untethered, impulsive.
I bought to have this actually great scene with Catherine O’Hara [who plays Gail, a psychotherapist] about what it means to inherit her [Ellie]. To have to know what she’s going by means of and to like her, but additionally love my brother, but additionally, when does it cease? Might we select proper now to show the opposite cheek [and] save lots of people’s futures and lots of people’s heartache? Typically you’ll be able to’t. That’s the entire lesson of the story. It’s about forgiveness. However how a lot will you endure alongside the best way, till you study that lesson?
Why do you suppose individuals join with the sequence a lot? There are some parallels to the true world, just like the pandemic. There’s a whole lot of division in our nation.
I feel that these are nice entry factors for individuals. The range of the solid, not solely within the present, but additionally within the sport, provides individuals entry factors as effectively.
All people in “The Last of Us” is on the identical airplane as a result of we’re all combating this looming menace above us [and] we’re all contending with it in several methods, reaching to like and neighborhood, army power, faith — all these numerous methods of coping. There’s one thing to the variety of all of it but additionally to the sameness of everybody and that we’re all on this collectively. But in addition I feel individuals like tales [that] put themselves in our boots … how would I take care of restricted assets and not abide by the legal guidelines of man and legal guidelines of nature?
“That’s the whole lesson of the story. It’s about forgiveness,” says Gabriel Luna.
(JSquared Pictures/For The Occasions)
As somebody who’s Latino, do you are feeling like your upbringing helped form your profession or have a hand within the roles that you just’ve chosen?
The delight and the assist and the love of a Mexican American household fortified me. The tradition enriched my expertise. On the opposite facet of that coin, the illustration inside media and the way they take a look at us was the alternative of that in a whole lot of methods. So it was one thing the place I carried the tradition and I carried my delight in my background … and it was that delight that received’t let me simply take no matter they [the industry] wished to present. You already know, I wasn’t going to play a narcotraficante. I wasn’t going to play gangster, and although I really like our language, I wasn’t going to play characters that solely have to talk Spanish due to the best way we glance.
I wished to be everybody’s hero. I wished Black, Asian, white, all of these youngsters to look to me and see them see themselves in me. I stated no to a whole lot of issues that have been extra conventional, which was what the trade was providing and it ended up being a superb factor as a result of I used to be accessible when the elements that subverted that got here alongside, like Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider, the “Terminator” movie and this one, “The Last of Us.”
You could have accomplished fairly a little bit of style work. Is it one thing that you?
I’m a toddler who grew up with all of that in ‘80s culture, comic books, Ninja Turtles, “Batman ‘89,” “Jurassic Park,” all that stuff … the precursors to all the Marvels and the video game adaptations.
Because of my physical ability, I’ve been ready to enter these form of roles that require a whole lot of motion parts, that are a giant staple of those style photos. I feel that’s what I really like. I’m fortunate. I’m glad that I get to do some of these issues which have these nice followings and actually passionate followers. I’ve all the time stated it’s in good palms. I attempted to ease their considerations by letting them know, possibly circuitously earlier than we ever dedicated to the display screen, however actually after the truth that I really like this similar means you do. And I really like “The Last of Us.” I really like the Ghost Rider. I really like the 40-year historical past of the Terminator. I don’t need to mess it up simply as a lot as you don’t need me to mess it up. I actually hope that folks can see that it’s within the nurturing palms of anyone who actually loves one of these storytelling.
