TLDR; Eugene in The Last of Us is a minor character first introduced in The Last of Us Part II game. He was a former Firefly who later became a patroller in Jackson and mentored Dina. In the show, Eugene is briefly referenced and might have a slightly altered backstory, including a possible confrontation with Joel.
In The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 1, a name was mentioned in Joel’s session with psychotherapist Gail: Eugene. And that got me curious: Who is this Eugene guy? Did we see him in the first season of The Last of Us? Or, probably, The Last of Us games had Eugene.
Here’s the thing: I found the answer to these questions. And, it could be slightly disappointing if you haven’t played games.
Eugene’s Story in The Last of Us Games
So, Eugene, or Eugene Linden, as his full name is, gets a mention in the game titled The Last of Us II. In the game’s lore, Eugene died of a stroke at the age of 73 in 2038. He had a wife named Claire (the show probably added a background story with Gail). Also, a daughter (which we haven’t heard of in the show).
Eugene has accompanied Tommy during his days of working for a terrorist group. They used to go on raids together. The whole thing made Eugene part ways with his family in the game. Their days were so dark in Denver QZ that Eugene and Tommy were also credited with the deaths of three soldiers and two civilians.
Fast forward, Eugene has been known for actively patrolling to keep the community in Wyoming safe. He had some patrolling rounds with Jesse before ending up with Dina as her mentor.
In the Last of Us games, Eugene had a secret stash of weed, along with a whole secret farm of it, as well as too many electronic devices.
Is Eugene from the Last of Us Show the Same as the Games?
I have a little doubt about that.
Eugene’s wife in the show is named Gail, and as I said before, the daughter is never mentioned. It’s also the fact that Joel killed Eugene and, for some reason, had to, which makes me feel that his story is taking a different route in this one.
But that’s the fun part about Neil Druckmann. He does magic with backstories, and surely, Eugene’s tale is going to have something big to offer.
If you replay The Last of Us trailer and go to exactly 01:23 on the timeline, you will see an old man wearing glasses with Joel pointing a gun at him. That’s my best guess of who Eugene is in the show. And if there’s a shot of it, surely, there’s a backstory that will give us the pain we don’t deserve but we want to go through.
Btw, that man is Joe Pantoliano. You might have seen him before in Bad Boys, The Sopranos, The Matrix, and plenty of other famous titles.
If true, this scene hints at a confrontation central to Eugene’s altered backstory, crafted by showrunner Neil Druckmann, who is known for weaving complex character arcs.
Game vs. Show: What’s Changed?
While Eugene’s core identity as a former Firefly and Jackson resident may carry over, key differences emerge:
- Family: The show replaces Claire with Gail as Eugene’s wife, and no daughter is mentioned.
- Fate: Joel’s role in Eugene’s death contrasts with the game’s stroke, pointing to a new conflict.
- Role: The show may expand Eugene’s significance, potentially tying him to Joel’s past or Jackson’s community dynamics.
These changes align with Druckmann’s approach to adapting The Last of Us, balancing fidelity to the games with fresh storytelling for TV audiences.
Why Eugene’s Fate Matters
Eugene’s mention, though brief, signals a deeper exploration of Joel’s choices and their consequences in Season 2. Whether he appears in flashbacks or as a catalyst for Joel’s therapy discussions, Eugene’s story promises the emotional weight fans expect from The Last of Us.
If you have played The Last of Us II game, you know Joel’s choices in the first one had consequences that followed him. So, if Neil has found a genius way to shock even the audience that loved games, I won’t be shocked.
As more details emerge, his role will likely clarify, offering new insights into the show’s evolving narrative. Though honestly, the show started great!
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