This week’s episode of The Last of Us is full of heart and raw emotion as viewers see Joel and Ellie’s relationship through the years in Jackson. The source material featured a handful of flashbacks before the fallout between the two survivors, but the live-action adaptation took it way further down memory lane as we met the father of the Miller brothers.
At the end of the last episode, fans figured the next one would feature all the flashback sequences and then some. Neil Druckmann is back in the director’s chair and used The Last of Us Season 2 to make changes and additions he couldn’t for the game, such as introducing Joel and Tommy’s father. Javier Miller is played by Tony Dalton, known for his roles in Better Call Saul, as Jack Duquesne in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and soon in Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet alongside Tati Gabrielle.
Tony Dalton Is Javier Miller in the Latest Episode of The Last of Us Season 2
Dalton’s character is described as somewhat abusive to his sons, and the episode featured a younger version of Joel who was willing to take the fall to protect Tommy. Instead of lecturing Joel in the scene, Javier took a different approach by telling a story of how he had a rough childhood and admitted he made mistakes.
Dalton checked all the marks and gave a great performance for his limited screentime, which Joel carried with him all throughout his adult years. Javier was molded by his father’s cruelty and tried to be better, and he hoped Joel would be the best of them all.
This speaks volumes about Joel’s characterization as a loving father to Sarah and Ellie. Joel successfully ended the cycle of abusive fatherhood and went through great lengths to protect his family, even if it meant crossing the line by taking lives, as seen by his rampage at Salt Lake City. Another interesting inclusion is that his broken watch was a family heirloom worn by his father.
The Last of Us Season 2 did a better job at grounding the characters and adding more to their background than the source material ever did. Viewers now have a deeper understanding of how Joel came to be, and see Javier’s internal struggle to break the cycle of abusive fatherhood.
For more Thumb Wars coverage, check out our rankings of every episode in The Last of Us Season 2, and how Neil Druckmann is prepping the star of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet for all the online hate. Otherwise, follow Thumb Wars on X, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to keep up with the latest news, reviews, and interviews!
Rouvin Josef Quirimit is a Content Writer, an avid gamer (on his PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch), and film enthusiast. He was fortunate to grow up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was enamored by the storytelling of a shared universe full of heart and spectacle. His love for movies led him to great single-player games and he intends to cover major franchises for years to come!
