In most postapocalyptic stories — “The Last of Us” included — one big idea that comes around repeatedly is that when death is omnipresent and inescapable, life becomes more precious. Just think of all the small twists of fate and fortune that kept Joel Miller alive for so long. It’s a miracle, really, that he lived deep into middle age — let alone that in this week’s episode of “The Last of Us,” he is in the right place at the right time to save the life of Abby, a woman who spent years looking for him.

The problem is that Abby wants Joel dead. And so, in one of the most horrifying moments in this horror-filled series, she obliterates this great miracle of life — the great miracle of Joel — with a several swings of a golf club and one deadly thrust. It’s a damned shame.

Were it not for Joel’s death, the episode “Through the Valley” would likely be remembered for the stunning battle sequence, in which Jackson holds it own — barely — against hundreds of the savage, relentless zombies. The action here, set against a snowy landscape, recalls the spectacle of “Game of Thrones” at its best.

But we have to deal with Joel first, don’t we? The shock of his murder is going to be hard for a lot of this show’s fans to bear.

Granted, if those fans have also played the video game “The Last of Us Part II,” they may not be so shocked. Abby kills Joel there, too, early in the story. But if you’ve experienced “The Last of Us” only as a television show, Joel’s death is a gut punch. It’s just the second episode of Season 2. Who kills the hero when a new season is just starting?

Also, the murder is so, so ugly. It’s bloody, ferocious … hard to watch. It feels like a punishment. But aimed at whom? And why? Prestige TV dramas do have a history of cranking up the violence whenever viewers get too comfortable with an antihero’s bad behavior. But what did Joel ever do to deserve this?

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber? Log in.

Want all of The Times? Subscribe.