Joel's Panic Attacks in 'The Last of Us' Becomes the Internet's New Favorite Meme. Here Are 25 That Have Us Wheezing

The Last of Us has taken over the hearts and attention of critics, gamers, and regular audiences alike since it aired on HBO Max. The story of Joel and Ellie's journey through the post-apocalyptic world after the outbreak of a bizarre pandemic has gained favorable ratings as well. But along with that, the show has given birth to a barrage of memes that are cracking people up across the social media sphere.
Right after the sixth episode of the show aired, people couldn't help but interpret a particular scene from the story in several hilarious contexts. A photoset of Pedro Pascal's character Joel can be seen from three different angles as he holds onto a pole during a panic attack. The photoset went viral as people started putting their own relatable spin on it.
Here are the best of the Joel memes that we could find, and hopefully, you can relate to him as well. And if you can't, maybe just start watching the show already!
1. It's just a normal day in our lives.
#TheLastOfUs Joel having anxiety attacks while the world collapses around him and while he’s trying to do a job is extremely relatable. pic.twitter.com/E7dAXKK6BV
— Tauriq Moosa (@tauriqmoosa) February 21, 2023
2. It's a thrilling show indeed.
me every week after an episode of #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/wj6UIjAWZb
— Tabby Avery (@awantobreakfree) February 20, 2023
3. Then we start hyperventilating.
me after sending one (1) email pic.twitter.com/MBYCmuAFLL
— Natalie Flores (@heartimecia) February 21, 2023
4. Why do they have to be right!?
Worst person you know just made a very good point pic.twitter.com/rJQG8HhaqE
— Anisa Sanusi (@studioanisa) February 22, 2023
5. Sorry puppy.
When you step on your puppy’s paw and can’t explain to him that you didn’t do it on purpose pic.twitter.com/tcsqltnsMq
— rogue scone (@fckboyseatpizza) February 22, 2023
6. Dying to enjoy the weekend.
7. Ouch, that must hurt.
when your ex refers to u as a friend pic.twitter.com/tQIVPT5Y0M
— Cilantro.bb.95@aim.com (@bb_apes) February 22, 2023
8. No worries, no worries.
Me after saying "No worries if not" yet again pic.twitter.com/LW3R8uXemP
— Kris Wall (@KrisWall84) February 22, 2023
9. Writer's block be like:
me after writing one sentence pic.twitter.com/bpDTyf2fL6
— ysabelle: suffering writer (@ysabellesua) February 21, 2023
10. Thank God!
Walked through Times Square without getting harassed by a Free Comedy Show guy pic.twitter.com/4MVAduXJWa
— Kevin Polowy (@djkevlar) February 22, 2023
11. Overthinkers be like:
Me after experiencing a minor inconvenience pic.twitter.com/61BYxVlkLc
— Ed Zitron (@edzitron) February 23, 2023
12. How did she survive?
Meredith Grey leaves Grey’s Anatomy tonight after 19 seasons of nearly dying via bomb and mass shooter and plane crash and drowning and being attacked by a patient and hospital fire and giving birth in a power outage and Covid pic.twitter.com/eFdvXWoiEw
— Justin Kirkland (@justinkirkland4) February 23, 2023
13. Sad news.
"I'm sorry the ice cream machine is broken." https://t.co/4RjWJiZ1tP pic.twitter.com/1bxTIX7ElM
— Chef Andy Lunique (@AndyLunique) February 22, 2023
14. Knees about to give out.
me at the top of the stairs pic.twitter.com/FV3wF5jvB5
— Wesley LeBlanc (@LeBlancWes) February 21, 2023
15. The struggle is real.
When I want to sit on my couch but I put all the unfolded clothes on the couch pic.twitter.com/Dq09dsNHdE
— Jennifer McAuliffe (@JenniferJokes) February 22, 2023
16. The mild panic attack we get.
17. Scary supervisors.
[Missed call from: Supervisor]"Call me when you're back. Just wanna have a quick chat about something." pic.twitter.com/hwapuF5R7N
— Christopher Tubbs (@TheDailyStoic) February 23, 2023
18. This hits home.
When your kid eats the leftovers you were thinking about all day pic.twitter.com/h6VsPwA5FY
— Jordan Maison (@JordanMaison) February 23, 2023
19. At a loss for words.
me when you you you when you when when wheeen when when you whENNN pic.twitter.com/FGzq9jPFO0
— saira (@sairaspooks) February 22, 2023
20. Who doesn't hate standing in lines?
Me when all the youths want to stand in line for another ride at Disneyland after we’ve been at the park for 10 hours pic.twitter.com/BEf9mDWZif
— quantEMania🍓 (@_EMMinem) February 22, 2023
21. Heavy regrets.
introverts who said yes to plans with other people when the day of those plans arrives: pic.twitter.com/XqTmMBFgRc
— J.R.R. Jokien 🗡️🏹🪓 (@joshcarlosjosh) February 23, 2023
22. Gotta turn it right.
When your PS5 aggressively beeps at you because you turned it off wrong. pic.twitter.com/ZkP5xzbxmN
— Greg Miller (@GameOverGreggy) February 23, 2023
23. Realizing that we are getting old.
Animorphs fans realizing that their 40th birthday is right around the corner pic.twitter.com/ecSkx47Dc1
— Animorphing Time Podcast (@animorphingtime) February 22, 2023
24. We ran out of witty one-liners.
Me trying to come up with something pithy, amusing, yet insightful to say with the Joel panic attack meme: pic.twitter.com/ddk5UgRGx4
— Josh Scherr (@joshscherr) February 22, 2023
25. Oh crap!