Played by: Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian)

After first meeting Joel in happier times, the deadly pandemic that has wiped out the world has left him embittered and lost.

Post-outbreak, Joel becomes a a smuggler stationed in Boston. Tasked by the rebel group known as the “Fireflies” with looking after 14-year-old Ellie, they make their way to a Firefly rendezvous outside of the QZ. The journey will take them the best part of one year, and although they face many obstacles on the way, they both find a way to survive and form a father-daughter relationship in the process. But for Joel, their continued survival comes at a terrible cost.

In season two, Joel has made some decisions that he is forced to live with and regret, but his bond with Ellie – while fractured – still remains.

Played by: Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones, Catherine Called Birdy)

Ellie is born into a post-apocalyptic world after the outbreak of the deadly Cordyceps brain infection (CBI) - but is immune to the disease and could be the key to saving the small amount of humanity that remains.

Ellie faces hardships but finds strength in the unlikely bond she makes with the world-weary Joel Miller – finding her own feet in the process.

In season two, she has become an essential member of a survivors’ community in Jackson, Wyoming – though her relationship with Joel has become strained.

Played by: Gabriel Luna (Agents of SHIELD, Terminator: Dark Fate)

Tommy is Joel’s younger brother, and someone who thrives off having a cause to fight for. Protected by Joel from an abusive father as a child, he has developed a natural instinct to be a protector, especially over the ones he loves.

An Army veteran prior to the outbreak, Tommy has grown disillusioned with the armed forces like FEDRA that have taken power in America. When the outbreak occurs, he rebelled and became a Firefly. However, his experiences taught him their were too few differences bewtween the two warring factions, and he instead joined his future wife Maria in running the survivor outpost in Jackson, Wyoming.

By season two, however, he has become one of the main leaders in the survivors’ camp. A family man at heart, he just wants as peaceful a life as possible with his wife and their son, Benjamin.

Played by: Kaitlyn Dever (Apple Cider Vinegar, Booksmart)

Introduced in season two, Abby is a force to be reckoned with, motivated by vengeance for the death of her father.

Her father was a Firefly scientist killed in the events of season one. After burying her father’s body, Abby travelled to Seattle and joined the military faction known as the Washington Liberation Front (WLF) where she became a battle-hardened warrior. Determined and laser-focused, she will not stop until she has achieved her goal of killing the man that took her father from her… Joel.

Played by: Isabela Merced (Instant Family, Madame Web)

A member of the Jackson, Wyoming survivors, Dina makes herself useful as a patrolwoman for the community – and has a particularly close bond with Ellie, which later becomes romantic.

She has a previous relationship with Jesse, but they are now largely just friends.

Loving, empathetic and kind-natured, Dina is willing to do anything for those she is loyal to. She’s also not afraid to stand up to authority over things she considers a misjustice.

Played by: Jeffrey Wright (Westworld, American Fiction)

Another new addition to season two, Isaac is the leader of the Washington Liberation front – a liberty-seeking militia group who have become increasingly violent.

A former FEDRA commander who defected to the upstart WLF group, he is cool, calm and collected, a fierce ally to have, and a deadly enemy if you cross him.

He is not afraid to be cruel in pursuit of his goals, often being seen as dismissive of those he considers, breaking his own code to not kill people who can’t fight back if so needed.

Played by: Young Mazino (Beef, Opus)

Jesse is a serious, but kind-natured keystone of the Wyoming community, often looking out for the safety and needs of others, even if that’s at his own expense.

He takes pride in his community and takes his position within Jackson seriously. In response, he is well-liked and respected by those around him.

He is a fundamentally good person, even in the face of increased hardship and situations that test his resolve.

Played by: Merle Dandridge (Station 19, Truth Be Told)

Marlene is leader of the Fireflies, a resistance group fighting against the oppressive military regime, FEDRA, with hopes of restoring the world to the way it once was. She is someone who commands respect and easily gets it, with her ideals providing hope for those in the group – though her tactics are at times questionable.

First introduced in season one, Marlene keeps Ellie prisoner after the teenager is infected with CBI, testing her to see if she will turn. When she doesn’t, Marlene puts all her efforts into making sure Ellie is kept safe and secure until she can be transported to the Firefly headquarters in Salt Lake City.

Played by: Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets, Heavenly Creatures)

Kathleen has become increasingly hardened in the aftermath of the outbreak. She became the leader of a resistance group in Kansas City, Missouri, following the death of her brother, something that turned her cold.

She dishes out justice the way she sees fit, and her desire for revenge rules all – she doesn’t even mind killing innocent people in the name of it.