Was thinking about this angle. Difference I see is that the killing of Joel would have been the equivalent of killing Ned AND the whole Stark family, Tyrion, and Daenerys in that same episode. Imagine if all that was left of the show was Theon and Joffrey. No one would care anymore. There was already a lot more to GOT than just Ned Stark by that point. LOU was the Ellie and Joel game. LOU II was the Ellie and Abby game. It was a divisive move that led many, myself included, to hate play LOU II because I despised the character I was now forced to follow while eliminating 50% of the attraction to the game. I skipped the cutscenes with the new uninteresting characters and haven't bothered to play again since. I was reminded of why I disliked LOU II with this episode and I'm on the fence about watching the same on TV.
I am also missing the non-game elements from S1 such as the Indonesia scenes and the Bill/Frank story that added so much to the overall vibe of the show and which so far seem to be completely missing from this season outside the stupid roots can talk nonsense. Two episodes in and there's no soul anymore, just shock value. If S2 just follows LOU II with nothing added but a dumb plot device to manipulate the hordes for manufactured suspense, it will not be a well-liked season. LOU was a groundbreaking and mind-blowing gaming experience and S1 caught that fire. There was always going to be a letdown in the show just like in the game.