Summary
While viewers are still digesting all of what happened inThe Last of UsSeason 2’s premiere, one scene from episode 1 has stuck in many fans' minds and that’s Joel’s interaction with Gail in his emotional therapy session. In a bid to offer more clarity on Joel’s mindset,The Last of Usshowrunner Craig Mazin explains the highly anticipated episode’s intense therapy act, as well as why Joel is so closed off and dismissive.
Season 2 ofThe Last of Usthrows fans into what life has been like for Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) five years after the events of Season 1 as they cope with life in Jackson, Wyoming. While Joel has been keeping busy with construction work on the walled town, a profession he did before the outbreak, 19-year-oldEllie is learning how to defend herself by taking up jiu-jitsuand learning how to shoot infected with Tommy (Gabriel Luna), Joel’s brother. Tommy’s wife, Maria (Rutina Wesley), seems to have concerns about Jackson’s building progress, laying on the pressure for Joel to get a move on, but he believes that Maria is allowing too many people into the town and thinks that they need to look after their own people first. Fans have already seen from the trailers thatJackson comes under threat from a horde of infected, so Joel may have a valid point here since so many people could die. Episode one also introduces Ellie’s best friend, Dina (Isabela Merced), and Dina’s on-again-off-again boyfriend, Jesse (Young Mazino), but things are now heating up romantically between the “best friends” as shown off in the barn dance scene.
The Last of Us Creator Reveals “It’s Clear He Has No Regrets” When Discussing Joel’s Therapy Session
In the officialHBO podcast forThe Last of Us, series co-creator Craig Mazin revealed the reason why Joel was struggling so much with his emotions, with Gail then finally hitting a nerve, which saw Joel close up even more and ending the therapy session.“Joel’s emotions are connected to Ellie. What he is struggling with is the fact that she’s pulling away from him, and he doesn’t really see — claims to not know why. And we can see this. I mean, part of this episode is a little bit of a mystery. What is going on with the two of them?” Mazin explained.
Gail asked Joel what he had done, in a bid to get an answer about why Ellie was giving him the cold shoulder, and further poked him if he had hurt her. This seemed to cause a reaction in Joel as tears welled up in his eyes because he could never imagine hurting her, with him then crying out that he “saved her” before walking out. “What he’s terrified of is that the rift is because she knows or has figured out what he did. But when you see him stand up and say, ‘I saved her,’ what’s clear is he has no regrets about what he did,” revealed Mazin.
“The way he goes from guilt to resolution in a moment. The way he goes from “I’m trapped, and I’m like a little child who has to face up to what I’ve done,” to “I am indomitable, and I’m leaving,” is remarkable.”
Gail also offered up her own secret in the hopes that Joel would tell her about his, revealing that she hated Joel for killing her husband Eugene, even though she knew he had to, as he had become infected. “Say the thing you’re afraid to say. I can help you. Say it out loud, no matter what it is, I promise I will help.” Unfortunately, not even O’Hara’s sympathetic tone and welcoming nature could pryJoel’s deep, dark secret out of him. However, Gail seems to have a hunch that it’s something pretty big and can be seen watching Joel and Ellie’s conflict at the barn dance after he came to her defense over a homophobic slur.
The Last of UsSeason 2 will premiere on HBO at 9 pm EST every Sunday until May 25.
Source:Collider/HBO podcast forThe Last of Us
