Would Joel really go to therapy like in HBO’s version of The Last of Us?

As a long-time fan of The Last of Us franchise and someone who has spent countless hours navigating through the post-apocalyptic world alongside Joel and Ellie, I must admit that I was taken aback when I first saw the trailer for the second season of HBO’s adaptation, featuring Joel in therapy sessions with a therapist played by Catherine O’Hara. In the video games, Joel is a man of few words, a survivor who has seen and done things that no one should ever have to endure. He’s not the type to sit down and pour his heart out to a stranger.

In simpler terms, the second installment of HBO’s series based on “The Last of Us” is expected to premiere during early 2025. The first sneak peek at its content was shown in September, and it featured an intriguing storytelling technique – a conversation between the main character Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) and a therapist portrayed by Catherine O’Hara. This is interesting because in the original video games created by Naughty Dog, Joel never visits a therapist.

Many gamers are wondering if, as a character, Joel would ever consider therapy. The general opinion among the gaming community is that their portrayal of Joel would never opt for such an option, which raises questions about how much the creators of the television show (led by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog) will alter this adaptation to fit the storyline.

In the narrative of ‘The Last of Us’, it’s clear that Joel, in both the game and TV series, takes drastic actions to protect Ellie. These actions involve killing countless people at a hospital to prevent her from undergoing a procedure that would cure a world-devastating virus but would cost Ellie her life. Furthermore, Joel deceives Ellie about what truly happened. A recent article on ‘TheGamer’ titled “Joel Would Not Seek Therapy” suggests that Joel is an intriguing character due to his apparent lack of remorse over his decision to save Ellie at the conclusion of ‘The Last of Us Part I’.

Despite reaching this conclusion, author Andrew King isn’t taken aback that Joel is receiving similar treatment to other aggressive male characters commonly found in high-end TV shows, particularly on HBO. As King points out, the first season of HBO’s “In Treatment” featured Gabriel Byrne’s psychologist character treating a pilot with PTSD. Similarly, in the first season of “Succession,” the Roy children (excluding Kendall) undergo joint therapy sessions with their cold and distant father, Logan. “The Last of Us” is not the first HBO series to have a tough man seek therapy. Notably, “The Sopranos” centered around its lead character, Tony Soprano, who was in many ways the original violent male prestige TV character, going to therapy.

In simple terms, King explains that while the concept might seem reasonable in isolation, it doesn’t fit well with Joel’s character and is a less effective choice compared to Naughty Dog’s original decision in The Last of Us Part 2. Here, Joel refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing and even states he would repeat his actions. Despite this, Ellie forgives him. She needs to accept Joel despite his disregard for her autonomy at the end of the first game. If Joel is troubled by his decision, that’s a different, less captivating Joel.

As the details about how therapy fits into HBO’s adaptation of “The Last of Us” remain unclear, one point is becoming evident. Despite Druckmann being the director of the video game version and expressing a commitment to his source material, it seems that unique decisions are being made concerning the portrayal of the main characters in the series. These decisions will undoubtedly influence how their stories unfold, increasing the intrigue surrounding the second season and attracting more viewers.

Despite the fact that Joel’s character in the video game might not opt for therapy, could it be that TV Joel does? Given the fresh perspective on his character, it seems like a good idea to tune in when the new season premieres. After all, this creative team is making bold decisions that may influence one of today’s most influential media franchises. So, let’s wait with bated breath for the second season next year and witness how things unfold!

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2024-10-30 20:41