Catherine O’Hara’s Role in The Last of Us Season 2 Explained

Essential Updates

Season 2 of The Last of Us will introduce new cast members, including Catherine O’Hara, whose character lacks a direct correlation to the video game.
It’s rumored that O’Hara portrays a therapist named Gail.
O’Hara is set to feature in three episodes, with a narrative leap providing an opportunity to delve into her character and potentially bridge narrative gaps.

The Last of Us Season 2 is expected to make its debut in 2025, showcasing an array of new talents. HBO has enlisted a fresh group of actors to depict various roles from Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part 2; however, O’Hara’s character does not appear to have a clear analogue from the game.

This upcoming season will commence five years after Season 1’s conclusion, adhering closely to the narrative foundation laid by the original material. Following their extensive journey across the country, Ellie and Joel have established themselves in Jackson, but their past actions soon resurface. Key returning cast members from Season 1 include Pedro Pascal (Joel), Bella Ramsey (Ellie), and Gabriel Luna (Tommy). Additionally, newcomers such as Kaitlyn Dever as Abby and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac have been added to the lineup. The teasers for the new season hint at a storyline that remains faithful to the game’s essence, though some aspects, particularly relating to O’Hara’s character, remain shrouded in intrigue.

Catherine O’Hara’s Role: The Enigmatic Character in TLOU S2

As the production unfolded, numerous casting revelations emerged, with one of the most unexpected being the involvement of Catherine O’Hara, known for her roles in Beetlejuice and Schitt’s Creek. Announced in February 2024, O’Hara’s role within the series initially remained undisclosed, prompting much speculation regarding her character given the absence of a direct counterpart in the game. Historically, the series has taken creative liberties by crafting new characters for actors who do not exist in the original narrative, as seen with Bill and Frank’s expanded roles in Season 1. Fans have largely embraced these alterations, leading to the possibility that O’Hara’s character might share a similar fate.

Catherine O’Hara’s Character Identity

Although HBO has kept details about O’Hara’s character close to their chest, a few hints have surfaced over the months. Prior to O’Hara’s casting announcement, rumors circulated that she was in talks to play a new character named Gail. This speculation gained traction when labels from the set of The Last of Us Season 2 identified a character named “Gail,”alongside established characters like Joel, Ellie, and Tommy, suggesting O’Hara’s character might indeed be named Gail. But what does this entail?

Confirmed?! Catherine O’Hara’s character is reportedly named "GAIL"#TheLastofUs pic.twitter.com/YaCUflZX7Y — The Last of Us News (@TheLastofUsNews) September 15, 2024

Jackson’s Therapist Role

A prominent theory suggests that Gail could serve as a therapist within The Last of Us. During promotional activities for Beetlejuice, O’Hara hinted at her character’s nature in an Extra TV interview, mentioning she might be an antagonist “to a certain character”and that she “psychologically kicks ass.”Footage from the season trailer showcases O’Hara’s character sitting across from Pedro Pascal’s Joel in Jackson, asking him, “What did you do?”This resonates with a pivotal moment in the opening of The Last of Us Part 2, where Joel confesses his past actions to Tommy.

It seems likely that the HBO adaptation may replace Tommy in this exchange with O’Hara’s character, indicating she might take on the role of the resident therapist for Jackson’s inhabitants. Given the harrowing post-apocalyptic backdrop of The Last of Us, it makes sense that many characters might benefit from therapeutic support to grapple with their trauma. As Jackson evolves into a more fortified settlement, the introduction of a therapist character like Gail would not only be plausible but also enhance narrative depth by integrating emotional moments seamlessly.

An Unexpected Romance for Joel?

In both The Last of Us Part 1 and Part 2, Joel’s romantic prospects are rather limited. Initially depicted as a father to a pre-teen girl, his dynamic is complicated by her mother’s absence. The HBO adaptation briefly suggests a romantic link between Joel and Tess (played by Anna Torv), which is cut short due to Tess’s demise in Episode 2. However, the five-year gap between Seasons 1 and 2 offers a chance for Joel to explore a romantic connection within Jackson, potentially with O’Hara’s character.

In the broader universe of The Last of Us, precedent exists for Joel having a romantic interest. During The Last of Us: One Night Live, an exclusive performance in 2014, Joel reveals that Tommy has set him up with a woman named Esther. At the time, no sequel had been announced, and consequently, some of these scenes did not find their way into the game. Nonetheless, Halley Grosse, co-writer of The Last of Us Part 2, confirmed to the Washington Post that Esther was a genuine character, albeit one ultimately omitted from the game. With the narrative flexibility of the series format, it’s possible that O’Hara’s character could embody or evolve into Esther.

“We wrote so many scenes that did not make it into this game. Joel had a girlfriend in the original concept of this game. Her name was Esther.”

Will TLOU S2 Bridge the Narrative Gaps?

Another significant piece of information about O’Hara’s elusive character is her scheduled appearance in three episodes. She revealed this detail in an interview with Premiere, mentioning her shared scenes with Joel and Ellie, aligning with the idea that she is integrated into the Jackson storyline. The notion of a three-episode arc implies that O’Hara may feature prominently in the initial episodes of Season 2, where the narrative predominantly unfolds in Jackson.

However, with the five-year transition between Seasons 1 and 2, the HBO series could creatively use this gap to flesh out O’Hara’s character further, reminiscent of the approach taken with Bill and Frank in Season 1.

The Last of Us Season 2 is slated to premiere in 2025.

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