Is Catherine O’Hara’s Character in The Last Of Us Season 2 Just a Figment of Joel’s Imagination?

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Although The Last Of Us Season 2 hasn’t arrived yet, despite my loud speculations about Clickers, it simply means we have more time for discussions and theories, or to clearly define what theory parties entail. One intriguing theory I have regarding the upcoming horror series, aside from concerns about Joel’s fate, revolves around Catherine O’Hara’s enigmatic Season 2 character in the HBO adaptation, which is a new addition not found in the game.

In our initial peek at Season 2 coverage, provided through the teaser trailer on The Last Of Us Day (annually celebrated on September 26), Beetlejuice’s vet made an appearance alongside numerous other characters from the live-action version of The Last of Us. Instead of portraying a character struggling in post-apocalyptic conditions, as one might expect, O’Hara’s role seems to depict a well-groomed individual offering counsel to Joel, a character not typically associated with therapy sessions.

From a vague sense of curiosity about the role this new character plays, I’ve moved towards a cautious anticipation based on initial glimpses and Catherine O’Hara’s recent statements. This has prompted me to share some tentative guesswork about the character’s potential influence.

My Last Of Us Theory: Catherine O’Hara’s Character Isn’t Real

Although it may appear unconventional to introduce such an idea for a character yet unknown to the audience, let me explain my thoughts.

  • HBO’s The Last Of Us doesn’t need to add totally new characters unless it’s telling a totally new story.

In many video game adaptations, characters are sometimes merged into a single entity to manage cast sizes more efficiently. However, creating entirely new characters is less frequent. For instance, The Last of Us introduced Frank in Season 1, who was not present in the original games. Despite his absence from the source material, the emotional storyline provided a compelling reason for co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann to extend Bill’s narrative in this manner.

In a similar fashion, it appears Catherine O’Hara is not reprising her role from a remixed version of an established character. Instead, it seems she has been specifically created for television viewers. Furthermore, this new character could provide more opportunities for Joel in the early stages of the story, as the narrative initially focuses more on Ellie and the semi-antagonist Abby. However, I’m left wondering if there will be changes to the game’s timeline.

  • The teaser seems to imply O’Hara’s character is a terapist who knows Joel did something huge and wrong.

In the beginning of “The Last of Us Part II,” a summary of the ending from the first game unfolds. Here, Joel reveals his significant secret to no one more fitting than his brother Tommy. As expected, Tommy is taken aback but supports Joel’s actions, believing they were justified. It seems that only Tommy would hold such a perspective among the living.

It’s unexpected for anyone to consider Joel as someone who openly discusses personal matters. In fact, it’s hard for me to imagine that he would willingly share intimate details or significant decisions like the one he just made with someone not related to him, let alone someone outside of his family circle in Season 2.

From a devoted cinema enthusiast perspective, despite Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of the character seeming less rigid (though I’m not entirely convinced), I struggle to imagine him offloading that mountain of guilt onto anyone else. If it were established that she was an old companion or lover, I might be persuaded to accept the notion that she gradually wore him down until he cracked, but alas, there’s no such solace in the preview. The only scenario under which I could envision him confiding in her is if she was merely his figment of imagination from the outset.

  • We don’t see her interact with other characters.

While I acknowledge this point might seem rather unexciting within the broader context of this theory, it’s based mainly on the observation that HBO has not released a significant amount of Season 2 footage yet. It also seems unlikely that a completely new character would receive the most screen time in promotional materials. However, she did get all the voiceover audio for the teaser, which suggests her role might be important.

However, since the most straightforward method for discrediting this theory could be if “The Last of Us” depicted others conversing with O’Hara’s character, I believe it remains substantial enough to present as evidence here. Furthermore, this seems like a suitable transition to delve into the actress’ remarks about Season 2.

Experience (or revisit) the legendary, accolade-winning Naughty Dog game which is the foundation for The Last of Us Season 2’s plot. Offer available here.

Why I Think Catherine O’Hara Latest Last Of Us Comments Fit My Theory

Prior to airing her Super Bowl commercial for Michelob Ultra, Catherine O’Hara recently shared a few intriguing details about “The Last of Us” with Entertainment Weekly, which fans can savor as they eagerly await Season 2. Interestingly, despite the series being known for its intense and somber storyline, her character will incorporate some of the comedic elements that her roles are renowned for. However, here’s what makes it even more intriguing:

I find myself in an unusual bond with Pedro’s character. There’s something about her that’s hard to put your finger on, yet it contributes to a unique blend of dark comedy that I can’t help but appreciate. Her peculiar edge is intriguing, and I wouldn’t dream of dismissing the humor she brings to the table.

Following his observation that the second season is significantly more intense than the first, and drawing parallels to a gripping game sequel, O’Hara expressed some intriguing opinions about his fellow cast members.

I just love working with Pedro Pascal. Both of them. Bella. Wow.

It’s possible that the actress was rushed and couldn’t list every actor on the show. However, it’s interesting that she initially only mentioned one, Bella Ramsey, before returning to also mention Saffron Hocking, who played a significant role. If she had instinctively mentioned working with Jeffrey Wright, Kaitlyn Dever, Danny Ramirez, and other new cast members first, it would have been surprising given their importance in the show.

Now rewatch the teaser below with all of the above newly in mind.

Is there anyone else who shares my belief that Catherine O’Hara’s character could possibly be fictitious? I think those who aren’t nodding in agreement might just be figments of imagination themselves.

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2025-01-29 18:08