O'Hara Joins The Last of Us as Therapist

Catherine O'Hara has joined the cast of HBO's The Last of Us season 2 as Gail, a character not present in the original video games. Gail is introduced as Joel's therapist in the Jackson commune, and her storyline reveals tension due to Joel's role in her husband Eugene's death. Despite her comedic background, O'Hara embraced the emotionally demanding role, influenced partly by her son working on the series. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann originally considered adding a therapist in the first season but only realized the character in season 2. Her portrayal involves complex scenes, including Gail's struggle with personal vices amidst the dystopian landscape. O'Hara's experience on set was marked by the clear directorial vision of Mazin and the dynamic chemistry with co-star Pedro Pascal.