Gail, played by Catherine O’Hara in The Last of Us Season 2, is a new character created for the HBO show. She is the therapist in Jackson and helps explore Joel’s emotional struggles and moral issues. Gail’s therapy sessions with Joel show a tense relationship because she resents him for killing her husband, Eugene.
In the Season 2 premiere, we learn that Eugene, Gail’s husband for 41 years, was killed by Joel during the five years between Seasons 1 and 2. Gail knows Joel might have acted out of necessity—suggesting Eugene could have been infected—but she still can’t forgive him. Her anger comes not just from the killing itself but also from how Joel did it.
In a heated therapy session, Gail tells Joel, “You shot and killed my husband. You killed Eugene. And I resent you for it… I hate you for it. And yes, I know you had no choice. I know that. I know I should forgive you. Well, I’ve tried, and I can’t.”
Even with her personal feelings, Gail continues to help Joel as his therapist, though there is clear tension between them. Her character adds emotional depth to the series by focusing on themes of grief, forgiveness, and unresolved trauma.
The details about Eugene’s death and Gail’s feelings towards Joel are expected to develop in later episodes, which may affect Joel’s relationship with Ellie and how he is viewed in Jackson’s community.