Catherine O’Hara Cried So Hard She Made Pedro Pascal Lose It

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Information ahead about the sixth episode of The Last of Us’s second season, which aired on HBO on May 18.

The announcement that Catherine O’Hara, a versatile actress known for her roles in comedies such as Schitt’s Creek, Best in Show, Home Alone, and Beetlejuice, would join The Last of Us was an unexpected twist. However, her casting proved to be beneficial. In HBO’s post-apocalyptic drama, Gail Lynden, portrayed by O’Hara, serves as a vibrant contrast to the series’ often gloomy tone. She plays the role of the lone therapist in post-apocalyptic Jackson, adding a splash of color that makes Jackson appear as a resilient and rebuilding community. Gail’s dry wit punctures through the grim atmosphere of the show’s world. In a scene from Sunday’s episode, “The Price,” Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) unexpectedly drops in for a consultation while Gail is eating at a café. “You guys study dreams and such, right?” he asks. To which she replies, “Is there a ‘Doctor Is In’ sign on me like Lucy from Peanuts?

Gail is a character introduced solely for the series, serving to highlight significant themes in this season such as Joel’s deception, its consequences, and the challenge of forgiveness. In previous scenes, we discover what became of her husband, Eugene (played by Joe Pantoliano), an incident that explains Gail’s aggression towards Joel at the beginning of the second season. In a distressing situation, Joel and Ellie (portrayed by Bella Ramsey) come across a zombified Eugene. Despite protocol calling for his termination, Joel suggests mercy, but ultimately chooses to kill him once Ellie leaves to get their horses. When Ellie uncovers the truth, she is heartbroken.

The scene echoes the finale of the first season: Joel takes action based on a choice that wasn’t his to make, fabricating a story he believes is for the greater good. This revelation intensifies Ellie’s doubts about what transpired in Salt Lake City’s hospital. Later, tensions escalate when Joel attempts to console Gail with an altered account of Eugene’s demise, only for Ellie to disclose the truth, leaving both emotionally devastated. O’Hara from Los Angeles comments, “I think he’s a good man who’s simply trying to do what’s right,” expressing his view on Joel and his bond with Ellie, emphasizing that she is all he has left.

Isn’t it rare that we get to witness your dramatic side, particularly in something as bleak as The Last of Us? That’s quite something, don’t you think?

In the final stages of this episode, I had an intense moment when I discovered Eugene’s demise and learned that Joel had been concealing truths from me regarding the circumstances. Can you tell me about your experience filming that emotional scene?

For me, it was crucial not to overdo the tears as they would flow naturally throughout the day. It was a challenging and mentally draining process, but I felt compelled to deliver a strong performance. Every take required my full commitment. Despite its somber tone, the experience was quite enjoyable.

In one instance, I didn’t catch Neil Druckmann, the director, calling “cut,” so I continued to sob against Gabriel Luna’s chest, unaware that the scene had ended. Since I hadn’t heard the signal, I just kept going. I was weeping into his chest for quite some time. Gabriel is such a kind soul; he simply held me close. I think he must have assumed I was acting methodically and immersing myself in the emotional depths of a grieving widow. Eventually, I pulled away from him and said, “I’m sorry, can someone say ‘cut’ now?” At that point, Pedro was on the floor laughing at me. I suppose they thought I was playing a scene or something.

It seems as though they’re quite the lively group. Having such delightful colleagues in any profession certainly brings joy when coming to work.

In other discussions, you’ve mentioned your reluctance towards intense material due to its potential impact on your mindset. What led you to take on this project? Initially, when I came across the script, I pondered, “Do I really want to encounter the infected?” But it was reassuring to learn that wouldn’t be necessary. What intrigued me was the concept of a therapist in this world, and the unique challenge she would face as the only therapist in town. Given the circumstances, how could anyone in this town maintain any semblance of mental stability? The thought of one person dealing with such a dark and absurd situation appealed to me. Plus, the writing was excellent.

In this particular scene, Gail shares a similar sentiment as Ellie: Joel took actions that weren’t his to take regarding them both and Eugene. Can you explain the reasoning behind Joel’s decision?

In both instances, Joel acted as he did. To me, and likely to Gail as well, maintaining some sense of truth and fairness in the world, Joel performed actions to safeguard those he cherished. He believed his actions were necessary for Ellie’s protection when he slaughtered others to escape with her. Such actions stemmed from love and concern. Similarly, Eugene acted in a similar manner. His goal was to shield everyone in the town, and the rule was: if someone is infected, they must be euthanized. To my mind, he’s an honorable man striving to do what’s best for others, not just himself.

In that situation, it could be argued that his actions were more about preservation than selfishness. After all, if Ellie carries the potential immunity vaccine for this disease, then there may be hope for others as well. In his heart, he’s simply trying to save the one person who matters most to him, given that she is the only connection he has left in the world.

It’s quite amusing to notice that Gail appears prickly even before she loses Eugene. This becomes evident in the café scene when Joel inquires about moths, as she snaps back with “I finally have a moment alone, okay?

Did that line come from the script itself or was it an addition you made for the character’s development?

It came directly from the script; Craig specifically instructed that line. Its delivery had a clever humor to it, which added depth to the dramatic scene. You see, the most humorous moments often occur during life’s darkest periods. After performing the therapy session with Pedro, I began to understand the dynamic Craig aimed for in his perspective. At the café, she was merely trying to steal a moment; he wasn’t her only patient, remember?

In the given scene, Gail is found engrossed in George R. Stewart’s 1949 novel, Earth Abides, a post-apocalyptic story often referred to as the “grandfather” of such tales by my colleague. Interestingly enough, this is her choice for escape – quite a reflection of her affinity towards realism!

Are you fond of post-apocalyptic literature? Not particularly, as it tends to be quite frightening. I do follow one series where I often find myself saying, “Oh no, no, no, not again.

Just one more query regarding the café setting: Do you notice any earrings shaped like maple leaves on me?

Yes, indeed! Those are my own accessories.

Are you subtly incorporating Canadian patriotism into your work? Absolutely! I’ll be there myself next week. I have a deep affection for my homeland.

In this post-apocalyptic world filled with mushroom zombies, the concept of a therapist seems outdated and perhaps too much responsibility for one individual to bear. This is evident in a scene involving Tommy where she expresses her need for therapy but acknowledges its scarcity. Given Eugene’s role in their life, it’s likely he was her therapist. They shared moments of escape from reality through getting high together, but now that he’s gone, she’s left without support.

It seems clear that Gail is effective as a therapist, given the cohesion and resilience displayed by those she works with, particularly evident during crisis situations.

By the way, I found The Studio quite enjoyable. Kudos on the news about the upcoming second season!

Congratulations and thanks!

Were you taken aback by the reception towards that performance?

Yes! Timing plays a significant role. You can never truly predict how things unfold. Often, many excellent works go unnoticed, while mediocre ones gain popularity. However, this one is exceptionally well-crafted and humorous. Seth delivers a fantastic performance, as do the rest of the cast. The entire concept – we filmed ten-page scenes repeatedly for a single take – was an extraordinary and enjoyable experience.

One advantage of working at The Studio, since it’s located in L.A., is that you’ll be close to home without having to travel far. Additionally, it will not be impacted by any tariff concerns.

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2025-05-20 20:54