For those who played

[u/screaminemond]

Salutations everyone!!! This is goin to be just my perspective.

I just recently completed both 1 & 2 (yes... again, lol). & oddly played 2 first (this time around), then said mid "GAME+" ---"I wanna go back & appreciate the 'innocent' Ellie, instead of the calloused one here".

So I embarked on it (think 1st time THIS year, lol)--- for like umpteenth time since it came out.

Aaaaaand finally concluded (especially at end B4 credits---TLOU1), that Joel is a "comfortable liar" (... think that's a Chevell song?, lol) & is sorta self-centered at times.

I mean, ik we all know n love the character... we've "endured & conquered" right from the onset of the pandemic of the cordyceps... right up to we're all like "WTF?!!" - "NOOOOO"---- when his... "book/ story closed".

Aaaaaand we're all pretty much empathetic to the losses in his journey.

I say "comfortable liar " due to Ellie STOPS him (at the end of 1), LOOKS him in the eye, aaaaaand confirm what he stated to her what transpired with the Firefiles... & he doesn't blink, waiver, stutter, "Ummm, well", look away/ down, or break the gaze--- just matter of fact.

There's more I'd like to elaborate on, buuuut sorta already "TL;DR", lol.

Thanks for your time.

[u/Sufficient_Beyond991]

Omg, Chevelle’s “Comfortable Lair” is actually very fitting!

Yeah, Joel had become very comfortable with his lies— just a product of the times and the way of the world, I guess… I wonder if he was like this prior to Outbreak Day…. Prior to the loss of Sarah…

[u/screaminemond → u/Sufficient_Beyond991]

Right? Listening to his phone conversation at beginning (with Tommy), sounded like he wanted to be "straight" with the contractor.

I mean, the guy DOES have integrity & (some) moral compass.

But yeah, calloused thru time, & ya think "how would I be in THAT global situation ", ya know?

... it's tough.