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Our forms of media typically serve to inform or entertain, oftentimes depicting or incorporating various social trends and topics in order to do so. Whether it be video games, television series, or film, media incorporates fascinating concepts and storylines to not only entice viewers or garner an audience, but more importantly, to bring light to a particular issue that may otherwise be difficult to discuss. Two examples demonstrating this phenomenon are HBO’s new television series, The Last of Us, and the 2012 musical film, Les Misérables. Both the television series and the film take incredibly captivating themes to spark interest and create heartfelt storylines that keep viewers invested. I believe they do so in order to address larger topics of mental health such as trauma and loss as they both demonstrate moments of vulnerability and changes in their respective lead characters. Crucial moments in the plot of both films directly allow viewers to identify these changes as well as place significance on them within the scope of the story and even the real world.

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HBO’s, The Last of Us, is an adaptation of the award-winning game first released in 2013. The story of the television series very closely follows the game’s narrative as executive producers and writers Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann sought to expand the reach of the game’s rich story beyond gamers. The series takes place in a post-apocalyptic world in which the threat of a global pandemic is made real. Forced to adapt to these brutal circumstances, Joel, a smuggler, is tasked with the responsibility of venturing across the danger-ridden United States along with Elie, a teenage girl believed to be the key facet in developing a cure. Interestingly, the show was released around the same time frame as the very real and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, taking a familiar crisis in a very different direction. It is in this very extreme climate that our lead characters experience the effects of trauma and loss as specifically demonstrated in panic attacks and distinct changes in mood and presence.

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The first episode, titled: "When You’re Lost in the Darkness", introduces Joel, one of the lead characters, as well as a glimpse of his life before the outbreak. He’s shown to be very loving toward his daughter through much of the interaction we see between them. However, this dynamic is soon brought to an end in the midst of confusion and panic brought on by the outbreak. The two are met by an officer who is ordered to shoot them on-site over the fear of infection, and although Joel survives the encounter, his daughter is fatally wounded and later dies in his arms. The scene is heartbreaking as a father mourns the loss untimely of his child, an undoubtedly traumatic experience.

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The Last of Us HBO - Sarah Death Scene Episode 1

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It is implied throughout the course of the series that Joel goes on to make extremely difficult decisions for the sake of survival. These life-or-death decisions are those that he hesitates to ever discuss and likely feels a great sense of guilt for. Sadly, the immense mental strain of living with guilt is not the extent of Joel’s traumatic past, as he continues to experience heartbreaking loss in the very next episode. In episode two, Joel witnesses the death of his partner, Tess, at the beginning of his journey across the country.

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The Last of Us TV Tess Death Scene HBO | Episode 2

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It is with the loss of his daughter and closest partner, living with the guilt of his difficult past, and under the increasingly stressful and life-threatening climate which we finally begin to see Joel’s mental decline. In episode 6, “Kin”, we are given a much closer look into how his past physically begins to take its toll as he begins to experience panic attacks. Triggered by news of the sheer danger ahead, and the likely death of his brother Tommy, we see Joel begin to spiral into panic. Distinct changes in camera work (with zoomed-in/focused shots) and audio help demonstrate these increasingly frequent episodes, allowing viewers to easily identify this crucial change in Joel.

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Les Misérables is a 2012 musical film directed by Tom Hooper which stemmed from the original French novel by Victor Hugo in 1862, along with its Broadway production in 1987. Taking place in post-1815 France leading up to the 1830s July Revolution and depicting the failed rebellion which follows, the movie follows prisoner, Jean Valjean who is freed by Officer Javet. Valjean breaks his parole and attempts to establish a new life and identity for himself, prompting Javet to hunt him down and bring him to justice. Similar to The Last of Us, the movie uses the context of a brewing rebellion to create an action-packed storyline for the viewers’ entertainment. By doing so, they are able to set the stage for an unlikely perspective: into the mind of the antagonist. It is through Javet that we see how self-identity and the struggles of grappling with it drive our actions.

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We are first introduced to who Javet is in the song, “Look Down”. Javet oversees a prison workforce as they tirelessly work on ship repair in extreme weather conditions. The prisoners chant that they must “Look down” as they recount the injustice behind their imprisonment. Javet’s strict iron fist is established as he is deemed responsible and literally looks down on the prisoners. Javet is a man of the law, firmly believing that any bending or breaking of it should never go unpunished. Javet goes as far as to reduce the prisoners to a number, referring to Valjean as "24601" despite his protest against it. This goes to show how black and white Javet views those who break the law, regardless of circumstance.

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Les Misérables (2012)  - "Look Down" intro scene - Spanish Sub (HD)

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Many years have passed, and Valjean is largely reformed as a Mayor and factory owner. Though he has integrated back into society, Javet understands that Valjean has still broken the law and must answer for it. Though it is easy to see and understand how circumstance is a necessary component in judgment, Javet has adopted an unwavering worldview of siding strictly with the law. Despite conditions, change, or any amount of time, Javet believes himself to be a servant of right, striving to imprison or even kill Valjean.

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Les Misérables (2012) - The Confrontation Scene (2/10) | Movieclips

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Javet eventually finds himself at the mercy of Valjean himself. Even though he is presented with the opportunity to kill him and finally get his revenge, Valjean decides to spare his life, an action of kindness that Javet cannot understand. Javet condemns those who break the law, believing them to be unchangeable, however, it is this act of kindness that drives Javet to question the entirety of his worldview, and in turn, his own identity. If he was wrong about Valjean, a criminal, who is to say that he was not wrong about countless others and that Javet himself had been wrongfully cruel? All of this unfolds and concludes in the song “Javet’s Suicide”, where Javet, unable to live with such doubt and uncertainty, ends his own life.

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Les Misérables (2012) - Javert's Suicide Scene (8/10) | Movieclips

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Both these films do a masterful job of capturing an audience with interesting themes and stories in order to address aspects of mental health. By incorporating components of loss, trauma, and self-identity within both the plots and lead characters, the two films serve as two very strong examples of how media may strategically address a given topic to a larger audience.

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“Joel Has a Panic Attack Last of US HBO.” YouTube, 20 Feb. 2023, https://youtu.be/slpPmCv57TQ.

“The Last of US HBO - Sarah Death Scene Episode 1.” YouTube, 15 Jan. 2023, https://youtu.be/gK4w3-jhX0w.

“The Last of US TV Tess Death Scene HBO: Episode 2.” YouTube, 22 Jan. 2023, https://youtu.be/N6xwBN5aJz4.

“Les Miserables and France's Many Revolutions (Video).” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/1600s-1800s/many-french-revolutions/v/les-miserables-and-france-s-many-revolutions.

“Les Misérables (2012) - Javert's Suicide Scene (8/10): Movieclips.” YouTube, 16 Dec. 2019, https://youtu.be/IsZdfna1LKA.

“Les Misérables (2012) - the Confrontation Scene (2/10): Movieclips.” YouTube, 16 Dec. 2019, https://youtu.be/9jfRE_FljrE.

“Les Misérables (2012) - ‘Look down’ Intro Scene - Spanish Sub (HD).” YouTube, 28 Feb. 2017, https://youtu.be/Gk2WMoxqNQ0.

“Les Misérables.” IMDb, IMDb.com, https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0119683/plotsummary/.