Caused by the cordyceps, the world crumbled into a dark apocalypse, wherein Joel Miller became a hardened survivor, driven by stoicism and is surrounded by emotional walls.

He's not fond of the other survivors, but when he met Ellie, everything changed. Joel genuinely cares for the teen but still hides behind his nonchalant facade.

Joel met another teen years after he found Ellie, and his fatherly instincts immediately kicks in. He took the new teen under his wing. The veteran thought that everything will go just fine, not until the two teens create constant fights and arguments.

While in search for supplies along with the two teenagers, Joel was trying to come up on how to fix the issue between the two without breaking his stoicism in front of them.