Five Favorites: Papa O'Toole

6/14/2017

Gregory Harrison as Joseph O'Toole in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Lost Without You

All about Joe.

With a growing library of posts on our favorite TV dad, it was about time he got the "five faves" treatment. I've picked some of the best of Papa O'Toole---did your picks make the list?

It wasn't just his occupation, it was also a commentary on Joe's function as a catalyst for the "expedited" delivery of Oliver to the growth he needed over the course of the films in which Papa O'Toole appeared.

Gregory Harrison and Eric Mabius in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told

The Bleeding Heart Of Joseph O'Toole

He put everything he had into being Oliver's father, so much so that "be[ing] there" was what made the sunrise worth waiting for. It was a Lost Without You observation that helped bring Joe's humanity---his heartbreak and even his own identity crisis---into focus.

Inside The Injury

It may have seemed like "just a little scratch" but the who, when and where of how the injury was incurred revealed that it was so much more than just a wound in his side.

Papa O'Toole incurs near-fatal injury in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Lost Without You

"Something" Encountered

Waging a bet with the Almighty placed Joe on a crash course with the confrontation he had been wandering away from for years, but directly where he needed to be to finally heal.

Out Of The Woods?

It's never too late to teach an O'Toole who to be a better man, and Joe's tale of love and loss, as well as his support of his son throughout Higher Ground, is a testament to.

Gregory Harrison as Joseph O'Toole in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Higher Ground

Which posts about Papa O'Toole have been your favorite so far? Share them with me in the comments!

#TeamO'Toole,
~C

4 Comments

Iva P Hagy

6/14/2017 08:19:25 pm

It has really been great seeing him on the show as a character. It has helped the audience understand more of the hidden agenda of his son and his feelings about his romantic feelings for Shane. Sometimes it was hard to read.

Patti

6/14/2017 09:49:05 pm

I love the addition of Papa O'Toole to our cast on SSD. His Bleeding Heart was a turning point in his role for me but I also liked his final interaction with Oliver in HG - Telling his son that he listened to the song and he's going to "Turn It Over" is a powerful summation of HIS journey. It was like he was witnessing to Oliver. That scream's volumes to how their relationship has evolved and grown in love and trust. I can hardly wiat to see where we are going in the next 2.......

PegS

6/15/2017 03:37:14 pm

I liked him from the first episode that he was in. How many men would love a boy/man that he knew was not his and after his wife left. Even when Oliver did not want to talk to him, he never gave up. And after Oliver found out the truth he still didn't want Papa Otoole, Papa Otoole still cared enough to go back and rescue the letters.

5/18/2019 09:52:46 pm

Joe is outstanding as Oliver's father. Not only is he actually not his father, he bore the brunt of a lot of Oliver's shock, hurt and pain which the normally put together man could no longer contain, and it was not pleasant or pretty to watch at times - almost as though he reverts to his teenage self. But Joe bore it all with such grace and understanding (as does Shane at times because they know and love Oliver and know that's it is the hurt talking). I love the way that in the end once Oliver works through everything he refers to him as Dad. He doesn't ever call him his Step-Dad even though he officially is. Oliver comes to see him as his true father because he was the one who stayed, truly loved him as a father should. As for his real father he is referred to as "my biological father, I never knew him" and dismissed by Oliver. Joe's line "Shane seems nice." and Oliver's reply "She's very...efficient." Classic. The scene in HG where Oliver expresses his love to Joe is really special considering what he put Joe through and shows the transformation in Oliver as he starts to reach out to those close to him.