joe's mojo

spoiler alert: this post makes reference to the January 25 episode on CBC

I feel sorry for Joe McIntyre. He just can't seem to catch a break. First his business goes bust, then he's got the Windasses on his back, then we find out he's suffering from clinical depression and now he's got back problems (you mean he's 'back' with Gail ? - ed).

And yet, as much as I feel sorry for Joe, I also get a little pissed off with him. He's like that sad friend you have, you know the one who keeps getting into a jam or has exceptional bad luck or seems to get into accidents a lot. After a while, you can't help but wonder if he or she is partly responsible for their problems and you find yourself saying things like: "Well how did you get stuck in the Lion's cage in the first place?"

In some ways, Joe is the architect of his own misfortune. He was in a financial bind but didn't tell David or Tina or Gail the truth about the Windass kitchen job offer. He was sleeping in his 'lock up' and didn't tell Gail the truth about his circumstances. Now he's allowing Tina to bully him into leaving Gail's at a time when he can least afford it and still not telling the truth. Worse still, now that he's slipped a disc, how is he going to finish his big kitchen job and pay back Len Windass' loan sharks?

I know Joe's depressed but he's got to stop throwing his hands in the air and saying things like, "the gods have plans for us". He's got to step up and take control of his life. Most of all, he's got to pay back those 'friends' of Len Windass. Otherwise, it won't just be his back that needs medical attention - but other parts of his body as well.