.
Joaquin has lost almost everything that he cared for in his life. He was orphaned during the Spanish civil war; he then had to live through the death of his son in a car accident and then the death of his wife. He had barely survived this when he was estranged from his last remaining relationship, that with his granddaughter, Elena. If anyone has an obviously tragic life, it is Joaquin. He could have easily decided that having endured so much loss that life was no longer worth living. However, he remains strong and confident and hopes that one day Elena will be returned to him. "I've lost everyone I ever loved, and I've carried all of it with me forever. But look at me: I"m still here, I"m still light on my feet, and the world is still a wonderful place.".
.
His life took a tragic turn when he began to "commit terrible crimes, do things beyond redemption, and do things beyond redemption". He believed some of his patients were "thoroughly evil" that "the only solution was to eliminate". He killed all of the "incurables". He chooses to kill the "Beast of Olia" because he knew he was too warped to be cured. It has made a huge impact on his life, adding to the tragic aspect of it. Killing is not easy, much like Mark killing Colin for Colin's own good, Joaquin kills Carlos Perez for the welfare of Carlos and the people around before he "infected everyone around him". Not wanting to lose Elena by losing Mark, Joaquin tells about him mercy killing Carlos as he believes that by telling Mark can relate to his experience and feel revitalized. At the same time, he has got his skeleton out of the closet and Elena then becomes receptive to him and "leans into his embrace". He has grown by letting his pains out and he has been healed by long lost, but familiar love.
Mark has left his best-friend and companion Colin behind in Kurdistan. Although Colin is already dead, Mark feels emotionally distraught because he was unable to return Colin's body to his pregnant wife.
