While I agree with you that many people use tv and movies as templates for how a relationship “should” go whether consciously or subconsciously, Joe’s character is so deeply scarred by his childhood abandonment issues that he has no other template from which to draw.
I can see the argument you're making, and you're probably right to some extent, I don't know that he doesn't have another template to draw from. He has himself and the failures he's gone through. But obviously, he's not self aware enough to really see where he's going wrong. Also, his most recent obsession, Love, kinda reinforces his lack of self awareness.
While I agree with you that many people use tv and movies as templates for how a relationship “should” go whether consciously or subconsciously, Joe’s character is so deeply scarred by his childhood abandonment issues that he has no other template from which to draw.
I can see the argument you're making, and you're probably right to some extent, I don't know that he doesn't have another template to draw from. He has himself and the failures he's gone through. But obviously, he's not self aware enough to really see where he's going wrong. Also, his most recent obsession, Love, kinda reinforces his lack of self awareness.