MOVIE NEWS – The second season of The Last of Us wrapped up in May, sparking heated debates among viewers. Much of the criticism was aimed at the evolution of Ellie’s character, whose vengeful journey to Seattle now feels less dark and nihilistic than in the game—especially when it comes to her interactions with Dina. The show takes a lighter approach to its characters, though some fans are still struggling with the series’ new direction.

One of the most debated moments arrives in Episode 4, when Dina reveals her pregnancy to Ellie and Ellie blurts out with a smile: “I’m going to be a dad.” This stands in stark contrast to the video game, where Ellie was anything but happy with the news, feeling that Dina had become a burden on her mission of revenge. Interestingly, this moment wasn’t premeditated but was born spontaneously during filming.

Mazin, the episode’s credited writer, recalled: “Bella and I were talking about that episode. I like to run things past them all the time. And I was like—this just popped into my head. I don’t know why, it just felt right. It’s not an expression of gender as much as state of mind. The joy that just burbles out of Bella when they say, ‘I’m going to be a dad,’ it’s wonderful.”

HBO’s Ellie Differs Greatly from Her Video Game Counterpart

Season 2 is full of character moments for Ellie that stand in direct opposition to her video game counterpart from The Last of Us Part II. In the game, Ellie kills Mel out of rage and intention, but in the series finale, it’s shown as an accident. Ellie is generally a much lighter presence in the show, and Mazin now confirms that this was a deliberate choice for the character’s arc.

Since the complete story of The Last of Us Part II hasn’t yet been adapted (with a third and possibly fourth season planned), it’s hard to criticize Mazin while Ellie’s journey remains incomplete. The game’s sequel is all about cycles of brutality and the mental, emotional, and psychological toll it exacts—so it’s likely Mazin uses these lighter moments as a contrast to the even darker episodes to come. In any case, it’s fascinating to see how the showrunner and Bella Ramsey shape Ellie’s character, and how that might influence Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby in Season 3.

Source: Sky Ireland