Warning: The following article contains spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2, episode 2, “Through the Valley.”The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin and star Bella Ramsey explained a key change that the show made from its source material in a critical scene. In a devastating series of events, The Last of Us season 2 sees Joel (Pedro Pascal) meet a grisly fate when Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) brutally kills him in an act of revenge. In the show, Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) best friend and love interest, Dina (Isabela Merced), is present when Joel dies, but in the video game, it is Tommy (Gabriel Luna), Joel’s brother, who unfortunately bears witness to his death.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Mazin and Ramsey unpack the decision for The Last of Us to shift away from the video game in this crucial scene. Mazin explains that the change serves to deepen the relationship between Ellie and Dina, and to highlight how Dina, too, is impacted by the loss of Joel.
Early on, we talked a lot about clarifying, or at least demonstrating, how much Dina cared about Joel. Dina did care deeply about Joel. To put Dina in that spot and to make her a front-row participant in this murder, it connects us more to her. Her choice to stay by Ellie’s side through thick and thin from this point forward is motivated just as much by her loss as it is by her friendship with Ellie.
We know Joel got stuck for the longest time until Ellie came along and unstuck him. We’re going to see in the season how Dina, in a sense, is stuck. And we clearly see here that Abby is very stuck. This is part of our human frailty. We get disrupted by these wounds, and if we can’t even stop ourselves from walking down the hallway, what chance do we have to move past this?
Ramsey adds that Ellie holds some “resentment” towards Dina and the situation, given that she was not with Joel during his last day, but Dina was. Joel and Ellie are at odds with one another before the season begins and get into a spat in The Last of Us season 2, episode 1 after Joel defends Ellie and Dina from a homophobic comment, with Ellie claiming that she does not need his help. The next day, it is Dina who goes out to patrol with Joel, leaving Ellie behind.
[Dina and Ellie] have become trauma bonded, in a way, but there’s also an element of resentment. I think there was some real jealousy. Dina got to be with him, Dina got to spend that last day with him, and there’s a lot of guilt and regret on Ellie’s part. That was just a little thing that I was laced into, what I took afterwards, especially when they speak about it for the first time.
What This Means For Dina In The Last Of Us Season 2
Dina Will Continue To Take On A Bigger Role In The Season
By having Dina present during Joel’s death rather than his brother, The Last of Us sets her up to be a crucial piece of the story. Dina’s story begins by showing her as both Ellie’s best friend and love interest, with the two even sharing a kiss, setting up the chain of events that puts Dina by Joel’s side during his last day of life. Dina and Joel are closer in The Last of Us show than in the game, with the two having meaningful interactions. Dina becomes a part of Ellie and Joel’s relationship and creates a unique dynamic between the three.
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Dina being subdued and effectively held hostage by Abby and her crew during Joel’s murder primes her for seeking revenge against the group. Not only has she personally been attacked, but she’s witnessed the death of a father-like figure. She holds a deep affection for Joel, and being present during his death sets her up to join Ellie as she seeks her revenge on Abby and the W.L.F. The audience is also further connected to Dina as we essentially stand in her shoes while Abby brutally beats Joel.
Our Take On Dina Replacing Tommy In Joel’s Death Scene
The Decision Makes Dina More Compelling
Replacing Tommy with Dina was an effective storytelling decision as it sets up a stronger arc for season 2. The Last of Us benefits from strengthening Dina and Joel’s relationship, as it creates another motivation for Dina’s actions. Not only does this choice tie Dina, Joel, and Ellie closer together, but it also attaches the audience to Dina. This inciting incident works to help us better understand her character, as we’ve seen firsthand how this death impacts her.
Ellie and Dina’s dynamic will also expand after her witnessing Joel’s death as the two are now “trauma bonded” through their respective relationships with Joel. This creates a foundation for a deep connection between the pair as they will have to lean on each other for support as The Last of Us season 2 continues without Joel by their sides.
Source: EW
The Last Of Us
8/10
- Release Date
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January 15, 2023
- Network
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HBO
- Showrunner
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Craig Mazin
- Directors
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Craig Mazin, Peter Hoar, Jeremy Webb, Ali Abbasi, Mark Mylod, Stephen Williams, Jasmila Žbanić, Liza Johnson, Nina Lopez-Corrado
- Writers
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Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin