[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers for “The Last of Us” Season 2, Episode 3, “The Path.”]
Requested which of Ellie’s relationships they had been most excited to see on display screen in “The Final of Us” Season 2, star Bella Ramsey didn’t hesitate to select Dina, performed by actress Isabela Merced. Ramsey described the character’s beloved queer love curiosity because the “most prevalent” particular person in Ellie’s life this season and gave IndieWire a glimpse into the odd-couple dynamic we noticed taking form in Episode 3, “The Path.”
“She’s so sensible, and I’m actually excited for folks to see how great she is and the way a lot mild and vitality and humor she brings to this season,” Ramsey mentioned of Merced. “She actually simply had this unwavering vitality about her the entire time, which was actually nice for being on set. After I was like an previous drained grandpa, she’d be like this little sprite that might are available and simply make all people get together.”
Reviewing the apocalyptic drama’s newest installment, IndieWire’s Ben Travers analyzed how Ellie’s highway to revenge would possibly impression her self-image. In Episode 3, we see our grieving hero making an attempt on a hardened, cool-guy exterior in reminiscence of Joel (Pedro Pascal) — however even admitting to herself that it doesn’t match.
“She’s making an attempt on a persona she admired and misplaced,” writes Travers, referencing a scene the place Ellie acknowledges she’s “making an attempt to sound like a badass.” “She’s turning into Joel as a option to bear in mind him.”
Not even Pascal, HBO’s hunkiest Chilean-American actor, could make romance mid-mushroom-Armageddon sound like a good suggestion, however Ellie’s complicated grief is on the core of her compelling will-they-won’t-they with Dina. Toss in Dina’s ex-boyfriend, Jesse (Younger Mazino), and the narrative layers he’ll be bringing to the desk later, and also you’ve obtained the type of drama that calls for to be a TV present.
“The type of triangle of the three of us is one thing that’s actually cool and was actually enjoyable to play,” Ramsey mentioned. “It’s actually essential that we proceed to have illustration on display screen that doesn’t really feel prefer it’s ticking a field by way of illustration.”
Identified for main diversifications (“Dora and the Misplaced Metropolis of Gold”) and massive franchises (“Alien: Romulus”), Merced was ready for the stress that got here with adapting “The Final of Us” online game. She advised IndieWire, “Having that have of not desirous to upset a fan base with my portrayal was important. After which additionally myself being a fan, not desirous to upset myself, I feel, is the most important concern I’ve. I’m my very own worst enemy, my very own greatest critic, so I undoubtedly don’t need that.”
Describing the temper on the manufacturing, Mazino mentioned, “The vibe of the set was chilled. The story we had been creating was not.”
“The Final of Us” Season 2 airs new episodes on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.