Major Spoiler: ‘The Last of Us’ Star Reveals Why Episode 4’s Game Change Boosts the Plot

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In last night’s airing of The Last of Us season 2, episode 4, Isabela Merced discusses the significance of the alteration in this adaptation from the original game. This episode features returning actors Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal, Gabriel Luna, and Rutina Wesley along with newcomers Kaitlyn Dever, Merced, Young Mazino, and Catherine O’Hara. In the series, Isabela Merced portrays Dina, a girl roughly Ellie’s age who lives in Jackson. In episode 4, Ellie and Dina are making their way to Seattle together with the goal of confronting Abby.

In a chat with Entertainment Weekly, Merced discusses a shift in the narrative for The Last of Us season 2, episode 4. Instead of Dina immediately discovering Ellie’s immunity in the game, this new approach offers a more intense sequence that gives Dina more time to fully process the revelation. Here’s the exact quote from Merced:

“It’s a more intense sequence because it allows Dina to actually process what’s happening, whereas in the game she doesn’t really get to do that.

In simpler terms, the experience feels quite intense for the game, whereas it has a more relaxed atmosphere. She discovers something unexpectedly, in an entirely new context, and it happens so quickly that she barely has time to properly comprehend it.

What This Means For The Last Of Us Adaptation

Ellie Had Been Keeping A Big Secret

In my opinion, as a movie enthusiast, I found the suspenseful build-up in the narrative where Ellie’s immunity to the deadly Cordyceps virus was concealed from Dina truly captivating. In the second season, Ellie cleverly disguised her bite scars with a tattoo and manipulated new ones when she was bitten again, hiding her unique condition. The game takes an exciting turn when Dina discovers Ellie’s immunity during the infected subway attack sequence. Her mask, which usually shields her from the airborne spores that the game portrays as affecting humans, cracks in this high-stakes moment, revealing Ellie’s extraordinary status.

In the fourth episode of The Last of Us season 2, the airborne virus spread hasn’t been deeply explored yet, so the creators opted for a different representation. Before reaching safety, Ellie and Dina dash through a turnstile as infected pursue them. As an infected lunges at Dina, Ellie puts her arm between them to shield Dina from being bitten. Unfortunately, Ellie gets bitten instead, sacrificing herself to save Dina. In the heat of the moment, Dina almost kills Ellie, believing she’s about to transform into a monster. Once they are safe, Ellie discloses her hidden truth.

Our Take On The Last Of Us Season 2, Episode 4 Change

The Show Will Likely Make More Changes

In the second season of “The Last of Us,” there have been various alterations concerning Dina’s character compared to the original game. These modifications include depicting her relationship with Joel and showing her presence during his demise, which significantly intensifies her emotional weight. This added depth greatly enhances the emotional impact of both Dina and Ellie’s journey. As the last three episodes of “The Last of Us” season 2 approach, it will be intriguing to observe what further changes the show may introduce compared to the game.

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2025-05-05 16:37