Why The Last of Us Changed That Game-Changing Character Moment and Nailed It in Season 2

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Warning: Here lies significant plot revelations for those who haven’t watched the second episode of ‘The Last of Us‘ Season 2 on HBO or with a Max subscription. Proceed with caution!

Wow, only a week after we at TopMob praised the Season 2 premiere of The Last of Us for broadening the horizons of Tommy and Maria’s settlement in Jackson, Wyoming, and for offering some incredible moments reminiscent of the video games, the show unexpectedly shattered our hearts and minds in a series of powerful blows. It wasn’t a single blow, but more like repeated swings of a golf club.

The movie adaptation of ‘Through the Valley’ vividly recreated one of the most heart-wrenching scenes from Naughty Dog’s video game sequel, The Last of Us Part II. Kaitlyn Dever portrayed a relentless Abby, who skillfully persuaded Joel and Dina to join her group, culminating in a brutal fight that left Pedro Pascal’s character battered, bruised, and drenched in blood. Meanwhile, Bella Ramsey’s Ellie looked on with tears streaming down her face.

The adaptation surprisingly sticks very closely to the original story, even with changes such as Abby’s final strike. However, the most significant modification lies in Dina accompanying Joel on patrol rather than Tommy. This choice is bound to have far-reaching consequences that will likely unfold differently from what players previously encountered. After listening to the co-creators’ rationale, I wholeheartedly agree with their decision. As Neil Druckmann stated:

In our initial discussions, we decided to portray the bond between Dina and Joel, similar to what you witnessed in Episode 1. This decision will have significant ramifications moving forward. In the game, their relationship is mentioned but not shown. Here, we felt it was important for the show to depict this relationship, particularly having Dina present during that critical confrontation scene.

Among the many aspects I enjoyed during the premiere of The Last of Us‘s second season, one that stood out was how promptly it delved into Joel and Dina’s camaraderie, a relationship hinted at in the game but lacking substantial exploration. Despite their limited interaction in the series so far, their bond has been effectively established, making it believable for them to embark on patrol together.

In the game’s narrative, it is Tommy who joins Joel in the snowy wilderness, and later, Tommy who survives along with Ellie when Abby’s group finishes their violent mission. Within this storyline, sparing Tommy proved to be a shrewd move that maintained the bond between Tommy and Ellie through their shared ordeal.

In the HBO series, Maria takes on a more proactive role, making her less dependent on kinship ties. This allows her to contribute significantly to diverse storylines. Consequently, it would be illogical from a narrative standpoint for Tommy to abandon Jackson just as a large horde of thawed monsters assaulted and broke through the walls.

Having Dina There For Joel’s Murder Will Make Her Bond With Ellie Even Stronger

It’s not common for people to label “The Last of Us” games as romantic stories, yet there’s no disputing the strong emotional impact that Dina and Ellie have in the original content. In the Season 2 premiere, Isabela Merced and Bella Ramsey demonstrated their abilities to embody their digital counterparts convincingly, even without adjustments to other scenes. However, it’s still worth noting…

Although Dina remained unconscious throughout Joel’s ordeal, her kidnapping and drugging equally contributed to her trauma, making it as significant as Ellie’s. This shared experience serves as another morally questionable milestone in their evolving relationship, which was a key reason behind the character swap in the series, as explained by co-creator Craig Mazin: “[The swap] adds depth and complexity to their relationship, highlighting the hardships they must endure together.

If Dina’s journey continues, you would comprehend her reasons since there’s a game mechanic advantage for her character. However, our game doesn’t have such an advantage. The challenge was finding a way to link Dina emotionally to this tragedy beyond just being Ellie’s friend.

In the game, Dina seems to empathize with both Joel and Ellie following Abby’s harmful actions, yet she sometimes feels like an observer, receiving updates from Ellie rather than being directly involved in the action. However, in this instance, Merced provides an opportunity for Dina to become more integral to Ellie’s bleak life, a connection that will undoubtedly make their future together even more challenging and difficult to witness.

I’m curious if Eugene and Gail’s upcoming backstory episode will be as emotionally heavy as Joel’s tragic death scene, but I can’t wait to watch it when it airs. Don’t forget to catch it every Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO, or stream it on Max if that’s more convenient for you! And stay tuned for other exciting horror TV shows coming soon.

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2025-04-21 20:40