Ellie and Dina’s Epic First Kiss Shocks Fans in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Premiere!

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⚠️ CAUTION: The following narrative reveals key plot points from the first episode of Season 2 in HBO’s “The Last of Us,” currently available for viewing on Max. Proceed with caution if you wish to avoid spoilers.

The Season 2 premiere of “The Last of Us” primarily focuses on filling viewers in about the lives of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), five years after the end of Season 1. They’ve found a semblance of stability within the fortified community of Jackson, Wyoming, governed by Joel’s brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and his wife Maria (Rutina Wesley). Joel, although skeptical about Maria’s fast-paced acceptance of new residents, assists in building additional living quarters for the increasing number of refugees fleeing the fungal apocalypse. Meanwhile, Ellie, now 19, is honing her combat and shooting skills as she joins Tommy and other Jackson residents, including her friend Dina (Isabela Merced) and Dina’s boyfriend Jesse (Young Mazino), in patrolling the surrounding wilderness to protect the community from infected.

After their last encounter, Ellie has grown distant from Joel. Now, she lives in a garage near their house and they barely talk. This situation distresses Joel so much that he’s seeking help from a therapist named Gail (Catherine O’Hara), hoping to find ways to reconcile with Ellie.

Co-creator and executive producer Craig Mazin, who also directed an episode, points out that even though five years passed between Season 1 and Season 2, it’s not to imply that everything was terrible during this time. In fact, much of it turned out well, and we’ll explore that further as the season unfolds. However, at the start, they find themselves in familiar places, back in their original positions.

In a chat with EbMaster, Mazin (co-creator and executive producer), Neil Druckmann, and star Bella Ramsey shared insights on the Season 2 premiere, delving into the blossoming bond between Ellie and Dina, expanding the Jackson locale, and highlighting why Joel’s therapy session is one of Mazin’s cherished scenes.

Joel in Therapy Wasn’t a New Idea

Initially, Mazin shared with EbMaster back in early March that he initially envisioned a scene showing Joel receiving therapy prior to his departure from Boston at the start of Season 1.

In closed economies, some skills or talents become more important than others. For instance, if you were skilled in repairing shoes, that would be a valuable skill. However, being a physics teacher might not hold much value anymore. But, being a therapist could be extremely valuable because everyone has experienced hardships and nobody can claim they’ve had an easy time. I believe therapy is particularly useful for revealing not just what people think, but also what they are avoiding to discuss.

Originally, those particular scenes were eliminated due to space constraints before filming began for the series. However, Mazin decided to revive the concept for Season 2. In the season opener, Joel’s therapy session starts with him grumbling yet again about Ellie distancing herself from him, but Gail interrupts him. It’s Gail’s birthday and, being her first without husband Eugene in 41 years, she’s short-tempered and has no tolerance for “the most monotonous issue imaginable.” She tells Joel that she can tell he’s concealing something from her: “You’re deceiving me, and it’s draining.”

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’d rephrase the dialogue as follows: “To get to the heart of the matter, I confront him with a truth-telling scenario. ‘I’m trembling to utter this, but I must: You took my husband’s life,’ I confess. ‘You ended Eugene’s life, and I can’t forgive you for that. Not just resent you, but loathe you for it. I despise you for what you did! And yes, I understand your predicament. I know you had no other option! I know that! I know I should show mercy. But I can’t. The way it happened… It makes me so enraged, seeing your face in our home just fuels my anger.'” I remain silent; Joel offers no response.

Gail goes on, admitting her guilt. “I’ve spoken my truth, and I feel ashamed. It’s out in the open now, and there’s no turning back. Perhaps this is a chance for me to make amends with you. Your turn now, share the fear that weighs heavily on your heart. If you need help, I’m here for you. Did something happen between you and her? Did you cause her harm?

In the closing moments of Season 1, I found myself in a heart-wrenching dilemma: I had to take the life of a group of Fireflies to protect Ellie from an operation that could’ve been her end. Even though Ellie was ready to give herself for their cause, I couldn’t bear the thought and chose to keep my actions hidden from her. As Gail urges me to find solace in confession, a chill runs down my spine as tears well up in my eyes.

“I saved her,” he says to Gail, before storming out of her house.

In the interview related to this article, Mazin described his intention for this particular scene as creating something akin to an “exciting sequence – a battle, a gunfight.

He jokes that something can be hilarious one moment and incredibly serious the next, and he’s seen it happen often enough in therapy sessions. He explains how emotions can shift rapidly from laughter to tears to anger as hidden truths come to light. He admits to thoroughly enjoying writing this particular scene, filming it, and editing it. In fact, it’s one of his favorite scenes across both seasons, largely because he had the pleasure of witnessing two exceptional talents at the pinnacle of their craft engage in a captivating conversation.

Neil Druckmann emphasizes that while Gail’s words to Joel aren’t entirely fresh, they evoke a slightly different emotion compared to Joel’s conversation with Tommy in the second game. He explains, “We gave this conversation to a new character to create a unique emotional response.” When altering elements from the game, Druckmann prefers to use an algorithm that helps him consider the impact of these changes on the story. He suggests playing through the entire narrative to understand the implications and then comparing it to the original version. If the revised version enhances the story in this medium, he believes they should adopt it; otherwise, he questions why the change is necessary.

Gail shares a connection with the game due to her deceased husband. In “Part II,” Eugene has already passed away; Ellie and Dina discuss him in past tense as they gaze at his photograph. However, the character will resurface in Season 2, portrayed by Joe Pantoliano, in a flashback scene intended to offer more insight into Joel and Gail’s conversation.

Mazin expresses his delight in discovering subtle elements from the game that have left a lasting impression on him, even if they weren’t fully developed. He mentions a brief discussion about how Eugene might reconnect with a fresh character, but what truly piqued their interest was understanding how this new character’s narrative intertwines with Joel and Ellie’s journey. This is where the intrigue lies. When crafting such connections, they aim not just to offer Easter eggs for fans, but to fully incorporate these elements into the storyline and make them beneficial to the overall plot.

The Infected Are Getting Smarter

When Ellie and Dina are on their patrol, Ellie slips into a deserted supermarket and comes face-to-face with an infected that moves tactfully instead of blindly charging at her with raw power.

During gameplay, as difficulties are heightened, it mirrors the same thrill experienced by the characters,” Druckmann explains. “We aimed to prevent monotony by not having you battle the same infected repeatedly. To achieve this, we developed distinct classes, such as the ‘clicker,’ a stealthy stalker that doesn’t charge straight at you. Instead, they lurk and hunt, making them much more terrifying.

In the context of games, players encounter an increase in challenge as the game progresses, but this isn’t always the case for scripted dramas. “We felt it was crucial to depict growth and to focus on a single instance where one character acts in a way that is extremely unpredictable,” Mazin explains. “Neil and I discussed extensively about how such actions would also bring about other elements, like a feeling of emotion and sadness within them. It’s as if they are aware that there are still individuals inside who can’t help but carry out their actions.

They Built Jackson for Real

Mazin chuckles when asked about how much of Jackson was genuinely constructed for the production. “More than anyone else would have permitted us to build,” he notes. “The initial design was massive. Then the budget team intervened, saying, ‘You’re not allowed to actually construct an entire city, man.’ So we had to resort to more cinematic trickery, but we aimed to make the most significant parts as authentic as feasible.

In the chilly, picturesque town of Minaty Bay, nestled northward from Vancouver, I found my cinematic haven. This captivating location, brimming with minute details, held a special place in my heart. Each storefront concealed a fully-equipped workspace, a Starbucks transformed into a craftsman’s paradise. Our backstage areas were tucked within these converted stores, meticulously built by the set and construction team. The immersive experience was nothing short of magical, transporting us right into our very own village.

Working on “Part II” alongside Druckmann significantly affected everyone, as co-executive producer Halley Gross, who collaborated on the game and the final episodes of Season 2, explains. “I knew those layouts like the back of my hand,” she says. “Entering the set felt like stepping into Joel’s house. There was Joel’s coat in his closet, the specific cup he used. It was a strange yet incredible feeling where I thought, Wow, I’m inside a simulation. For a brief moment, my mind seemed to have a small ‘black hole’ experience.

Everyone Wanted to Ensure Ellie and Dina’s First Kiss Was Perfect 

Near the conclusion of the show, people from Jackson gathered at the town’s church for a New Year’s Eve celebration. Here, Dina and Ellie danced together and shared their initial kiss – reminiscent of a scene right from “Part II.”

Or, more concisely:

People in Jackson convened at a New Year’s Eve party in the local church toward the end of the episode. There, Dina and Ellie danced and shared their first kiss, similar to a scene in “Part II.

Mazin mentions that certain elements from the game will be seamlessly incorporated into the show, as they hold a special appeal for him and seem to fit perfectly. He points out a specific scene within the church where Ellie is seen from behind, with beautiful lights and people dancing, which closely resembles its counterpart in the game.

Ramsey isn’t a video game player, but they did watch YouTube walkthroughs of the game. “I recall stepping onto set and thinking, wow,” said Ramsey. “It felt like I was actually in the game, even though I hadn’t actually played it.” Just like Jackson, the production team had unrestricted access to the vast amount of concept art and visual blueprints from Naughty Dog, the developers of the game, which is led by Druckmann.

He mentions that he’s consistently linking them up with those who initially worked on their originals, allowing them to trace back to its roots.

Ramsey carefully observed every nuance, thereby delving deeply into the intricate maze of thoughts that swirled within Ellie’s mind, as Dina openly expressed her feelings towards Ellie.

According to Ramsey, Ellie believes Dina is heterosexual and involved with Jesse. Her fear of her own feelings for Dina, which she values as a cherished friend, is overwhelming. There’s a clear indication that she wants to understand Dina’s feelings before making any advances. Even when Dina attempts to dance closely and kiss her, Ellie seems unsure and questioning, asking herself if this is real.

For Ellie and Ramsey, it was a precious instance of peaceful fellowship. “There aren’t many instances on the series where there’s a gathering of people enjoying themselves,” Ramsey remarks with a wide grin. “It was truly delightful to have so many people in the room, laughing and having a good time during ‘The Last of Us‘ filming.

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2025-04-14 05:47