TLOU Showrunners Wanted To Ensure Ellie And Dina’s First Kiss Was Perfect

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In a fresh development, Season 2 of HBO’s “The Last of Us” made its debut last Sunday, attracting a record-breaking 8.2 million viewers. This season has introduced an array of new characters to the series. As for the showrunner Craig Mazin, he mentioned that the second season would be larger in all aspects, yet he aims to preserve some of the sequel’s more subtle and peaceful scenes. One such moment was the first kiss shared between Ellie and Dina during the New Year’s Eve dance.

In the after-show discussion, Neil Druckmann, the creator and joint director of The Last of Us, elaborated on his perspective of Dina and Ellie’s budding romantic situation, as well as Ellie’s struggle with the discomfort of such a developing relationship.

In this episode, Dina emerges as someone who captivates Ellie, not just her friend, but also someone she looks up to and adores. This is evident throughout the show. However, Ellie, being an awkward teenager, isn’t quite sure how to handle these feelings because she’s still figuring things out.

In a conversation with Variety, Mazin mentioned that he intends to incorporate certain elements directly into the show, as they resonate strongly with him and seem fitting for a one-to-one transfer. Specifically, he pointed out a specific shot inside the church where Ellie is seen from behind with lovely lights and people dancing. This scene closely mirrors its counterpart in the game.

It’s been five years since the incidents of Season 1, and Ellie has grown up and is attempting to discover her identity independently of Joel. She eventually found solace with Dina (played by Isabela Merced), and their relationship developed into something deeper, though not without its challenges – among them a love triangle involving Dina’s on-again-off-again boyfriend, Jesse (portrayed by Young Mazino).

Ellie believes Dina is heterosexual and involved with Jesse. Her fear of her own feelings for Dina and the potential harm to their cherished friendship is overwhelming. There seems to be a self-preservation instinct at play, where she wants to know how Dina feels before taking any action. Despite Dina’s advances during that dance and attempt to kiss her, Ellie remains uncertain, questioning whether this moment is real or not.

Following the tender moment between them, a bartender named Seth (played by Robert John Burke) disrupts the peace by subtly revealing his prejudiced views. This encounter is abruptly halted when violence erupts, with Joel stepping in reflexively to aid Ellie. However, this action doesn’t benefit Joel and Ellie’s already strained relationship as she assertively declares that she doesn’t need his help, thereby increasing the tension between them even further.

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2025-04-15 20:09