The Last of Us: Unpacking the Blossoming Romance Between Ellie and Dina

Season two of The Last of Us has already seen its fair share of tragedy, but amidst the darkness, a new love has emerged between Dina (Isabela Merced) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey). This week’s episode took their romance to new heights as they embarked on a long-haul revenge mission. Merced, who has also starred in Madame Web, Alien: Romulus, and the upcoming Superman, spoke about the deep connection building between the two women.

In an interview with Variety, Merced explained that Ellie and Dina are helping each other cope with the trauma they’ve experienced in the dangerous world of The Last of Us. "Ellie’s really messed up and angry, but whenever Dina’s around, it’s like she suddenly can access the joy she once felt," Merced said. "I also think Dina’s helping Ellie grieve in a way, but also Ellie’s helping Dina grieve. I think Dina’s redirecting her grief and putting it on Ellie and being like, ‘Oh, I’ll help you.’"

Merced appreciated the slow-burn romance between the two characters, which differs from the original game. However, she was glad the HBO show kept the iconic "Take on Me" scene from the source material.

Behind the Scenes of the Iconic Scene

"I was excited to shoot it, and then I was also really emotional, because of the set design being so beautiful and it feeling like a truly sweet and tender moment in the show after so much darkness and loss," Merced explained. "I noticed when watching it recently that there was a switch from the loving look to a sadness in my eyes. I was trying to remember what I was thinking, and I think it was just like I wanted to incorporate that Dina isn’t fearless, really? She may seem like it, but love is scary."

The Calculated Passion of the First Sex Scene

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Merced reflected on filming the first sex scene between Ellie and Dina. "This is a really necessary step in their relationship. It’s also just really hot to me because it’s like the culmination of all of these feelings and secrets all just being let out in one moment," she said. Despite the scene’s spontaneity, Merced revealed that it was carefully calculated to ensure the characters stayed true to themselves.

New episodes of The Last of Us air on HBO and Max on Sundays.

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