'The Last of Us' Season 2's Biggest Problem Is Not Ellie, It's Dina (And Craig Mazin)

Season 2 of The Last of Us has received mixed reviews from fans of the game. It currently holds a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and for good reason.

Many have noted that the writers, especially Craig Mazin, have changed Ellie's character dramatically, portraying her as childish and incapable of independent action.

However, the season's biggest problem isn't Ellie herself but rather how the dynamics of her relationship with Dina overshadow her individuality, reducing her to a sidekick in her own story.

Craig Mazin Made Dina Become a “Parent” for the Childish And Incompetent Ellie

Craig Mazin portrays Dina as a “smart adult” who must control the impulsive and immature Ellie. In The Last of Us Season 2 Podcast Episode 5, Mazin directly calls their dynamic “parent-child”:

“Because now it's a different parent-child thing, right? Dina has been the parent.”

In the game, Ellie is calm, determined, and calculating. She can be emotional, but never incompetent. However, in the show, she is constantly portrayed as an inexperienced teenager who needs everything explained to her.

For instance, the scene in which Dina teaches Ellie how to properly shoot feels humiliating for a character who successfully survived on her own in the game.

As Soon as Dina Is Not Around, Ellie Becomes Her Old Self

In those rare moments when Dina disappears from the frame, Ellie suddenly acts like her in-game self. For example, in the scene with the map, Ellie acts like a child, which completely contradicts her nature.

However, as soon as Dina leaves, we see the cold and calm Ellie who is ready to do anything for revenge. It makes us wonder: If Mazin can write Ellie correctly, why does he infantilize her when Dina is around?

Craig Mazin Needs to Change His Approach to Portraying Ellie

The problem isn't that Dina is a bad character. Rather, the problem is that her presence and the way she is portrayed robs Ellie of depth. If Mazin continues writing their relationship this way, he risks completely ruining one of the strongest character arcs in gaming history.

Redditor Meb2x wrote:

“Ellie is still playing the sidekick this season despite being the lead. It made sense for her to follow Joel's lead in season 1 since she was only 14 and impressionable. After 5 years, she should be way more independent but she's constantly doing stupid things and being corrected by everyone in her life.”

Fans hope that future episodes will finally show Ellie becoming the obsessive, cold-blooded avenger she's meant to be. For now, though, the show is too fixated on making Dina the voice of reason and turning Ellie into her “child.”