SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers from “Day One,” Season 2, Episode 4 of “The Last of Us,” now streaming on Max.
When Isabela Merced met with “The Last of Us” creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, she was accustomed to the availability supplies for the second season of the HBO drama, the video recreation “The Last of Us Half II” — nevertheless she had no thought what operate they’d in ideas for her. “They solely requested me primary questions, trying to get my character down,” she acknowledged in an interview earlier this week, all through which she was combating a cold, and began by apologizing upfront for any future coughing. Mazin and Druckmann immediately cast her as Dina — the Jackson-based biggest good buddy and love curiosity of Ellie (Bella Ramsey) — and Merced remembers contemplating, “Oh my God, that may be a lot higher than I assumed!”
Dina is a big character in “Half II,” nevertheless since Merced obtained only one script at time for Season 2, it took her a while to grasp Mazin and Druckmann had elevated her character to the sequence’ co-lead alongside Ramsey’s Bella. Nonetheless their willpower made sense to her. “On account of Dina’s type of a transparent slate, and a clear net web page in loads of strategies,” Merced acknowledged, Mazin, Druckmann and “The Last of Us” writers had been able to make use of the character to increased facilitate the “transition from the game to the TV current.” And since Dina, as written for television, is a ray of sunshine in Ellie’s sad, demanding life — which turns into exponentially sadder after Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) exacts revenge on Joel (Pedro Pascal), murdering him sooner than Ellie’s eyes — solely when she is with Dina does Ellie rework into the carefree character audiences knew throughout the current’s first season. “Like, OK, Ellie’s truly fucked up and indignant,” Merced acknowledged. “Nonetheless each time Dina’s spherical, it’s like she instantly is able to entry the enjoyment that she as quickly as felt.”
In “Day One,” Season 2’s fourth episode, Ellie and Dina are cautiously navigating Seattle, the place they’re on the hunt for Abby to take their very personal revenge. As the two of them cruise spherical on horseback by means of the city’s (historically queer) Capitol Hill neighborhood, they shock about all the rainbow flags. “I don’t know — maybe they’re all optimists,” Ellie says.
The episode, written by Mazin, and directed by Kate Herron, is a colossus. Dina learns lastly that Ellie is immune from cordyceps an an infection, after which they confess their feelings for each other, and have intercourse for the first time. Oh, and since Dina learns she’s pregnant early throughout the episode — her on as soon as extra, off as soon as extra boyfriend Jesse (Youthful Mazino) is the daddy — she tells Ellie about her plans for his or her future, as she’d envisioned them: plans she seen disappearing after Ellie is bitten by a clicker. “I assumed you had been gone, after which impulsively, this future I was imagining wasn’t going to happen — the place we’re collectively and have a baby,” Dina says. “I don’t know in case you even want that.” Ellie replies: “I would like it with you.”
There’s no shortage of movement in “Day One” each. Ellie is bitten on the end of an elaborate, stunts-filled sequence, as Ellie and Dina face every the Wolves and, after they descend proper right into a subway tunnel, a horde of contaminated on the subway itself. Moreover they witness the brutality of the Scars’ practices for the first time, after they arrive all through the eerie, horrifying sight of a room full of hanged lifeless our our bodies: Wolves which had been lynched and disemboweled.
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What an unlikely episode to lead to such poignant professions of affection, correct? And however, that’s “The Last of Us” for you. As a result of the episode attracts to an in depth, Ellie appears to be like as if her earlier self as soon as extra, exuberantly celebrating: “So we’re all having a baby. Holy shit! I’m gonna be a dad.” Nonetheless they know they’re in Seattle for a goal. The episode ends with Ellie and Dina, on the roof of the theater that’s develop to be their refuge, attempting in the direction of the place they assume Abby needs to be. When Ellie tries to tell Dina she doesn’t should go along with her, that her being pregnant has modified points, Dina demurs. Dina reaches out her hand, says “collectively” — the last word image is them holding fingers, attempting grimly into the house.
Merced, who’s initially from Cleveland, Ohio, began performing as a toddler, and has starred in movies equal to 2019’s “Dora and the Misplaced Metropolis of Gold” and 2024’s “Alien: Romulus.” In a far-ranging interview, Merced talked about working with the current’s intimacy coordinator on Dina and Ellie’s first time having intercourse with each other, why the subway vehicle sequence necessitated her making a “secret sign language” with Ramsey — and what the current’s LGBTQ illustration means for her as a queer actor.
When you acquired this operate, did you understand how central Dina is to Season 2? It’s truly the Ellie-Dina season. When did you’re employed that out?
I solely acquired one episode at a time, so I was merely finding out as I went on. I consider the writers wanted to differ a bit bit about this transition from the game to the TV current, and since Dina’s type of a transparent slate — and like a clear net web page in loads of strategies — they use Dina to bridge it. Moreover, Ellie’s truly darkish and truly brooding throughout the second recreation, and I actually really feel like they wanted to confirm to incorporate additional of how Ellie was throughout the first season, and the first recreation. Like, OK, Ellie’s truly fucked up and indignant, nevertheless each time Dina’s spherical, it’s like she instantly is able to entry the enjoyment that she as quickly as felt.
I moreover assume Dina’s serving to Ellie grieve in a method — however moreover Ellie’s serving to Dina grieve. I consider Dina’s redirecting her grief and inserting it on Ellie and being like, “Oh, I’ll present assist to.” Like that one good buddy who will help anyone nevertheless themselves is how I see Dina.
I didn’t anticipate it to be this large of a job, nevertheless I’m truly glad. I moreover truly love that they’re doing a gradual burn with the romance versus throughout the recreation, it was immediately. I consider they’re being truly cautious with how they’re presenting the Sapphic story, and the authenticity of it.
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Utterly. Nevertheless it certainly was clear to me from Dina’s and Ellie’s first scenes collectively throughout the Season 2 premiere that Dina is into Ellie — prolonged sooner than the New Yr’s Eve kiss, even. The connection merely feels so lived in and precise. How did you assemble that with Bella Ramsey?
Really, we didn’t truly get a chance to assemble it. We had been doing loads of prep earlier to the season and taking footage it, and I was moreover filming “Superman” concurrently the current. I was doing principally bodily teaching. Bella was doing bodily teaching, stunts teaching, on account of Bella has that sequence with the Stalker throughout the first episode. So we truly didn’t get so much time to get there. I was just like, “OK, successfully, it’s what it’s.” I suggest, I was nervous, I’d say, higher than one thing. Nonetheless day zero we went in, we shot that first scene the place Dina entails get Ellie for patrol and makes pleasurable of her Converse. And Craig was great excited from that second on. Nonetheless I don’t assume that was the day my anxiousness was relieved. I consider the day that my anxiousness was relieved was all through the digital digital camera test, and it merely felt truly correct.
This story will run after Episode 4, nevertheless in Episode 3, clearly Dina wants one factor to happen throughout the tent. Is that how the two of you carried out it?
It was on a regular basis them every dancing spherical their feelings, and I consider that was what we wanted to be careful of. The director Peter Hoar was truly cautious about what emotion we confirmed and when — notably, reserving the true emotions after we’re not having a look at each other, and truly inserting on the masks after we’re. That scene is definitely important, on account of it’s not solely merely together with to the pressure that’s already there, nevertheless every of them probably actually really feel accountable for feeling some type of giddiness about their romance. And Dina feels accountable on account of she appears to be like like she’s betraying Jesse; Ellie feels accountable on account of she appears to be like like she’s betraying Joel.
There was a mannequin the place Ellie’s Dina’s physique, and it was sexual in a method? And you’ll see her wheels handing over her head. Nonetheless I’m truly glad they eliminated that, solely on account of I consider it’s merely smarter as regards to the final telling of it. I consider it’s slightly much less on the nostril, and a bit bit additional nuanced — I truly like that they’re spacing it out this way.
Ellie would actually have been killed minute one with out Dina — like, thank God Dina goes collectively along with her. After they get to Seattle, they go proper right into a music retailer, and Ellie sings “Take On Me,” which is a cutscene from the game. You instructed us on the junket that you just beloved that scene from the game, and had been joyful it was throughout the current. Can you talk about why?
I suggest, I cried as soon as I watched that scene, and I hadn’t acknowledged that I was having fun with Dina however, so it was unbiased tears. Music has on a regular basis been an entry degree to my emotions. It means so much to me for thus many causes.
I like that they incorporate that Ellie’s realized the guitar from Joel. It’s like her second of joyful grief, on account of there’s so many flavors to grief: There’s the sad sort, the kind that sneaks up on you, the shock sort — after which the joyful sort the place you’re grieving the joyful moments in a joyful method, and maybe you shed joyful tear. I consider for lots of causes, Dina is feeling emotional, on account of to start out with, Ellie’s fucking gorgeous and she or he’s adoring her in every method. However moreover I consider she’s grieving Joel too in that second. And maybe in my head I was like, “Has Dina ever heard this monitor sooner than?” As far as she’s concerned, it’s the first time she’s heard this masterpiece, and it’s a private solo effectivity by the person she loves — about and for the one who the person she loves loves.
Was Bella Ramsey actually singing and having fun with?
Yeah, Bella Ramsey is a really gifted musician, and likewise has their very personal songs that they’ve written all by way of the years. And I had the pleasure of attending to hearken to that behind the scenes. We would usually ship a guitar, and play for each other.
The easiest way Dina is having a look at Ellie with such love, it feels so precise. Can you talk about getting there?
I was excited to shoot it, after which I was moreover truly emotional, as a result of set design being so gorgeous and it feeling a really actually sweet and tender second throughout the current after so much darkness and loss. So I was very emotional that day. And likewise maybe it was my first day of my interval — I don’t know, I consider I take note it was. At any time when it’s the first day of my interval, I’m solely a successfully of emotions. It was truly exhausting for me to not cry. And I’m on a regular basis, a lot much less is additional — a lot much less dialogue is more healthy, in case you possibly can say it alongside together with your eyes, say it alongside together with your eyes. After which a lot much less emotion in your face, or holding it once more, is more healthy. So I was preventing that, actually, on the day, on account of I wanted to order each factor a bit bit additional.
And in some unspecified time sooner or later, even the director was like, “Hey, maybe try to not cry?” It was truly, truly exhausting for me. And so that was my wrestle all by way of the whole scene — merely trying to not cry. I seen when watching it simply currently that there was a change from the loving look to a unhappiness in my eyes. I was trying to remember what I was contemplating, and I consider it was just like I wanted to incorporate that Dina isn’t fearless, truly? She may appear to be it. She may appear to be she is going to take care of masses, and all by way of the episode you examine that she is going to’t. Nonetheless I wanted to supply people a glimpse into that, on account of love is horrifying. So for her to essentially really feel these emotions, after which in precise time be terrified of them, was truly important to me. On account of I consider that’s cheap.
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Inside the reverse of that scene’s vibe, Dina and Ellie then come all through disemboweled, lynched people who’ve been killed by the Scars. Did they’ve our our bodies there, or had been they put in later?
That was actually faux our our bodies, nevertheless they appeared truly cheap and they also had been hung up on that wall. And it was fully terrifying and disgusting, and it truly ruined my day to be there. Uncanny valley is a time interval for a goal: The thoughts can solely take so much false knowledge that’s appears to be precise.
Yeah, exactly. I suggest, was it as freaky to see that as a result of it was as soon as I seen it on show?
Yeah, it was disturbing and yeah, the vibes had been hostile for optimistic. It stroke a chord in my memory loads of my experience with “Alien: Romulus,” the place it was just one diploma of concern, then the following diploma, after which an increasing number of merely setting up that merely to in the end attain the full-fledged adrenaline rush that comes with survival. I’m glad I had which have, on account of it undoubtedly expert me for this.
With the scene throughout the subway tunnels, Dina and Ellie are actually saved from the Wolves by the contaminated horde — and Dina’s trying to rely them, nevertheless she doesn’t have enough fingers. The place should I start with questions for you regarding the sequence? It was such an infinite set piece.
It was massive. Oh my God. And it was undoubtedly truly troublesome. I consider we spent per week in there, I don’t even know. It felt like a blur. And each time we could, we’d merely try to flee outdoor and get some photo voltaic. It was truly, truly darkish.
And I merely take note pleasurable data about that, I assume, could be that set dec is supposed to have some type of soil and dirt as cooperated, nevertheless loads of events they use the fertilizer, which has manure in it. Nonetheless they didn’t have enough time to arrange, I assume, in order that they launched throughout the manure and it hadn’t had time to air out. So almost all of which have, it smelled like shit. It was truly disgusting. Moreover, Dina’s doing loads of cardio, Ellie’s doing loads of cardio working spherical. There are tons of contaminated, and it was actually solely a crazy experience. Lots occurring.
Courtesy of Liane Hentscher / HBO
Had been these subway autos truly rocking? Was it exhausting to keep up your steadiness?
Yeah, they’d been actually rocking. I consider they could’ve been on a sort of mechanical stands, however moreover on the an identical time, they really had the groups of people pushing on them. I’ll actively actually really feel myself bouncing from one end of the auto to the alternative, after which moreover having to shoot the weapons within the correct place — it was a really crazy sequence. It took a really very long time to do.
Nonetheless as a result of which have, Bella and I ended up making a secret language — that was the sequence throughout which we created a secret sign language to solely discuss with each other about what it’s that we had been cosy with or uncomfortable with when it received right here to what they’d been asking of us. After which moreover if we wished to pee or if we wished to…
Wait, wait, wait. What do you suggest, cosy with bodily?
Yeah, cosy with bodily. You don’t ever have to be that one person that goes, “Oh, I actually don’t want to do this” — on account of then as a youthful woman, you hazard a reputation. So we should truly be allies for each other, and we communicated first contained in the safety of us two, after which we’d go, “Successfully, we’re going to every say that we don’t have to do it.”
By means of stunts, or what kinds of —
Yeah.
So you’ll faucet in a stunt double at a positive degree in case you wanted to?
Yeah, fully. That they had been on a regular basis there, and most of the time HBO hottest that they did it. Nonetheless Bella is any individual very excited regarding the movement, and maybe it’s on account of they’re youthful than me, and I’ve been doing this for thus prolonged, I’m like, “Ah, I don’t receives a fee to do stuff, so I’m good! There’s somebody who has that job for a goal.”
In any case. Did you emerge unscathed? Had been you OK?
Yeah, in truth, I was advantageous. I didn’t truly actually really feel unsafe ever. That they had been truly on it. It’s the perks of being a part of such a big-budget manufacturing.
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After Ellie is bitten, she says to Dina, “I’d die for you. I’d, nevertheless that’s not what occurred” — since Dina doesn’t know that Ellie is immune. Can you talk about filming that scene?
Yeah, that was powerful. That was pretty emotional. I consider I merely went to a really darkish place to have the flexibility to essentially really feel that inside battle, which I’ve not at all truly felt that sooner than. I consider we spent maybe half the day doing that — it truly wasn’t that prolonged. And I truly wanted the viewers to think about that Dina might actually shoot her. So I wanted to essentially really feel that battle or else — I suggest, I merely truly like, if I don’t actually really feel it, then no one’s going to essentially really feel it. That’s how my philosophy is.
Successfully, you in all probability did good. You’ve received Ellie at gunpoint with tears working down your face — it was very environment friendly, I assumed. Nonetheless was that what you suggest about the way in which it was exhausting holding these two points, like your love of Ellie and being like, “OK, positive, I’d kill this particular person”?
Yeah, it was two extreme emotions combating the alternative to win, after which me having to resolve as soon as I wanted to incorporate what and the way in which. And going off of Bella’s effectivity, I consider what Bella gave me was it felt truly true and decided, so I consider that confuses Dina rather more. After which moreover the highway about, “I’m immune.” At first, Dina undoubtedly doesn’t take into account Ellie, and is kind of in a method, “If you’re lying, you’re a piece of shit. And in case you’re telling the actuality, you’re a piece of shit,” principally. She’s like, “How dare you?” In each circumstance, it’s a how dare you? state of affairs. So I consider there’s loads of anger there too. It’s the anger, it’s the love, it’s the confusion. It’s the unhappiness.
And when Ellie doesn’t flip, Dina tells her she’s pregnant and kisses her, after which they’ve intercourse for the first time. Did you film that scene in a number of strategies?
Yeah, I’m trying to remember what the chronology of it was. I consider we undoubtedly shot the buildup to the kiss and each factor after the gunpoint state of affairs. We had loads of time to shoot that, actually — additional time than we did with the holding Ellie at gunpoint after the chew sequence. They really wanted to confirm the cinematography was on degree, because you don’t see Dina for the first part of that as a result of flashlight, which I consider is definitely clever. And it provides me a chance to hype myself up, and truly merely actually really feel anxious and get me to that place. After which the flashlight turns off, the torch is on. And that choreography was attention-grabbing, too, on account of it’s like, why does she flip off the flashlight and get the torch? How do I make that make sense? On account of visually, it’s gorgeous, nevertheless practicality-wise… Nonetheless I do assume it’s good: I consider Dina wants Ellie to see her concern and her face and whatnot. I’m truly pleased with the way in which it went.
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How did you navigate the intercourse scene? Did you’re employed with the director Kate Herron on it, and was there an intimacy coordinator?
We labored masses with an intimacy coordinator. Her establish was Kathy [Kadler], and she or he was truly good. She made us actually really feel truly cosy, however moreover we had already labored collectively for higher than half the season at the moment. Ellie and I had been truly cosy too. I consider what we wanted to confirm was that higher than one thing there was some type of consent throughout the scene, on account of they’re clearly every in very vulnerable positions. So we had been very detailed about that scene. All of us had ideas, correct? On account of we wanted it to be enticing. We would have liked it to be emotional and charged, however moreover smart and current their relationship and the way in which it’s going to differ now that this barrier has been broken. Significantly, I wanted Dina to be the one to unzip her private pants, take Ellie’s hand and actively data it down her physique. On account of even though Ellie is technically the one who’s on prime, I consider it’s exhibiting they every have firm on this willpower to take it to the following step. And I consider it was gorgeous. And I consider, yeah, we made some truly good choices there.
I do like that morning breath points even throughout the apocalypse. Dina’s hair seems unimaginable your complete time, by the way in which during which. Are you watching it once more, like, “Wow, that’s hair that holds up!”?
Yeah, truly. Really!
In order that they lastly confess their feelings for one another. And when Ellie asks, “Why now?” Dina tells Ellie she must raise the toddler collectively along with her, and that Ellie’s the one. How did the two of you ship such sweetness to that scene?
They lastly have the truth available on the market. And everytime you do lastly confess that — ego aside, points aside, after which concern aside — it’s like your coronary coronary heart merely opens up, and there’s this sweetness. Significantly with girls, as quickly as we’re cosy with each other, it’s like we don’t have any concern with that expression of affection. And I wanted to confirm, positive, primarily probably the most tense half is over, nevertheless there’s nonetheless an depth to their love for each other. I consider each factor felt so tender that day, even after we had been taking footage it, Bella and I had been merely so cosy with each other. And likewise, we every have experience in queer relationships — it’s possible you’ll merely inform when a lady hasn’t kissed a lady sooner than. You could merely actually really feel it. So every of us had been already advantageous and cozy, and so we may very well uncover. We added some kisses that weren’t throughout the genuine script. We added some moments that weren’t there merely based totally off of our comfortability with each other.
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The episode ends with Dina and Ellie on the roof attempting in the direction of the place they assume Abby is, holding fingers — and Dina says, “Collectively.” I’ve seen the whole season, so I perceive how refined points get, nevertheless it’s so extremely efficient in that second. As a queer particular person, what does it suggest to you to have that sort of illustration on such a big current?
I suggest, it’s superior! No person actually thinks I’m queer, which is okay. I don’t truly care. I’m an actor, so I can play anyone, correct? Nonetheless for it to suggest so much to me personally is good and grand. And I merely think about people from my hometown who maybe have not at all seen this aspect of me watching this and truly attending to know me in a method, and understanding me and them truly seeing it on a giant scale. After which picturing any individual maybe who was like me: Grew up Catholic, shoved down their emotions and maybe must be an actor — because you’d be shocked. There’s loads of these explicit archetypes in Ohio!
Significantly Ohio?
Yeah, or just middle America. That to me is definitely, truly important, and superior. And that’s what was so cool regarding the recreation and the availability supplies: It was truly ahead of its time. I suggest, although now we now have to thank loads of the lesbian love story to Halley Gross who was launched in for the second recreation and truly was an advocate for Ellie and Dina’s relationship and truly took lead when it received right here to the physicality and the romance of it — on account of I consider Neil didn’t actually really feel like he was the one which was in a position to telling that story, or even perhaps cosy with it. So yeah, shout out Halley.
Points solely get harder for Dina and Ellie in Season 3. How are you preparing for that?
It’s going to be weird performing like I don’t like Bella. It’s going to be exhausting, on account of I’ve such a sweet spot for them now. Nonetheless I don’t know. I’ve tried to ask Craig, nevertheless I don’t assume he even truly is conscious of however completely how points are going to be. Nonetheless I’ve my very personal enter that I’ve already texted him about with methods as to how everyone reacts to the ending of Season 2, and the way in which I consider Dina — now that she’s modified so much from the game — how she would react to the events that occur. And I’m so excited to discuss Episode 7, on account of that to me is a big shift for his or her relationship, and what happens when the truth is revealed.
Have you ever learnt everytime you’re starting manufacturing?
No, nevertheless I consider it should be subsequent 12 months.
Can’t be rapidly enough!
This interview has been edited and (barely!) condensed.
