The Last of Us Season 2 is full of strong characters that are worthy of discussion. Let’s talk about 3 characters who really stood out from the rest, other than Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal), of course, since they would be at the top of everyone’s list. Spoilers ahead!
Dina (Isabela Merced)
How could our number one not be Dina? She’s there from the start, supporting Ellie in her mischief, but with so much agency of her own. She’s the brains to Ellie’s brawn, and her careful planning tempers Ellie’s impulsiveness. From the first time we see her, we know that Dina has a special connection to Joel, too. She’s engaged in learning from him, and she’s concerned about his relationship with Ellie. But she’s not too pushy.
When Dina kisses Ellie at the New Year’s Eve party, it’s a poignant moment. You can see Ellie’s feelings on her face, and we don’t know it yet, but Dina really means that kiss. It wasn’t her intoxication driving her to do it, though it may have given her some courage. Dina challenges Ellie, and when Ellie sends her away to protect her, Dina stands firm. She isn’t going to be the passive girlfriend. She’s a strong woman in her own right.
Jesse (Young Mazino)
Oh, Jesse. He’s dedicated to the town and its people. That’s both his strongest and weakest trait. As Season 2 comes to an end, we can see that Jesse puts the well-being of everyone ahead of a single person. But he doesn’t recognize or think about the well-being of people outside of his community. And that’s the whole story, isn’t it? Everyone splits up into their groups, and outsiders are dangerous.
But Jesse is loyal. To a fault. He genuinely cares about Ellie and Dina as his friends, not just as members of the community. He follows them with Tommy (Gabriel Luna) because of that loyalty. He’s angry that they’ve put themselves in danger, but that’s anger out of love. And, when he learns about Ellie’s relationship with Dina, we learn that he fell in love with a woman who passed through Jackson, but he didn’t leave with her because of his loyalty to Jackson for taking care of him.
Jesse was angry with Ellie, but he ultimately faced the truth that he cared enough to help her, and she would do the same for him. His loyalty and unconditional love put him in our top 3 characters.
Gail Lynden (Catherine O’Hara)
Gail doesn’t get a lot of screen time, and she isn’t a character from the games, but she has made quite the impression. The therapist is flawed; she uses substances for coping, but she’s supportive of people in a way no one else can be. Her presence in the show makes mental health a priority, and we need that in the real world, too.
Though she harbors anger with Joel for how he handled her husband’s final moments, she’s a professional, and it looks like she genuinely cares about his well-being. It’s a struggle, but she knows he’s damaged and didn’t do what he did out of malice. Every time we see Gail, she’s providing help and advice, but also insight. When Tommy comes to her about Ellie, she says that some people can’t be saved. She sees the truth in people that others don’t.
Gail is real and honest. She has a depth that is delivered in a small number of scenes. That’s a testament to the talent of the writers and the actor. Gail made a big impression, and that’s why she’s here in our 3 characters of note.
The Last of Us Season 2 Cast
Every member of the The Last of Us Season 2 cast deserves to be on the list of 3 characters. But we had to limit it to three. There are sure to be favorites that we didn’t include that you would have, and that’s OK! It’s not a contest, and we enjoyed all of their performances. It will be exciting to see what’s next in Season 3. The waiting is the hardest part!
