Spoilers are ahead for The Last of Us Part 2 and a MAJOR season 2 plot point in HBO’s The Last of Us.
Summary
Filming is well underway for HBO’sThe Last of Usseason 2, leading viewers to speculate about how the sophomore outing will tackle its source material. Although not officially released, severalLast of Usseason 2 set photoscompletely debunk a major theory about the show’s next chapter, all thanks to a small Ellie (Bella Ramsey) detail. In the images,Ramsey is joined by series newcomer Isabela Merced(Alien: Romulus), who plays fan-favorite character Dina. In addition to being a significant character in Naughty Dog’sThe Last of Us 2,Dina’s relationship with Ellie isTLOU’s most importantdynamic.
The set photos of the Vancouver-based production feature Ellie and Dina traversing the overgrown streets of post-apocalyptic Seattle. Although Merced’s Dina isn’t wearing a game-accurate outfit, the character’s personality shines through even in the few photos that were captured of the production. Ramsey’s Ellie, meanwhile, is wearing one of Ellie’s most recognizable outfits fromThe Last of Us Part 2— a blue button-down shirt. While many soon-to-beLast of Usseason 2viewers have honed in on Ellie’s longer hairstyle,a different character detail is much more revealing about the show’s narrative trajectory.
Ellie’s Fern Tattoo Reveals That The Last Of Us Season 2 Will Follow The Game’s Structure
Ellie’s Fern Tattoo Is Complete In The Set Photos
One of the most telling details in the set photos fromThe Last of Usseason 2 is Ellie’s fern tattoo. More specifically, the status of the tattoo says a lot about how the show will approach its source material’s non-linear narrative. InThe Last of Us Part 2, it’s revealed thatEllie’s ex-girlfriend, a tattooist named Cat, gave Ellie the fern and moth tattoo. A pretty substantial piece that covers most of Ellie’s right forearm, the tattoo hides the character’s bite mark — and, as a result, thetruth about Ellie’s immunity.
In flashbacks set just after theending ofThe Last of Us(and season 1), Ellie just uses a bandage to conceal the bite. As the flashbacks move forward inThe Last of Us' timeline, Ellie’s tattoo can be seen in different stages of completion. For example, when Ellie learns the truth about what Joel did at the Firefly hospital, the fern tattoo’s leaves aren’t completely inked. A fun detail,the tattoo’s appearance also ties into the narrative continuity. If the HBO adaptation planned to tell Ellie and Joel’s story chronologically, the fern tattoo wouldn’t be finished.
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The Last Of Us Part 2 Jumped Around In Time To Tell A Compelling Narrative
Although hard to see in its entirety, the fern tattoo on Bella Ramsey’s arm appears to be the finalized version of Ellie’s ink, suggesting thatThe Last of Usseason 2 uses flashbacksand time jumps. At the beginning of the game, the present-set storyline sees a then-stranger named Abby brutally killing Joel to avenge her father — the doctor who was collateral in Joel’s rampage to save Ellie. At the time of Joel’s death, Ellie hasn’t quite forgiven him, even though she wants to, sothe flashbacks help fill in the nuance of Joel and Ellie’s relationship.
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This Reveal Has Huge Implications For Joel’s Story In The Last Of Us Season 2
A Chronological Telling Of The Story Could Have Delayed Joel’s Death Until The Last Of Us Season 3
The look of Ellie’s fern tattoo is yet another confirmation thatLast of Usseason 2 coversthatJoel moment. When the show’s co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann revealed that they already hadplans forThe Last of Usseasons 3 and 4, there was some hopeful speculation that the series' sophomore outing would rework the way Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) story unfolds,saving his death for a later season of the show. So far, all clues have pointed towardThe Last of Usseason 2 faithfully adaptingThe Last of Us Part 2’s story structure.
The Last of Usseason 1 is streaming on Max.
The Last Of Us
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic drama series set two decades after a global catastrophe. It follows Joel, a seasoned survivor, who is tasked with escorting Ellie, a teenage girl, across a desolated United States, transforming into a harrowing journey of survival and companionship.
