Surviving Together: The Unfolding Saga of Dina and Ellie

Season 2, Episode 4
Isn’t it heartening to imagine that even in a post-apocalyptic world, those classic TV twists we cherish somehow endure? You know the trope: a woman unexpectedly vomits in one episode, and in the next, surprise—she’s pregnant. This scenario plays out with Dina, who, after throwing up in last week’s “The Last of Us” amid human remains, buys several pregnancy tests in a Seattle drugstore this week. All tests confirm she’s expecting.

Dina remains tight-lipped about her condition to Ellie and the audience until the very end of the episode. This revelation, delivered after the duo narrowly escapes various enemies, adds an emotional layer to their already dangerous journey. The stakes for these two women have suddenly escalated.

As in the prior episode, a significant chunk of time is spent unfolding Dina and Ellie’s budding relationship. Their witty banter is a highlight—Ellie teases Dina, “Shout if something tries to kill you.” “That’s the plan,” replies Dina. They share intimate stories from their past, like Dina’s childhood confession to her mother about her attraction to both genders, countered by her mother’s denial. Their connection grows as they eventually fall into a passionate embrace.

Three crucial truths come to light: Dina’s pregnancy, their mutual affection, and Ellie’s immunity to the cordyceps infection, which she divulges due to pressing circumstances. The intimate dialogue is cleverly juxtaposed with thrilling action scenes, making for a gripping watch.

Dina and Ellie’s quiet entry into Seattle kicks off with a serene visit to a vacant music store, where Ellie captivates Dina with an acoustic version of A-ha’s “Take on Me.” The scene is visually striking, with sunlight streaming through a nature-reclaimed hole in the wall. Dina praises Joel’s influence on Ellie’s skills, to which Ellie responds, “He did,” loaded with sentiment.

Business soon takes precedence as the duo spots a broken window in what’s presumed to be the Wolves’ central hub, resembling a former TV studio. Inside, they discover gruesomely hanged Wolves, victims of an unsettling cult. The cult’s emblem is smeared in blood, declaring, “FEEL HER LOVE.” Just then, another pack of Wolves descends with guns blazing, forcing Dina and Ellie to duck and hide.

A relentless chase ensues—the first of two nail-biting sequences. After a tense escape from the studio, Dina and Ellie navigate through a crevice too narrow for their pursuers, leading them into an old transit tunnel. Here, they find temporary sanctuary in an abandoned train, as a vicious horde of infected disrupts their enemies.

Though I haven’t played “The Last of Us” video games, it’s clear that such intense moments are a major draw. The infected, with their ceaseless pursuit, truly make each scene nerve-racking. (I imagine game players meet many untimely ends.)

The episode introduces us to Isaac Dixon (Jeffrey Wright), one of the Wolves’ key figures. In a flashback to 2018, Seattle was still under FEDRA’s Quarantine Zone control, and Isaac was a disgruntled FEDRA soldier who orchestrated an ambush with the help of the Washington Liberation Front.

Fast forward eleven years, and we see Isaac again in a luxurious kitchen, interrogating a “Scar” cultist, Malcolm. Though a few “Scars” prefer to be called “Seraphites,” Isaac scornfully uses the derogatory term. He reminisces about his love for cooking and copes with the apocalypse’s irony by using a hot pan as an intimidation tool against Malcolm.

Isaac seeks the Seraphites’ next moves and hints at retaliation for slain Wolf children. Malcolm retorts, the Wolves struck first, highlighting the perpetual cycle of violence. Yet, Isaac’s true aim is to debunk Malcolm’s faith in his prophet, dismissing the cult’s weapons and beliefs as primitive against the Wolves’ advancements. Before Isaac executes Malcolm, the cultist smiles, proclaiming the shocking truth that Wolves continually defect to the Seraphites, insinuating their leader’s undeniable pull.

The Wolves-Seraphite conflict is a rich story vein ripe for exploration. With three episodes remaining, there’s extensive ground yet to cover, and the anticipation builds for more uncovering.

There’s a wealth of narrative possibilities in “The Last of Us,” eagerly awaiting dissection either later this season or the next. Given that Dina has assumed Joel’s role as Ellie’s closest confidant, the depth of their bond deservedly takes center stage. Together, they appear youthful and lackadaisical on the outside, but within burns a formidable resilience.

Ellie’s revelation about her immunity becomes inevitable as she uses her arm as a decoy, letting a zombie bite her instead of Dina. Safely in an old theater lobby, a worried Dina aims her pistol, fearing Ellie’s infection. But Ellie calmly assures Dina of her survival, swearing she’ll awaken unchanged.

“I’d die for you,” Ellie vows, “but that’s not what happened.”

Solidified in their devotion, they finally share confessions. Dina acknowledges Ellie’s feelings, met with Ellie’s delightfully astonished, “I hid it well.” On learning of the pregnancy, Ellie sweetly jokes, “So we’re expecting a baby? I mean we and Jesse,” humorously adding, “I’m going to be a dad.”

As this chapter closes, they hear a familiar Wolf’s name on the radio. Seeing explosions from Lake Hill, their path clears and hearts united in resolve, Dina and Ellie head onward, braced for what awaits. The task has doubled, as Dina’s now fighting for two.