When The Last of Us returns to HBO for its second season, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) will continue to evade the infected and face more drama spiraling from the end of The Last of Us season one. But the duo are set to get some moments of reprieve amid the misery. Ellie in particular gets to have her story expand once they reach Joel’s brother’s compound and she meets Dina (Superman’s Isabela Merced).
The romance between Ellie and Dina has ruffled the feathers of some game players since its introduction in The Last of Us Part II. And in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Merced discussed how the potential backlash doesn’t faze her or game creator Craig Mazin, who included it as normalized story canon to the game.
“I mean, it’s kind of my truth, so I don’t see it as a thing even,” Merced said, and really she speaks from a place of a younger generation not really caring about heteronormative labeling as season two of the hit show premieres. “The game was made so long ago. Gays have existed since the beginning of time, they were always there. I don’t really see what the problem is. I don’t see what we’re trying to say or complain about.”
“Not only that, it’s just a beautiful story. If anything isn’t successful, I promise you it’s because of the quality of the work, not because of themes. Any theme can be done properly if it’s done by a good artist and executed with care and consideration. I guess everything in this story ends with tragedy. However, in my opinion, this is a successful sapphic story. It’s beautiful and we win in the end. There’s a lot of winning for this sapphic couple. I’m just really, really excited for people to see that.”
The actress continued, “I’m kind of looking forward to the backlash.” Merced knows that internet outrage is just that and the real world has an undeniable truth. “I don’t know how to describe it. I’m not scared because the gays have existed since the beginning of time. The thing is, if you have the gays, you have the world as well. If you have their support, you are fine.”
The Last of Us season two premieres April 13 on HBO and Max.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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