The Last of Us Season 2’s Biggest Problem: Dina’s Role and Craig Mazin’s Missteps

The Last of Us Season 2’s Biggest Problem: Dina’s Role and Craig Mazin’s Missteps

What’s Wrong with Dina in Season 2?

Dina, played by Isabela Merced in The Last of Us Season 2, is Ellie’s love interest, a tough survivor from Jackson, Wyoming, who joins her on a revenge mission to Seattle after Joel’s death in episode 2, aired April 13, 2025. In The Last of Us Part II game, Dina’s a fan favorite—witty, flawed, and fiercely loyal, but not afraid to call Ellie out when her obsession with Abby gets toxic. She’s got baggage (a dead sister, a rough past) and a practical streak, like when she stays behind after revealing she’s pregnant, knowing she’d slow Ellie down. The game’s Dina, voiced by Shannon Woodward, balances romance with realism, grounding Ellie’s rage.

The show, though, turns Dina into a softer, almost saintly figure. Startefacts on May 12, 2025, nails it: “Dina’s become this overly idealized partner who’s just there to support Ellie, no matter how dark it gets.” In episode 4, “Day One” (May 4), Dina’s thrilled about her pregnancy, teasing Ellie about being a “dad,” which Time notes is a big shift from the game, where Ellie’s annoyed, feeling the baby complicates her mission. The show’s Dina sticks with Ellie through Seattle’s warzone—facing WLF soldiers, Seraphites, and clickers—without much pushback, even after brutal moments like Ellie’s pipe attack on Nora in episode 5 (May 11). X posts, like @lennonmotta on May 12, slam this, saying, “Dina looks like she wants it more than [Ellie] does.” Merced herself told Variety on May 5 that she didn’t expect Dina’s role to be “this big,” hinting at Mazin’s choice to keep her front and center, unlike the game’s more balanced approach.

Mazin, co-creator with Neil Druckmann, seems to want Dina as a constant emotional anchor, but it flattens her. ScreenRant on May 13 points out that Dina’s backstory—revealed in episode 5 as surviving in a New Mexico cabin at age 8—adds depth but doesn’t translate to conflict with Ellie. The game’s Dina argues with Ellie, especially after Jesse’s arrival, but the show’s version, per Esquire on May 12, feels like she’s “fully behind” Ellie’s vengeance, even when it’s unhinged. This makes their romance, while sweet (think the guitar scene in the music store), less dynamic and the show less raw.

Why Dina’s Role Matters

Dina’s not just Ellie’s girlfriend—she’s the heart of The Last of Us Part II’s human side. The game, released in 2020 and selling 10 million copies by 2022, uses Dina to show what Ellie’s fighting for: love, family, a future. Her pregnancy, revealed in Seattle’s Capitol Hill, forces Ellie to weigh revenge against building a life, especially after losing Joel. When Dina stays at the theater, it’s not weakness; it’s her prioritizing their unborn kid, challenging Ellie’s choices. CBR on May 17 says the game’s Dina “has her own agency,” making her a foil to Ellie’s darkness. Without that, the story loses its moral weight—Ellie’s vengeance feels less costly if Dina’s just along for the ride.

In Season 2, with only seven episodes (down from nine in Season 1), every character counts. GameRant on May 16 notes the show’s shorter runtime—about 420 minutes total—means less space for nuance. Mazin’s focus on Ellie and Dina’s romance, like their “I love you” moment in episode 5 (Esquire), eats up time that could’ve fleshed out Dina’s doubts or past. This matters because The Last of Us thrives on complex relationships—Joel and Ellie’s bond in Season 1, viewed by 8.2 million for its finale, set a high bar. If Dina’s not challenging Ellie, the show risks feeling like a “fun road trip,” as Forbes on May 13 puts it, not a gut-punch about grief and revenge. X fans, like @RainmakerKenny on May 12, call Dina and Ellie “insufferable and boring,” showing how this misstep’s alienating viewers.

When and How to Handle a Character Like Dina

Adapting a game character for TV means balancing fidelity to the source with new spins. Mazin and Druckmann, who’ve run the show since 2023, had to fit Part II’s 24-hour campaign into seven episodes, airing Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Max. Dina’s role kicks in episode 3 (April 27), when she and Ellie leave Jackson, and peaks in episode 5, where she’s injured and sent back to the theater with Jesse (Young Mazino). Collider on May 11 praises moments like the music store serenade, lifted from the game, but Startefacts argues Mazin overcorrected by making Dina too central without her own arc.

Here’s how you handle a character like Dina:

• Give them agency: Let Dina question Ellie’s choices, like in the game when she says, “You’re not doing this for Jackson.” The show’s Dina, per NYT on May 12, just shares her past without pushing back.
• Balance romance and conflict: The slow-burn romance, praised by Merced in Variety, works early but needs tension. CBR notes the show’s weed shop scene (episode 3) swaps Dina for Jesse, delaying their bond and wasting a chance for depth.
• Use their past: Dina’s New Mexico story, per NYT, is compelling but doesn’t impact her dynamic with Ellie. Tie it to her survival instincts or fear of losing Ellie.
• Don’t sanitize them: The game’s Dina kills without hesitation but worries about Ellie’s soul. The show’s Dina, even post-Nora, seems unshaken, which ScreenRant on May 17 calls “too idealized.”
• Pace their screentime: Dina’s in nearly every episode, unlike the game’s theater break. GameRant on May 14 suggests this crowds out characters like Tommy (Gabriel Luna).

Mazin’s team, including directors like Ali Abbasi and writers like Stephen Williams, aimed for emotional beats but leaned too hard on Dina as Ellie’s cheerleader, not her equal.

Common Mistakes Mazin Made

Adapting Dina went wrong in ways that hurt the show’s core:

• Over-idealizing her: Startefacts says Dina’s “too perfect,” lacking the game’s sass or skepticism. Her happy pregnancy reaction in episode 4 (Time) feels forced, not like a survivor’s pragmatism.
• Skipping conflict: The game’s Dina fights with Ellie over leaving for Nora, per BuzzFeed on May 13. The show has Jesse take Dina back, avoiding that clash, which Forbes calls a tonal misstep.
• Messing with the timeline: CBR on May 17 notes Mazin and Druckmann delayed Ellie and Dina’s romance (no weed shop kiss) for a slow burn, but it makes Dina feel like a tagalong, not a partner, early on.
• Underusing her past: Dina’s backstory in episode 5 is a tease, but NYT says it doesn’t shape her actions, unlike the game’s hints about her sister’s death driving her loyalty.
• Ignoring fan expectations: X posts, like @Luccasmdg on April 28, warned Mazin’s changes would “displease everyone,” especially Dina’s role. GameRant on May 16 says review-bombing (2.8/10 audience score on IMDb) ties to these shifts.

These aren’t just nitpicks—they sap the story’s stakes. IndieWire on May 13 quotes Bella Ramsey questioning if Ellie’s the villain, but Dina’s lack of pushback makes that moral grayness less clear.

What Happens If You Botch a Character Like Dina?

Screwing up Dina doesn’t just weaken her—it throws off the whole show. The Last of Us Part II’s story, with 88 Metacritic score, hinges on Ellie’s relationships. If Dina’s just a supportive girlfriend, Ellie’s revenge feels less tragic, like Forbes says: “a fun road trip” instead of a descent. This risks losing the game’s emotional gut-punch—Ellie’s choice to abandon Dina and their baby for Abby. ScreenRant on May 13 warns the show’s happier Dina might lead to a different ending, alienating fans who loved the game’s bittersweet close (Ellie alone, broken).

The fallout’s already here. GameRant on May 16 reports Season 2’s audience score (2.8/10) is worse than Part II’s 3.4/10 user score, hit by review-bombing over changes like Dina’s role and Ellie’s softer vengeance. Out on May 8 notes homophobic backlash to Ellie and Dina’s romance, amplified by Dina’s bigger role, with X posts like @lennonmotta on May 12 calling her “insufferable.” This could tank viewership—Season 1 averaged 8 million viewers per episode, but Collider on May 13 suggests Season 2’s pacing issues, tied to Dina’s overuse, might drop that. HBO’s greenlit Season 3, per USA Today on May 17, but if fans bail, it could be the last, especially since Mazin told Deadline it might wrap Part II’s story.

Professionally, Mazin’s rep takes a hit. His Chernobyl earned a 9.4/10 on IMDb, but Forbes on May 13 says he’s “butchering” the show by making Dina and Ellie feel off. If he can’t fix Dina in episodes 6 or 7, airing May 18 and 25, the finale might flop, hurting HBO’s investment (Season 2’s budget reportedly hit $200 million).

How to Fix Dina’s Role

To get Dina right, Mazin could’ve:

• Add conflict: Have Dina challenge Ellie post-Nora, like in the game’s theater fight. BuzzFeed on May 13 says the show’s shot-for-shot Nora scene missed this follow-up.
• Use her past: Make Dina’s New Mexico trauma, per NYT, fuel her fear of losing Ellie, not just empathy for her quest.
• Balance screentime: Pull Dina back after episode 5, letting Jesse or Tommy shine, as GameRant on May 14 suggests.
• Keep her edge: Let Dina show the game’s ruthlessness—killing WLF soldiers without blinking—not just lovebird vibes, per Esquire.
• Listen to fans: X posts like @Luccasmdg on April 28 flagged Dina’s changes early. Mazin could’ve adjusted after episode 3’s backlash.

There’s still time. Episode 6, a Joel flashback per Merca20 on May 17, might reset the tone, and episode 7 could give Dina a moment to push back, aligning with the game’s endgame.

Why This Problem Stings

Dina’s mishandling hurts because The Last of Us is about people, not just zombies. Season 1’s Joel-Ellie bond, with 8.7 million viewers for episode 6, showed how relationships drive the story. Dina’s supposed to be Ellie’s light, per Collider on May 16’s “look for the light” quote, but making her too perfect dims that. ScreenRant on May 17 praises Ramsey and Merced’s chemistry, but without conflict, it’s just cute, not wrenching. Fans on X, like @RainmakerKenny, feel cheated, and Out notes the homophobic review-bombing (2.8/10 score) ties to Dina’s prominence, which Mazin didn’t balance with her grit.

If Dina stays flat, Season 2 won’t hit the game’s emotional highs. IndieWire says the game’s “nuances” made it a 2020 bestseller, and Mazin’s changes risk losing that. With Season 3 confirmed, per USA Today, he’s got a chance to fix it, but episode 7’s finale needs a Dina who’s real, not a cheerleader.

Wrapping It Up

The Last of Us Season 2’s biggest issue isn’t Ellie’s darker turn or Ramsey’s look—it’s Dina and Craig Mazin’s choices. Dina, played by Isabela Merced, is too idealized, lacking the game’s edge and conflict, per Startefacts on May 12. Mazin’s slow-burn romance and happy pregnancy twist, while sweet, make her a sidekick, not a partner, as Forbes and X posts like @lennonmotta gripe. This flattens Ellie’s revenge arc, risks fan backlash (2.8/10 IMDb score), and could drop viewership from Season 1’s 8 million average. Mistakes like skipping fights, overusing Dina, and ignoring her past hurt the show’s stakes. Fixing her means adding tension and agency, maybe in episode 7 on May 25. Catch The Last of Us Sundays at 9 p.m. on Max, and hope Mazin brings back Dina’s fire before it’s too late.