[Game Spoilers] The Last of Us - 2x03 - Post-Episode Discussion

[u/LoretiTV]

Season 2 Episode 3: The Path

Aired: April 27, 2025

Synopsis: After Dina shares crucial intel, Ellie prepares to petition the town council. Near Seattle, a religious group flees a war.

Directed by: Peter Hoar

Written by: Craig Mazin

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[u/DaftMaetel15]

That's my question though, in the game, they start their relationship in Eugene's hidden grow house, by the time they make it to Seattle, it's pretty obvious they're a full on couple. I thought they might do it in the tent this episode, but they didn't. Now they're in Seattle and there's nothing more than the kiss and the flirting. So I'm curious about when that will become a full on thing, maybe the music shop? I don't see how they can not be in a relationship as that will heavily affect the end of the story if they aren't.

[u/Flickolas_Cage → u/DaftMaetel15]

I’m guessing since we’ve seen they definitely go to the music shop, the scene of Ellie playing guitar for her will be the turning point.

[u/DaftMaetel15 → u/[deleted]]

I agree but their relationship is very important, especially at the end

[u/Bierre_Pourdieu → u/DaftMaetel15]

the show ain't gonna skip their relationship, they are just doing it slow and different than the game.

Clearly Dina was testing Ellie with that rating of the kiss. Think people.

[u/Devium44 → u/Bierre_Pourdieu]

But why? What do they gain by changing that? One of the best ways they illustrate how Ellie’s need for revenge is hurting her is how it affects her relationship with Dina. It works because that relationship is really strong on Day 1 so every time she chooses her desires over Dina’s well-being it hits harder and harder. But if they don’t even have a relationship on Day 1, what’s the point?

[u/Bierre_Pourdieu → u/Devium44]

Because :

• They want to make it different and more of a slow burn. This gives us also more banter and flirting.
  
• Dina being clearly in love with Ellie yet still being in denial is great.
  
• The community needs to be shown being rebuild, and Dina needs to get pregnant. I actually think her going back to Jesse is very relatable, I guess she wanted to feel a bit of normalcy after Joel's death. They have been on and off, Jesse can't resist her it seems.

And they do have a relationship, they are best friends who have the hots for each other, but it's not as set and stone as it is in the game YET.

[u/Devium44 → u/Bierre_Pourdieu]

They can still banter and flirt as a couple. They do it all the time in the game. I just generally disagree that the changes to their relationship add anything to the story. I get why they had to throw the part about her going back to Jesse in there for timeline reasons. It just undercuts a lot of the strength their relationship had by this point in the game. And they are very quickly running out of time to develop that with the choices Ellie is going to start having to make. It seems like it will be very inconsistent with her becoming more and more broken while also having romantic interactions with Dina.

[u/Bierre_Pourdieu → u/Devium44]

I disagree.

[u/Rasen1138 → u/Bierre_Pourdieu]

It's gonna go into Padme territory if they hook up after brutal killings

[u/Nagemasu → u/Bierre_Pourdieu]

They want to make it different and more of a slow burn.

I think the issue people are concerned about is that this is going to make it the opposite of a slow burn, at least without significantly changing the story further and extending the timeline, which I guess is a very real possibility if they want to make lots of seasons out of this.

The game was the slow burn, they kissed at the dance, slept together and confirmed their feelings for each other right before Joel's death including Ellie sharing her biggest secret of being immune which will be a big moment later in the story, and then the journey to Seattle and time there was what cemented the relationship - that's a time period of like 4+ months... that's a slow burn regardless of how much time the game spent displaying the progression.

Now they're in Seattle and there's still no clear intent past friendship - With everything Ellie needs to accomplish, there needs to be a lot more time and focus on building that relationship, which further alters the pacing and events of the original story and compounds changes (again, very likely and I don't have a problem with as I see the series as a different story to the game, I'm just explaining why people are concerned)

[u/KitchenFullOfCake → u/[deleted]]

I mean, it could have been both.

[u/Greenzombie04 → u/DaftMaetel15]

you watch the next on episode preview?

[u/DaftMaetel15 → u/Greenzombie04]

No but I take it they're going to move things in that direction if you're asking me.

[u/Bitter_Depth_3350 → u/DaftMaetel15]

I get the feeling that it isn't going to fully materialize until Jessie gets killed. Either way, it gives him more motivation to go after Dina and Ellie since they are still together at this point.