Bella Ramsey’s Immature Ellie in The Last of Us Season 2: A Drastic Departure?

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Potential Spoilers for Season 2 of The Last of Us are down below.

Summary

  • Season 2’s first episode focuses on character development rather than action.
  • Ellie’s trauma and loss from Part 1 heavily impact her in Season 2.
  • Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie in Season 2 seems more immature, potentially to mask emotional turmoil.

In simpler terms,

The premiere of HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 is out now! Unlike previous episodes that delved deep into the game’s content, this one concentrated more on setting up Jackson and the fresh characters introduced in the series. Moreover, it emphasized Joel and Ellie’s relationship, suggesting they had grown apart since Season 1 ended.

In Season 2 of “The Last of Us,” Pedro Pascal reprises his role as Joel, while Bella Ramsey returns as Ellie, who was highly acclaimed for her portrayal in Season 1. While some fans raised concerns about Ramsey returning due to Ellie’s age progression, the showrunners have opted to continue with the original cast. In the first game, Ellie was 14 years old and Bella Ramsey, who is around 18-19, managed to convincingly portray a younger character due to her youthful appearance. However, in “The Last of Us Part 2,” Ellie has grown older, which could potentially present casting challenges as Ramsey herself hasn’t significantly aged since the first season. To address this issue, the showrunners are likely focusing on maturing Ellie’s emotional development rather than physically aging her. Contrary to expectations, the initial episode seems to emphasize Ellie’s youthful spirit instead of her maturity.

What Happened To The Last of Us‘ Ellie In The Time Gap Between The Two Games?

In The Last of Us Part 2, the character Ellie appears significantly changed compared to her portrayal in Part 1. These alterations are revealed via a series of playable flashback sequences. The Ellie in Part 2 seems more reserved and mature, which could be expected given the passage of time (from age 14 to 19). However, there are numerous factors contributing to the diminished vitality seen in the Ellie from Part 2.

Ellie Is No Longer The Cure For All Of Humanity

Ellie is resistant to the Cordyceps virus. After getting bitten, she learns this fact from Marlene, the leader of a group called Fireflies. Marlene asks Joel, one of their members, to take Ellie to a Firefly hospital in Salt Lake City so doctors can study her and find a cure for the virus. This storyline forms the basis of the first game, and it’s what keeps Ellie and Joel moving forward on their journey. Joel himself said, “She fought like crazy to get here.” However, when Joel decides he won’t sacrifice Ellie’s life for a cure, he stops the doctor from performing the procedure and lies to Ellie, saying there’s no way to extract a cure from her. This leaves Ellie without her motivation, and her immunity seems useless. Additionally, she loses hope for a better future where people don’t have to live in fear of infected individuals and can lead fulfilling lives, which would undoubtedly affect her deeply.

Ellie Picked Up A Lot Of Trauma In Part 1

As Ellie ventured to locate the Fireflies, she faced numerous harrowing ordeals that would challenge even an adult. She was compelled to take a life for the first time to shield Joel, endured a brutal encounter where she was forced to kill David to prevent him from attacking her, and throughout the initial game, lost Riley, Tess, and Sam. The Last of Us Part 2 delves deeper into Ellie’s post-traumatic stress later in the story, but it is evident from the outset that, despite finding safety in Jackson, she remains haunted by these past experiences and struggles to let go.

Ellie Eventually Discovers The Truth Of Joel’s Lie

In a flashback scene in Part 2, Ellie confronts Joel about the events at Firefly Hospital. What she learns is that, contrary to what she had been led to believe, her immunity could have potentially been used to develop a cure for the infection. However, Joel had chosen not to pursue this option. Stunned and enraged by his betrayal, Ellie expresses, “If only my life had meant something more.” Furthermore, due to this revelation and the breach of trust, she ends her relationship with Joel. Thus, in addition to the devastating truth she uncovers, she also loses the bond with the person she believed was her most trusted ally.

Bella Ramsey’s Ellie Doesn’t Appear To Have Changed Much Between The Two Seasons

It appears that HBO hasn’t addressed the time jump inconsistency in the first episode. However, as we move forward into subsequent episodes, it’s possible that Ramsey will reveal a more mature side of Ellie. In the premiere, there are several instances where Ellie acts impulsively and immaturely. For example, during a firefight with infected, Ellie blurts out about her immunity to Tommy, despite having been told to keep it a secret for her own protection. Later in the episode, Ellie disregards her patrol leader’s orders and joins Dina in confronting the infected, putting herself and others at risk by potentially revealing her special status.

In Part 2 of the game series, Ellie wasn’t entirely numb due to her past trauma. She retained her intelligence and humor, often joking and having a good time, particularly with Dina. However, in Season 2’s Episode 1, Ellie’s character seems overly jovial, bordering on annoying. In the game, they would save their jokes for moments when they were out of harm’s way. But in this episode, during combat situations, Ellie and Dina act out their plans to kill infected, which was rarely seen before. Additionally, they make fun of their patrol when they catch up, saying “Here comes fun.” This comment is made when they should have been focusing on maintaining everyone’s safety and following orders.

The character Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey, seems immature which can make viewers doubt her age. This might be because she’s using immaturity as a coping mechanism for her past traumas and losses, trying to present herself as an innocent child to hide the harsh reality that she’s not.

In future episodes, there might be a point where Ellie needs to abandon her current persona, and actress Bella Ramsey could depict an Ellie character more like the one from the game “The Last of Us Part 2.” However, if this is indeed the direction HBO intends to go in, it’s puzzling as to why they would potentially complicate the timeline issue with Bella Ramsey’s age.

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2025-04-16 17:04