"Abby Is The Hero Of Her Story": The Last Of Us Creator Teases How Kaitlyn Dever's Season 3 Role Will Impact Ellie & Dina

The Last of Us creator Craig Mazin has teased how Kaitlyn Dever's role as Abby in season 3 will impact Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina (Isabela Merced) as more of her story is revealed. The Last of Us season 2 ended with Abby arriving at the theater where Ellie and her group are staying, ambushing Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and killing Jesse (Young Mazino). She seemingly shoots the show's main character before a flashback starts of her time in Seattle two days earlier, hinting at her being the central figure in season 3.

While attending The Last of Us season 2 finale press conference, ScreenRant asked how the show will approach Ellie and Dina's relationship as the story progresses. Mazin explained how centering the romance was an important aspect of how season 2 was structured, and that, going into season 3, Abby will become a very similar story anchor. He teased some parallels between her story in season 3 and what Ellie and Dina went through together in season 2, but also emphasizes how Joel (Pedro Pascal) remains the bigger presence for everyone. Check out what Mazin had to say below:

Moderator: Our next question comes from ScreenRant, Ellie and Dina's relationship has been a ray of light in this emotional roller coaster of a season, how did you want to approach that romance, and would you say that's the new cornerstone relationship of the show, or will the memory of Joel still carry Ellie through future episodes?

Craig Mazin: Well, Joel is always going to be there, right? I mean, Joel's dad is always there now, Sarah has always been there, that's the thing, Riley's always been there. We- We don't forget these people, we don't forget Henry and Sam, everybody's feeding into the way that Ellie moves through. And for Abby, it's clearly, even though we haven't met him yet, really, there's the memory of her father that's hanging over all of this. And so much of the story is about ghosts. But the Ellie and Dina relationship is the central relationship of this season. There's no question. That is the one that begins and develops, and where it's going should be fascinating, given the circumstances that we now all know – Dina is pregnant, and the two of them are committed to each other. That said, there is another side to this story that we have yet to really delve into. And there's no question that Abby is the hero of her story, Kaitlyn Dever is the hero of a story always, you know. I mean, if you have a Kaitlyn Dever, you use a Kaitlyn Dever. So, I think where we go next, all I can say is, it will always be centring somebody, whether it's- It's Ellie and Dina, or whether it's Abby and Abby's relationship with Owen, or new relationships. If you play the game, you probably know what I'm talking about. But everything, really, if you want to boil it down, everything is under the cloud or sunlight of Joel, what Joel did to Abby and what Joel did for Ellie, and that will never change.

What Mazin's Statement Means For Abby's Story Impact In The Last Of Us Season 3

How Will Ellie & Dina Be Used In Future Episodes?

The Last of Us season 3 will be focusing on Abby as the main character, revealing more about what she's been doing since Ellie arrived in Seattle. She's already been established as a high-ranking member of the WLF and central to their war against the Seraphites, although the TV show hasn't fully revealed why just yet. Based on Mazin's statement, it seems her story will provide central ideas that are similar to how Ellie and Dina's relationship kept them going despite the difficulties they've faced. How this will manifest in Abby's story, though, remains unclear.

However, the upcoming installment of the series is going to recontextualize what happened during season 2, offering new viewpoints about Seattle's war. This means The Last of Us characters who've been central since the start, like Ellie, are going to be taking a backseat as fresh faces step into the spotlight.

Depending on what Abby does before her confrontation with the main character, the show has a chance to revisit season 2's core relationship from a different lens. This could also mean the pair are in danger, especially since Abby knows about Owen (Spencer Lord) and Mel's (Ariela Barer) deaths.

Our Take On How Abby Will Impact Ellie & Dina In The Last Of Us Season 3

The Final Confrontation Will Have A Major Part To Play

While Abby's story seems destined to reflect Ellie and Dina's through a very different lens, the biggest impact she'll have on them will come during their final confrontation. It's unclear how their fight is going to end, especially since the antagonist seemingly shot at the main character. With Dina's whereabouts unknown despite what's happening, it seems like The Last of Us season 3 will still revisit their relationship, even if it's from a vastly different perspective.