I Knew Ellie & Dina Had Feelings For Each Other In The Last Of Us, But I Did Not Expect Their Relationship To Reach THAT Level So Soon

The Last of Us is typically a very intense series, with its main characters fighting off both Cordyceps-infected creatures and other humans, but Ellie and Dina's relationship is one of the few bright spots in season 2. While The Last of Us season 1 focused on Ellie and Joel's journey across the United States, season 2 so far has shifted to Ellie and Dina's journey from Jackson, Wyoming, to Seattle, Washington, in an attempt to find Abby, who killed Joel in The Last of Us season 2, episode 2.

While Ellie and Dina's journey and motives may be intense, the scenes between the two characters are always quite sweet and tender. The two young people live in a world where almost everything and everyone is a potential threat to their safety, but they trust each other so completely. In fact, The Last of Us season 2, episode 4, saw some very big moments in Ellie and Dina's relationship, with Ellie revealing her immunity to Dina and Dina telling Ellie that she is pregnant, prompting their relationship to grow even deeper.

Ellie & Dina Are All-In With Their Relationship After Dina's Pregnancy Reveal In The Last Of Us Season 2

They Know Their Feelings Are For Real

The characters in The Last of Us are always facing various difficult problems, so the show has not spent much time in the past on romantic relationships. Even Dina and Ellie's friendship and feelings have been overshadowed by the bigger problems like Joel's death and the infected horde attacking Jackson. However, now that Dina has revealed her pregnancy to Ellie in The Last of Us season 2, episode 4, the two seem to be going all in on their relationship and desire to build a family together in the future.

The Last of Us had already put all the markers in place to expand on Dina and Ellie's feelings in the future, including their shared kiss at the New Year's Eve party, Dina's complicated relationship with Jesse, and her decision to accompany Ellie to Seattle. However, the show did not explicitly explore their romance too much beyond that one clear moment. While the intervening time as the pair traveled to Seattle and throughout their first day in the city included some very intense moments, Dina's new announcement and Ellie's response felt like a quick tone shift.

Based On The Last Of Us Season 2's Slow-Burn Tease With Ellie & Dina, I'm Surprised By Episode 4's Twist

Their Relationship Had Been More Mellow For The Past Few Episodes

I was super happy to see Dina and Ellie solidify their relationship and commitment to each other in The Last of Us season 2, episode 4, but it does feel a bit more abrupt than their expression of their feelings previously in the season. Their kiss at the New Year's party was very flirtatious and fun, and Dina's comment about the other people in the room being jealous of Ellie was both a little funny and a very sweet hint at her deeper feelings for her friend.

Following that moment, both characters tried to blame their actions on being drunk or high, but The Last of Us did a very good job at creating that spark of something more between Ellie and Dina. They both deny their feelings for a bit in order not to come across too strongly in case the other does not feel the same way. While this slow-burn is a different approach from the game, in which Dina and Ellie confirm their feelings even before Joel's death, it serves as a nice reminder of the youth of the characters.

Despite their very grown-up responsibilities and approaches to life, Dina and Ellie are just two 19-year-olds who are not fully sure of themselves in a romantic context, and romance seems to be so low on the list of priorities in such a dangerous world. The slow-burn approach helps represent their uncertainties about the other's feelings, especially because Dina is dating a girl for the first time, and Ellie does not want Dina to feel pressured into anything if she still has feelings for Jesse, but The Last of Us season 2, episode 4 has now sped past any uncertainties.

Dina's Reaction To Ellie's Immunity Helps Explain Why She Took Their Relationship To The Next Level

She Did Not Want To Lose Ellie

The reason why Dina and Ellie were finally able to move past the niceties and insecurities about their feelings was because of the two biggest events of The Last of Us season 2, episode 4: Ellie revealing her immunity and Dina announcing her pregnancy. Where before, they were willing to skirt around their feelings, Dina's realization that she could have lost Ellie and that Ellie had saved her changed everything.

Before, Ellie and Dina may have been worried about what they might lose in their friendship if they pursued their feelings. However, their narrow escape in the subway and Ellie being bitten showed that Dina actually had nothing to lose and everything to gain by actively showing and telling Ellie how she felt. In short, just like Ellie, Dina had already been thinking about her future with the baby and Ellie and instead of that being ruined when Ellie was bitten, it only solidified their love further.

Thus, while the will they or won't they moments in recent episodes of The Last Of Us make a lot of sense for Ellie and Dina, as they are unsure of where they stand, their seeming rush to validate their relationship makes sense too. Dina does not want to waste any more time denying her love for Ellie, allowing Dina to open up about her sexuality in a way that she never had before and allowing Ellie to envision her romantic future with Dina and their baby in a way that she never had before.

Ellie's "I'm Going To Be A Dad" Line Might Sound Ridiculous, But It Makes Sense In The Last Of Us

Ellie's Reaction Feels Very Earnest

Despite Ellie and Dina's initial hesitation to admit their feelings, when Dina tells Ellie of her pregnancy, Ellie is immediately all-in. After seeing Dina's pregnancy tests, Ellie even states with wonder that they are "going to be a dad," which is undeniably adorable. In The Last of Us Part II, Ellie is slightly more upset about Dina's pregnancy because she feels that Dina was hiding something important, but Ellie's response in the show feels very earnest and upbeat. This slight change is a nice addition because it shows just how happy Ellie is to be with Dina.

Ellie has had feelings for Dina for quite a long time. Even before their New Year's Eve kiss, the character was probably always secretly hoping that Dina loved her too, so it makes a lot of sense that Ellie would be happy to finally have a chance at the life she envisioned. In The Last of Us' world, which is often so bleak, Dina and Ellie enjoying the knowledge that they will have a baby feels like a very necessary bright spot for them to plan for the future, which was very cute to watch.