SPOILER ALERT! This publish accommodates particulars from Season 2, Episode 4 of HBO‘s The Final Of Us.
Ellie and Dina’s gradual burn lastly ignites in Sunday night time’s episode of The Final of Us.
The pair spend most of their first day in Seattle exploring the town and attempting to determine one of the best ways to search out Abby whereas additionally piecing collectively clues in regards to the difficult battle between the WLF and the Seraphites. They discover a WLF name signal on the radio station satellite tv for pc and resolve to begin their seek for Abby there, however it’s not lengthy earlier than issues go awry.
Contained in the radio station, they discover the disemboweled our bodies of a number of WLF troopers hanging from the ceiling. They’re barely capable of notice that this was achieved by the Seraphites when one other wave of WLF troopers flood the room. They handle to flee the radio station (having killed two troopers within the course of) however nonetheless have the WLF on their tail, in order that they descend into the transit tunnels, which shortly change into overrun with Contaminated.
Ellie is finally compelled to disclose her immunity to Dina when, as they’re escaping, she should save Dina from an Contaminated. Dina isn’t simply satisfied, although, and holds Ellie at gunpoint for a lot of the night time to verify she doesn’t flip. Woke up by Ellie swiping a bug away from her face, Dina begins to cry as she realizes that Ellie is telling the reality. Shocked, Dina then reveals that she’s pregnant with Jesse’s child.
She drops the gun and kisses Ellie, and the pair share a second of each bodily and emotional intimacy as they lastly reveal their true emotions for each other.
“I appreciated it a lot, since you simply don’t actually get that quite a bit in sapphic content material,” Isabela Merced, who performs Dina, informed Deadline of the gradual burn to get so far of their relationship. “I believe lots of people over sexualize sapphic content material in movie — media, I assume, on the whole. So I’m actually glad that it was gradual burn.”
Within the interview beneath, Merced spoke with Deadline about this pivotal episode for Ellie and Dina, and what it means for the remainder of their mission in Seattle.
DEADLINE: Did you’re feeling from the start like Dina was a personality you may relate to, or was she tough to faucet into?
ISABELA MERCED: I undoubtedly associated to her, and I might say in good methods. Clearly, I referenced Shannon Woodward’s efficiency quite a bit, and Shannon is cool as hell. She actually introduced loads of her pure charisma and appeal [to Dina]. Additionally, I used to be saying this earlier, it’s sort of realization I made all through the filming of the season, however it was attention-grabbing discovering a stability between her playfulness…combined along with her stage headedness and her choice making abilities, and her boss angle. As a way to discover that stability, I sort of reference my very own mom quite a bit. She’s very level-headed, very sensible, very logical, but in addition actually, actually candy and tender. So it’s cool, like I’m referencing a mom to type of painting a mom in loads of methods.
DEADLINE: This model of Dina could be very humorous and, for all her loyalty to Ellie, she does actually push again on her when wanted. I do know loads of that comes from the writing, however did you additionally suppose in any respect about the way you wished your efficiency to be completely different from the sport?
MERCED: I imply, loads of that was within the writing. I can’t credit score myself an excessive amount of. Quite a lot of these, actually, I believe sensible selections to alter and deviate from the sport have been due to Craig [Mazin]. Truthfully, more often than not I used to be simply saying, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I need to say this a line, simply because it’s slightly too revealing of the character.’ I wished to carry her playing cards nearer to her chest more often than not. He all the time listened to me. I believe there’s loads of modifications, truly. I imply, on this episode alone, there’s so many modifications. I might say the music store scene might be probably the most loyal to the sport, after which every part else is, the reveal of Ellie’s immunity and the reveal of Dina’s being pregnant, is totally completely different. There’s this actually candy aftercare scene the place they’re sort of simply holding one another, and it’s actually simply so stunning. It was additionally stunning to movie. I believe the one different time that I felt that magic to it after we have been filming it, the place you sort of realize it’s going to be nice — and that not often occurs ever — however the one different time I felt that was through the dance scene within the first episode, and it ended up being nice. So my fingers are crossed that it’s going to be actual tender and pull at individuals’s heartstrings.
DEADLINE: Do you suppose Dina’s motivations on this mission are evolving? She says within the final episode that she beloved Joel, too, and it is sensible that she would need to get justice for him…however how a lot of her dedication to it is usually giving Ellie what she wantsinherently altering it, however, you understand, approaching it otherwise.?
MERCED: She has that type of loving devotion to Ellie. I don’t suppose she would have the ability to do away with it even when she tried. It’s sort of like this pull to her, and I hope that comes throughout within the chemistry that we’ve on display screen. However on the identical time, I believe Dina’s intentions finally get revealed in loads of methods, and there’s extra to return. She nonetheless has loads of playing cards that she’s holding near her chest, I believe, for a great motive. And I believe Ellie does too. I believe they’re each sort of mendacity to one another, in a means, and that’s what makes it so attention-grabbing, when you’re achieved with the season, to return and watch, as a result of you then’ll see the moments the place we’ve to actively resolve whether or not or to not lie to one another. So yeah, I believe it’s going to be actually rewarding for people who find themselves enormous followers of the sport but in addition need one thing new. I believe they deviated from the story in the suitable methods, not essentially inherently altering it, however approaching it otherwise.
DEADLINE: The scene the place Dina is holding Ellie at gunpoint is a extremely emotional one. How did you put together for that scene, and what’s your tackle Dina’s headspace in that second?
MERCED: That was new. That wasn’t a part of the sport, and I actually appreciated that. I imply, it’s instantly paralleling the scenes with Riley in Season 1. It’s means too much like that state of affairs. They’re slightly bit older now. Ellie has extra of an understanding. Ellie has achieved this earlier than, in probably the most f*cked up means. So I believe Dina being so out of the loop is sort of like, okay, A) you’re both mendacity to me which sucks and is horrible, or B) you’re telling me the reality, which sucks and is horrible. There’s no actually good choice. She didn’t actually know what to imagine. Why would Ellie misinform her? Seems Ellie’s a f*cking liar. Additionally, I believe what’s actually cool about being secondary to the protagonist is that loads of occasions, I’m the viewers sort of witnessing her. So I needed to undergo so many feelings all through that scene, and I simply needed to make it possible for they have been chronological, I assume. Quite a lot of that’s because of the path from Kate [Herron], but in addition from Bella. I used to be guided quite a bit by Bella. We have been guided by one another. So I believe I wished individuals to actually suppose that I might need shot her.
DEADLINE: Additionally in that scene, Ellie tells Dina ‘I might die for you.’ That’s a extremely large admission for Ellie, even whether it is stated below duress. How do you suppose it makes Dina really feel?
MERCED: I might say she’s overwhelmed. I really feel like they’ve stated that sort of stuff to one another in lots of different methods, in lots of different moments. So it’s like one thing that they each know, however it’s not likely been stated correctly, and undoubtedly not below the suitable circumstance.
DEADLINE: At this level, what do you suppose that they imply to one another?
MERCED: I imply, I actually suppose, personally, that they’re in love. In my thoughts, that’s what’s taking place. I believe of their minds proper now, it’s sort of like a primary large love expertise. There’s a maturity to it now, as a result of I believe they’ve seen so many susceptible components of one another. That’s what I wish to suppose in my little fan thoughts.
DEADLINE: It’s been a little bit of a gradual construct to get so far of their relationship, which I really feel differs from the sport a bit. Did you admire that?
MERCED: I appreciated it a lot since you simply don’t actually get that quite a bit in sapphic content material. I believe lots of people over sexualize sapphic content material in movie — media, I assume, on the whole. So I’m actually glad that it was gradual burn. I’m glad that it was tasteful and probably, hopefully, possibly, Emmy successful sapphic content material. I actually suppose that we lack that…and I believe it’s essential for younger queer individuals to see that.
DEADLINE: How is that this second for them going to impression issues transferring ahead?
MERCED: I might say they’re on a special stage fully, and there’s a brand new sort of loyalty there. So something transferring ahead, the stakes are a lot larger, as a result of it’ll harm that rather more to lose the opposite particular person. So I believe now sh*t has hit the fan. They’re coping with an entire military. They’re coping with a child. It’s gonna get actual. It’s gonna intense. They’re invested now.
