The Last Of Us Co-Creator Comments On Ellie's Divisive "Dad" Line: "It Just Felt Right"

Ellie in The Last of Us

The Last of Us co-creator Craig Mazin recently spoke about one of Ellie's most controversial season 2 lines. Following up a critically acclaimed and fan-acclaimed first season, the HBO adaptation of the prolific video game franchise had a rather divisive sophomore run. The Last of Us season 2's controversies ranged from Joel's fate to issues with the show's narrative format, but one divisive standout was Ellie's line, "I'm going to be a dad!" in response to Dina's pregnancy. The line didn't resonate well with all audiences and differed significantly from the video game counterpart scene.

Speaking with SkyIreland, in a clip that can be seen below, Craig Mazin explained that the idea came to him during a discussion with Bella Ramsey about the episode, saying, "I don’t know why, it just felt right. It’s not an expression of gender as much as state of mind." Mazin, whose previous credits include the Emmy-winning miniseries Chernobyl, went on to say that when he makes a change to a script, he likes to gauge the actor's reaction, implying that Ramsey's approval of the idea contributed to the decision.

What Craig Mazin's "Dad" Line Explanation Means

Craig Mazin Is Building His Own Version Of The Character

Dina (Isabela Merced) resting her head on Ellie Williams (Bella Ramsey)'s shoulder in The Last of Us Season 2 Ep 4

A significant part of the divisive response to this line is that it meant a change to one of the video game's most emotional moments between Ellie and Dina. In The Last of Us Part II, Ellie harshly calls Dina a burden after discovering her pregnancy, whereas the show's version celebrates the moment and delightfully exclaims her excitement to co-parent. While it's understandable that some game players want to see the version of Ellie they're familiar with, it's important to note that Mazin is crafting his own interpretation.

The TV show's versions of Ellie and Dina built a passionate romance throughout season 2, and their chemistry and positivity are intentionally intended to clash with the dark circumstances. For Ellie to lash out at Dina at this moment would feel like a harsh turn, given the bond they'd shared in the prior episodes. It makes sense that Mazin's Ellie would be happy for Dina and excited to play a role in this child's life.

Our Take On Ellie's TLOU "Dad" Line

TLOU Has Problems, But Audiences Overreacted To This One

I'll be the first to say I didn't love The Last of Us season 2, but to me, the outburst in response to this line is overblown. I understand that a decent portion of the viewer base isn't into Bella Ramsey's take on Ellie, but treating them as a scapegoat for all the show's issues isn't fair. The version of Ellie that Craig Mazin has written for HBO's The Last of Us is a product of his version of the story.