Summary
- HBO's The Last of Us season 2 adapts Ellie's character right, while also exploring new storylines effectively.
- Bella Ramsey's age aligns with Ellie in The Last of Us Part 2, resolving casting criticisms.
- Perfect game-to-screen adaptations are unrealistic, but Ramsey's portrayal of Ellie shines through.
HBO's The Last of Us season 2 may not be able to adapt all story arcs from the original games, but it is automatically going to get one aspect of Ellie's characterization right. Although The Last of Us season 1 stays true to the essence of the original game and even loyally adapts many of its core story beats, it takes some creative liberties to seamlessly traverse the game's narrative to the small screen. For instance, unlike the game, HBO's The Last of Us gives more insight into the origins of the Cordyceps infection instead of shrouding it in mystery.
Another major difference that adds more heft to the show's overarching storyline is its portrayal of Frank and Bill's story. While the game does not delve too deep into Bill and Frank's past, the HBO show dedicates an entire episode to their relationship and walks through all the events that led to their deaths. The Last of Us season 2 will also differ from the game in more ways than one, but it will get one thing right about Ellie.
Bella Ramsey nailed Ellie's innocence and naivety in The Last of Us season 1, but the character takes a lot of dark turns in The Last of Us Part II.
Bella Ramsey Is The Same Age As Ellie In The Last Of Us Part 2
While Bella Ramsey Is 20, Ellie is 19
More often than not, television actors end up outgrowing their respective screen characters in age, creating a clear disparity between the audience's perception of the character and the actor's age. HBO's The Last of Us could face similar issues in the future, but its second, so far, seems to be avoiding this problem. Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie in the series, is currently 20 years old, making her around the same age as Ellie in The Last of Us Part 2. According to the game's lore, Ellie is supposed to be 19 years old in the second installment, making Bella Ramsey's age perfect for the show's season 2.
Strangely, even though her real age is in tandem with her original character's, Bella Ramsey's casting is receiving some criticism because of her relatively younger appearance. Understandably, viewers expect the HBO live-action adaptation to be as close to the original game as possible and want the characters to look similar to their game counterparts. However, the criticism surrounding Bella Ramsey's age and her appearance relative to the character she portrays hardly makes any sense.
Why The Last Of Us Season 2's Age Criticism Doesn't Make Sense
The Ellie Age Comparison Argument Seems Subjective
Even when Bella Ramsey was first cast as The Last of Us character, her involvement in the show received immense skepticism, especially from those familiar with the games. Many complained that she was not suitable for the part because she just did not resemble the original Ellie. Bella Ramsey, however, killed all doubt after giving an incredible performance in The Last of Us season 1, convincing most that she was perfect for the role. Unfortunately, many have now started questioning whether she looks old enough to play her video game counterpart from The Last of Us 2.
If anything, Ellie from the game seems a little older than 19 in the second installment, which makes the whole casting argument quite subjective.
Many viewers cannot help but complain that she seems a lot younger than the Ellie they see in the second installment of the game. This criticism is unfair because Bella Ramsey is actually a little older than the character, making her appropriate for the role. If anything, Ellie from the game seems a little older than 19 in the second installment, which makes the whole casting argument quite subjective. Since Ramsey was able to embody Ellie in The Last of Us season 1 and make most viewers forget about the differences in her appearance compared to her game counterpart, she will likely pull off something similar in season 2.
The Last of Us season 1 succeeded by capturing Joel and Ellie's relationship, but there are a lot more character dynamics for season 2 to get right.
Ellie's Appearance Won't Matter After The Last Of Us Season 2
The Last Of Use Season 3 Will Either Continue The Game's Story Or Star A New Chapter
If The Last of Us season 3 is set within the second game's story, young cast members like Bella Ramsey will look older, which will likely resolve the age-appearance criticism. The Last of Us' game comparisons will make even less sense if the show marks the inception of a brand-new chapter in season 3 and adopts an original storyline that only borrows ideas from the source material. Either way, it is necessary to understand that live-action characters cannot always be the exact replicas of their game counterparts.
...Expecting a perfect game-to-screen adaptation of a multi-layered, narratively dense game like The Last of Us seems a little unrealistic.
As long as a talented actress like Bella Ramsey, who is almost the same age as Ellie, is portraying the original character, the essence of the character can still shine through. Audiences familiar with the games may initially experience some dissonance because they are used to seeing Ellie a certain way. However, expecting a perfect game-to-screen adaptation of a multi-layered, narratively dense game like The Last of Us seems a little unrealistic.
