Dina and Ellie's relationship so far is defined by growing romantic feelings, and as they progress through hardships this season, they will continue to grow closer, bonding over the cruelties of the world they share. These aren't typical young adults; they've had to fight for their survival, lost more loved ones than they care to talk about, and they've taken life as well. It's difficult material to broach, but Dina's forward personality helps prompt challenging conversations, showing us how Ellie has processed what she's been through.
Riley Was The First Person Ellie Killed In The Last Of Us
Riley Was Ellie's Best Friend Back In Boston
We've already seen the first person Ellie killed, and it happened back in Boston, before she even met Joel. The Last of Us season 1, episode 7, showed audiences a sequence of flashbacks to an event months before the show began, where Ellie and her friend Riley snuck off at night to visit an abandoned mall. They shared a beautiful evening, a calm before a storm, allowing them to experience life like children are meant to, without having to worry about the outbreak and survival.
Unfortunately, that evening turned dark when an Infected arrived, attacking the two of them. Both Ellie and Riley were bitten, but as we know, Ellie is immune, and she survived the ordeal without turning. The same can't be said for Riley, who eventually turned, and Ellie was forced to kill her best friend to survive. Ellie has killed many times since, but this is one of the most traumatizing experiences in her life, and the inciting incident for everything that's happened since.
Why Ellie Didn't Tell Dina About Who She Really Killed First In The Last Of Us
Ellie Isn't Comfortable With Being Vulnerable Just Yet
Like usual, Ellie is cautious about being too vulnerable, a habit she likely picked up from Joel. Dina is asking about her first kill as if it's a party game question, but Ellie's response brings up bad memories, so she claims that it's too dark to talk about. While she's not wrong, Dina is likely someone she could share this with, and would likely be comforted in doing so. The Last of Us season 2 could allow Ellie to open up more to Dina, but this line suggests she still needs time.
