Video games have a rocky history with intimacy. Usually, it's a "press X to romance" situation where a cutscene plays like a reward for fetch quests. But the dina and ellie sex scene in The Last of Us Part II felt different. It wasn't some hollow trophy. It was a messy, high-on-weed, "we might die tomorrow" moment that actually mattered for the plot.
Honestly, if you've played the game, you know the vibe. Jackson is cold. Everything outside the walls is terrifying. Then you find Eugene’s secret basement—a literal "sex den" filled with gas masks, old porn, and a surprisingly healthy crop of marijuana.
Why the Library Scene Actually Matters
Most people focus on the shock value of Naughty Dog including a sex scene at all. But looking at it from a narrative perspective, it’s basically the last moment of peace Ellie gets before her life completely dissolves.
It happens right after that iconic dance flashback. You know the one—where Seth is a jerk and Joel almost gets into a fight. In the library, Dina and Ellie are finally away from the judgment of the town. They’re high. They’re flirting about Eugene’s "hidden" lifestyle. It’s lighthearted.
Then it gets real.
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The transition from joking about weed to the actual dina and ellie sex scene is a masterclass in animation. Naughty Dog used something called "Emotional Systematic Facial Animation." Basically, the characters aren't just puppets; they have 20 different emotional states that blend together. When Dina looks at Ellie, you see the hesitation. You see the "is this actually happening?" look. It feels human because it's awkward.
The HBO Series vs. The Game
If you’ve been watching the show in 2026, you've probably noticed they changed the timeline. Big time.
In the game, they hook up in Jackson before the chaos. It’s their "spark." In the HBO version, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann decided to push it back to Episode 4, set in the Seattle theater. Why? Because the show wanted to lean into the "slow burn."
In the series, Dina is much more skeptical of Ellie's immunity. Remember that scene where she almost holds Ellie at gunpoint because she thinks the bite is fresh? That adds a layer of "life or death" tension that the game didn't have. When they finally have sex in the theater, it’s a release valve for all that fear.
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- The Game: Focused on the "honeymoon phase" before the tragedy.
- The Show: Focuses on trauma-bonding during the mission.
- The Vibe: Both versions use intimacy to ground the characters before the world gets even darker.
Technical Wizardry Behind the Scenes
It’s weird to think about a team of 300 people at Naughty Dog meticulously animating a sex scene, but here we are. Halley Gross, the co-writer, has mentioned in interviews that they wanted this moment to feel grounded in Ellie's POV.
They didn't want it to be "performative."
Most AAA games treat sex like a Hollywood movie—perfect lighting, perfect bodies, no mistakes. The Last of Us Part II kept the flannel shirts. It kept the "I'm just curious" dialogue. It kept the reality that they were in a dusty, underground bunker.
What This Scene Tells Us About Ellie’s Trauma
You can't talk about the dina and ellie sex scene without talking about what comes next. Literally hours after this moment of connection, Joel is killed.
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This is where the scene gets its "E-E-A-T" (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) value for the player. It establishes exactly what Ellie has to lose. Without that night in the library, Dina is just a sidekick. Because of that night, Dina becomes Ellie’s "what if." What if she just stayed? What if she chose love over revenge?
A lot of critics at the time—and even now—argued the scene was unnecessary. They’re wrong. Without that specific intimacy, the Farm sequence later in the game loses its weight. You need to see them at their most vulnerable to understand why Ellie leaving the farm to find Abby is such a devastating betrayal of herself.
Actionable Takeaway for Players and Fans
If you’re revisiting the game or watching the show for the first time, pay attention to the silence.
The best part of the dina and ellie sex scene isn't the physical act; it’s the conversation leading up to it. It’s the way they talk about the "old world" and Eugene’s weird habits. It’s a reminder that even when the world is ending, people are still just people.
Next Steps for You:
- Watch the Parallel: If you’ve only played the game, go back and watch Episode 4 of the HBO series. The change in location (Library vs. Theater) changes the entire emotional context.
- Look for the Bracelet: Keep an eye on the Hamsa bracelet Dina wears. It’s a symbol of protection that travels between them, and its journey starts right around this scene.
- Check the Journal: After the scene in the game, check Ellie’s journal. She writes about Dina in a way she never talks out loud. It’s the only place she’s truly honest.