Dina is a vibe. Seriously. If you’ve spent any time trekking through the overgrown, rain-slicked ruins of Seattle in Naughty Dog’s polarizing sequel, you know that Last of Us 2 Dina isn't just a sidekick or a romantic interest. She’s the anchor. While Ellie is busy spiraling into a cycle of violence that would make a Machiavellian villain blush, Dina is there to remind us—and Ellie—that life has to be about more than just the next body in the dirt.
People argue about the ending of The Last of Us Part II until they’re blue in the face. They talk about Joel. They talk about Abby. But if you really want to understand the emotional weight of this game, you have to look at Dina. She’s the one who carries the burden of the "normal" world. She’s the one who chooses to love someone who is clearly, demonstrably breaking apart at the seams.
It’s messy. It’s complicated. It’s deeply human.
The Jackson Era and That First Spark
Let’s go back to the beginning. Jackson is this weird, beautiful anomaly in a world gone to hell. You’ve got electricity, communal stews, and teenager drama. Dina enters the frame as this whirlwind of charisma. She’s the girl who just broke up with Jesse, the town’s golden boy, and immediately starts flirting with Ellie at the tip of a hat.
Halley Gross, the co-writer of the game, has talked extensively about how Dina was designed to be "light." Not light in a shallow way, but light as in a beacon. When they’re out on patrol and Dina is cracking jokes about Hebrew school or her past lovers, it isn't just filler dialogue. It’s character building that contrasts sharply with Ellie’s growing gloom.
Then everything goes sideways.
Joel’s death changes the trajectory of their lives, obviously. But look at Dina’s reaction. She doesn't have a blood debt to Joel. She barely knew the man compared to Ellie. Yet, when Ellie says she’s going to Seattle to hunt down the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), Dina doesn't hesitate. She packs a bag. That is a level of ride-or-die loyalty that feels almost terrifying when you realize what they’re actually walking into.
Seattle: When the Reality of Last of Us 2 Dina Hits Home
The first day in Seattle is almost like a dark road trip. You’re exploring a music shop, Dina is singing "Take On Me," and for a second, you forget this is a game about fungal zombies and tribal warfare. But the shift happens fast.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Hello Kitty Island Adventure Meme Refuses to Die
Dina’s pregnancy is the massive curveball no one saw coming on a first playthrough. It changes the stakes. Suddenly, it isn't just two girls on a revenge mission; it’s a woman trying to protect her partner while carrying a life that represents the future Jackson is trying to build.
The Physicality of the Role
Shannon Woodward, who provided the performance capture and voice for Dina, did an incredible job of portraying someone who is physically failing but mentally sharp. In the theater sections of the game, Dina is sidelined. Some players hated this. They wanted her out in the field. But narratively? It’s genius. It forces Ellie (and us) to see the cost of the mission. Dina is sick, pale, and vulnerable, yet she’s still the one translating Hebrew prayers and helping Ellie piece together the mystery of Abby’s group.
She is the intellect to Ellie’s raw, unbridled rage.
Is Dina Actually Better at Survival Than Ellie?
Honestly, maybe.
Ellie survives through sheer, stubborn brutality. Dina survives through community and adaptability. Think about her background. We learn through optional dialogue and artifacts that Dina’s family didn't have a fortified city like Jackson for a long time. She’s been on the move. She’s seen the worst of the world, but she didn't let it turn her into a hollow shell.
There’s a specific nuance to Last of Us 2 Dina that gets overlooked: her Jewish identity. In a world where most institutions have crumbled, Dina holds onto her heritage. She wears her Hamsa. She talks about the traditions her ancestors kept alive. This isn't just "flavor text." It represents a refusal to let the apocalypse strip away her humanity. Ellie is losing her identity to the "Ghost of Santa Barbara," but Dina is doubling down on who she is.
The Farm: A False Sense of Security
After the nightmare in Seattle, we get the farm. It’s gorgeous. The golden hour light, the sheep, baby JJ. For a moment, it feels like they made it.
🔗 Read more: Why the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Boss Fights Feel So Different
But the PTSD is real.
The scene where Ellie has a flashback in the barn while holding JJ is one of the most haunting moments in gaming history. And here is Dina, trying to hold it all together. She’s a mother now. She has built the life that Joel wanted for Ellie. She has provided the "peace" that everyone fought so hard for.
When Ellie decides to leave for Santa Barbara, it’s a betrayal. There’s no other word for it. Dina’s plea—"I'm not doing this again"—is the most honest line in the entire script. She isn't being selfish. She’s setting a boundary. She knows that if Ellie goes, the person who comes back won't be the Ellie she loved.
The Empty House and the Hard Truths
The ending of The Last of Us Part II is famously bleak. Ellie returns to an empty house. Dina is gone.
Some fans were pissed. They wanted a reunion. They wanted a "happily ever after." But that wouldn't fit the world Neil Druckmann and the team at Naughty Dog built. Dina leaving isn't an act of malice; it’s an act of survival. She has a child to think about. She can’t wait around for a ghost.
Where did she go? Back to Jackson, almost certainly. Tommy is there, Jesse’s parents are there. Dina is a creature of community. She knows she can't raise JJ alone in the wilderness while waiting for a woman who might be dead in a ditch in California.
Misconceptions About Dina’s Departure
- She gave up on Ellie: Wrong. She gave Ellie every chance. She stayed through the nightmares, the silence, and the obsession.
- She took everything: She left Ellie’s things. The room with the guitar and the paintings? That was Dina’s way of saying, "I’m moving on, but I didn't erase you."
- She was just a plot device: If Dina were just a plot device, her pregnancy would have been a "damsel in distress" moment. Instead, it was a catalyst for Ellie’s most difficult choices.
Why Dina Matters for the Future of the Franchise
With a third game likely on the distant horizon (whenever Naughty Dog decides to stop being mysterious), the role of Dina is crucial. If Ellie is to ever find redemption, it has to involve Dina and JJ.
💡 You might also like: Hollywood Casino Bangor: Why This Maine Gaming Hub is Changing
Dina represents the "Why" of the series. Why bother surviving if you’re just going to be a killer? Why build a house if you aren't going to live in it? She is the answer to the nihilism that threatens to swallow the story whole.
People love to talk about the "cycle of violence," but Dina is the cycle of life. She’s the one who keeps moving forward, not toward a target, but toward a future. She reminds us that the apocalypse isn't just about clicking sounds and shotgun shells; it’s about who you’re willing to stay home for.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Playthrough
If you’re hopping back into the game, try these to get a better sense of her character:
- Check the Journal: Ellie’s drawings of Dina change as the game progresses. They become more fractured and less detailed as Ellie loses herself.
- Trigger Every Optional Conversation: In the open-world section of Seattle (Day 1), there are dozens of lines about Dina’s sister, Talia, and her upbringing. It adds massive layers to her motivations.
- Watch the Kitchen Scene Closely: During the farm sequence, look at Dina’s face while Ellie is distracted. The exhaustion is visible. It’s a masterclass in facial animation.
- Listen to the Lyrics: When Dina hums or sings, the lyrics often parallel the internal state of their relationship.
Dina isn't just "Ellie’s girlfriend." She’s the most stable, emotionally intelligent person in a world that has gone completely insane. She’s a survivor in the truest sense of the word because she survived without losing her heart. That’s a hell of a lot harder than killing a Bloater.
Next time you play, don't just rush to the next combat encounter. Sit in the theater for a minute. Look at the map Dina marked up. Listen to her voice. You’ll realize that while Ellie is the protagonist, Dina is the soul. And without her, the game is just a tragedy without a witness.
Check out the "Ground Up" documentary if you want to see the behind-the-scenes work on her character—it’s worth the watch just to see how much of Shannon Woodward’s own personality bled into the role.
Stay safe out there. Watch the shadows. And for heaven's sake, if you find a guitar, play something nice.