It is a heavy scene. You know the one. In the basement of a weed farm in Jackson, the air is thick with tension and the smell of old dirt. This is where we see Ellie in The Last of Us navigate a physical and emotional intimacy that feels startlingly real for a video game. Honestly, most games handle romance like a checklist or a mini-game. You give a character a gift, they like you, and you get a cutscene. But Naughty Dog didn't do that. They went for something that felt messy, clumsy, and deeply human.
We need to talk about why the depiction of Ellie's sexuality and her relationships caused such a massive stir. It wasn't just about the "sex" itself. It was about what that moment represented for a character we watched grow up from a foul-mouthed fourteen-year-old to a traumatized survivor.
The Reality of Ellie's Sexuality and That Scene with Dina
Let’s be real. When The Last of Us Part II dropped, the internet basically exploded. People were arguing about everything from the plot pacing to the character designs. But at the center of a lot of the discourse was Ellie's relationship with Dina. Specifically, the scene in the basement.
It's not "pornographic" in the way some people expected or feared. It’s quiet. It’s a moment of reprieve. In a world where Clickers are trying to rip your throat out and religious cults are hanging people from trees, finding a moment of physical connection is a radical act of survival. The scene focuses heavily on the emotional bond between the two women. You see the hesitation. You see the comfort.
Naughty Dog used high-end motion capture to make sure the chemistry didn't feel like plastic. Halley Gross, the lead writer alongside Neil Druckmann, has spoken extensively about wanting Ellie’s experiences to feel authentic to a young queer woman. This wasn't about "fan service." It was about character development. It showed us what Ellie had to lose before the game took her on a downward spiral of revenge.
Why Context Is Everything in This Story
You can't just look at the physical moments in isolation. To understand the weight of Ellie's romantic life, you have to look back at Left Behind. That’s where it started. The kiss with Riley in the mall wasn't just a "reveal." It was the catalyst for Ellie's entire journey.
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When Riley died and Ellie didn't, her survivor's guilt became inextricably linked to her first love. So, when we see her with Dina years later, there's a ghost in the room. Every time Ellie gets close to someone, she's terrified. She’s waiting for the infection or a bullet to take them away. That makes the intimacy in Part II feel desperate and precious.
Addressing the Controversy and the "Politicization" Claims
A lot of folks claimed the inclusion of Ellie's sex life was "forced" or "political." That’s a bit of a reach if you’ve actually played the games. The seeds were planted back in 2014. If you were surprised that Ellie was gay in 2020, you probably weren't paying attention to the DLC.
Gaming has a weird history with sex. Usually, it’s either hyper-sexualized—think The Witcher or God of War (the early ones)—or it’s completely absent. The Last of Us took a middle path. It treated sex like a part of life. It’s awkward. It involves talking. It involves trust. By making Ellie a fully realized person with a sexual identity, the writers made her "immunity" feel like the least interesting thing about her. She’s a person, not a cure.
- Emotional Weight: The intimacy serves as a foil to the extreme violence of the rest of the game.
- Representation: Seeing a lesbian protagonist in a AAA title of this scale was—and still is—a massive deal for the industry.
- Narrative Stakes: Without the deep connection to Dina, Ellie’s quest for vengeance in Seattle wouldn't have the same impact. We needed to see what she was throwing away.
The Technical Craft Behind the Intimacy
How do you even animate that? Seriously. Most games struggle to make two characters hug without their limbs clipping through each other. Naughty Dog used a combination of hand-animation and intense mo-cap sessions.
Ashley Johnson (Ellie) and Shannon Woodward (Dina) had to perform these scenes in those goofy suits with balls all over them. They’ve talked in interviews about how they focused on the "micro-expressions." The small smiles. The way someone looks away when they’re nervous. This technical detail is why the scenes rank so high in "realism" compared to something like Cyberpunk 2077 or Mass Effect. It feels less like a reward for the player and more like a private moment we’re just happening to witness.
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Misconceptions About the "Sex" Scenes
There's a weird rumor that there are multiple, graphic scenes. There really aren't. Most of it is implied or focuses on the faces of the characters. The game is much more interested in the aftermath—the morning after, the domesticity of living on a farm, the way Dina cares for Ellie’s wounds.
If you're looking for "content" for the sake of it, you're playing the wrong game. This is a tragedy. Every moment of light is just there to make the coming darkness feel heavier. That's the Naughty Dog formula. They give you a home just so they can burn it down.
What This Means for the Future of Gaming Narratives
The success and the backlash of Ellie's story have changed how studios approach romance. We’re seeing more "messy" relationships. Look at Baldur’s Gate 3. Look at Alan Wake 2. The industry is moving away from the "Press X to Romance" trope.
Ellie’s journey proves that players can handle complexity. They can handle a protagonist who makes bad choices and has a complicated private life. It’s not about being "woke" or whatever buzzword is trending this week. It’s about good writing. It’s about making characters that feel like people you could actually meet—even if they live in a world where mushroom-people are trying to eat them.
Real-World Impact and Fan Reception
While some corners of the internet were loud and angry, the actual data showed a different story. The Last of Us Part II sold millions of copies and swept awards ceremonies. Most players resonated with the humanity of the characters.
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For many LGBTQ+ players, Ellie isn't just a character; she's a milestone. Seeing a AAA game treat a queer relationship with the same gravity and "prestige" usually reserved for straight heroes was a turning point. It validated the idea that these stories are universal. You don't have to be a lesbian to understand the fear of losing someone you love.
Navigating the Themes: Beyond the Physicality
To truly get what’s going on, you have to look at the contrast between Ellie and Abby. Both characters have moments of intimacy in the game. Both moments are used to humanize them. For Ellie, it’s a moment of light before the descent. For Abby, it’s a complicated, guilt-ridden encounter that highlights her internal conflict.
The game uses these scenes as mirrors. They reflect back the humanity that the cycle of violence is trying to strip away. If they can still love, they aren't monsters yet. That’s the core of the whole series.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Players
If you're diving back into the world of The Last of Us, or perhaps experiencing it for the first time via the HBO series (which has already begun adapting these themes), keep these points in mind to appreciate the narrative depth:
- Pay attention to the "Optional" Dialogue: Much of the depth of Ellie and Dina's relationship is found in the missable conversations while exploring Seattle. Don't rush to the next objective marker.
- Read the Journal: Ellie’s journal entries provide the internal monologue that the cutscenes don't always show. Her drawings of Dina and her poems tell the "real" story of her feelings.
- Compare the Pacing: Notice how the game slows down during moments of intimacy. The "rhythm" of the gameplay changes from high-stress combat to slow, deliberate movement. This is intentional game design meant to lower your heart rate and make you vulnerable.
- Analyze the Lighting: Naughty Dog uses warm, golden tones for scenes of intimacy (like the basement or the farm) and cold, blue/grey tones for the violence of Seattle. It’s a visual shorthand for Ellie’s mental state.
Understanding these elements won't just make you better at the game; it'll help you see why this specific depiction of a character's private life became one of the most discussed moments in digital history. It wasn't about the shock factor. It was about the soul.
To get the full picture of Ellie’s development, re-play the Left Behind DLC immediately before starting Part II. It frames her relationship with Dina not as a new beginning, but as a second chance at a life she thought she’d lost forever. Look for the parallels in how she talks to Riley versus how she talks to Dina; you’ll see the growth of a character who has learned that love is the only thing that makes the apocalypse worth enduring.