She isn't just a sidekick. Honestly, if you play through the game and think Dina is just there to be Ellie’s moral compass or a convenient plot device for the Seattle journey, you’ve missed the entire point of the narrative's emotional architecture. The Last of Us Part 2 Dina is a masterclass in how to write a survivor who hasn't lost their soul.
It’s easy to be cynical. In a world where fungus-brained monsters tear throats out and cultists hang people from trees, Dina chooses to crack jokes. She chooses to love. She chooses, eventually, to walk away when the cost of staying becomes too high.
The Jewish Heritage and Cultural Weight
Most games treat religion as a set dressing or a weird cult thing. Not here. Dina’s Judaism is woven into her identity with such a light but firm touch that it feels revolutionary. Remember the synagogue in Seattle? That’s not just a "look at this cool building" moment. It’s a moment of profound vulnerability where Dina discusses her family’s history and the concept of tikkun olam—repairing the world.
She tells Ellie about her sister, Talia. She talks about the prayers and the traditions. This isn't flavor text. It’s the foundation of her resilience. While Ellie is fueled by a destructive, singular need for vengeance, Dina is anchored by a history that predates the Cordyceps outbreak. She carries a culture, not just a gun. Halley Gross, the lead writer alongside Neil Druckmann, has spoken extensively about wanting Dina to feel like a person with a "lived-in" history. She isn't a blank slate waiting for the player to fill her in. She has roots.
That Kitchen Dance and the Catalyst of Change
Jackson feels like a fever dream compared to the rest of the game. That opening sequence? The dance? It’s arguably the most important scene for understanding why the tragedy hits so hard later. When Dina kisses Ellie in front of everyone, it’s a bold claim of happiness in a world that usually kills joy on sight.
Then everything breaks.
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Dina joins Ellie on the road to Seattle. Why? Because that’s what love looks like in the apocalypse. It’s messy. It’s dangerous. It’s probably a mistake. When Dina reveals she’s pregnant, the dynamic shifts instantly. Suddenly, the "revenge quest" isn't a buddy-cop movie. It’s a liability. But Dina doesn't become a "burden." She becomes the stakes. She is the literal embodiment of a future that Ellie is systematically destroying with every throat she slits in those rainy Seattle streets.
Survival Without Losing The Spark
Dina is a better survivor than Ellie. There, I said it.
Ellie survives by becoming the monster she's hunting. Dina survives by maintaining her humanity. Look at how she interacts with the world. She’s observant. She’s funny. She’s observant of Ellie’s deteriorating mental state long before Ellie realizes she’s spiraling.
There’s this nuance in Shannon Woodward’s performance—the subtle shifts in her voice when she’s trying to keep Ellie grounded. It’s a heavy lift. Imagine being pregnant, sick, and stuck in a theater while your partner comes home covered in the blood of people you don't know, vibrating with a rage you can't fix.
The Farm: A False Idol or a Real Chance?
The farmhouse sequence is where The Last of Us Part 2 Dina really shines as a character of agency. Most NPCs would just follow the protagonist. But when Tommy shows up with a lead on Abby in Santa Barbara, and Ellie starts packing her bags, Dina draws a line in the dirt.
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She doesn't beg. Well, she does, but it’s a dignified plea for their family.
"I'm not doing this again," she says.
That’s the most powerful line in the game. It’s the moment a character chooses themselves and their child over the toxic cycle of "the mission." It’s heartbreaking because we want Ellie to stay, but we know Dina is right to let her go. If Dina had stayed at that farm waiting for a woman who might never come back—or who would come back even more broken—she would have betrayed her own strength.
Addressing the Misconceptions
People like to call Dina "weak" because she gets sick or stays behind. That’s nonsense. Carrying a child while navigating a war zone between the WLF and the Seraphites is the definition of tough.
- Fact: Dina killed her first person at a terrifyingly young age to protect her sister.
- Fact: She is an expert scavenger, often pointing out loot Ellie misses.
- Fact: She survived the theater ambush by Abby, despite being brutally beaten.
She’s a fighter. She just knows what’s worth fighting for. Revenge isn't on her list. Family is.
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Why the Ending Hits Differently Because of Her
When Ellie returns to the empty farmhouse, the silence is deafening. Dina is gone. She took JJ and went back to Jackson. This isn't a "punishment" for Ellie; it’s a consequence.
Dina represents the life Ellie could have had. By leaving the bracelet and the guitar behind, Ellie realizes that she sacrificed the only person who truly saw her for who she was—not just as the "immune girl" or Joel’s surrogate daughter, but as Ellie. Dina loved the girl who liked puns and space.
What You Should Do Now
If you're jumping back into a Grounded run or checking out the Remastered version on PS5, pay attention to the optional dialogue. Use the "Talk" prompts every single time. Dina’s character development is buried in the quiet moments between the gunfights.
- Re-watch the Synagogue Cutscene: Look at the lighting and Dina’s expressions. It’s the most honest she is in the whole game.
- Listen to the Journal Entries: Ellie writes about Dina constantly. It gives you a window into their relationship that the cutscenes sometimes skip.
- Analyze the Pharmacy Note: There’s a note in Seattle that mentions Dina’s past. It’s easy to miss, but it adds layers to her survival skills.
Dina isn't a side character. She is the goal. She is the "peace" that Ellie ultimately finds herself unable to grasp until it's far too late. Understanding her journey is the key to understanding the tragedy of the whole franchise. Go back and play the Seattle Day 1 open-world section again. Don't rush to the objectives. Just ride Shimmer and listen to Dina talk. You’ll see a completely different game.