In both The Last of Us Part II and the HBO TV adaptation, it’s clear that Ellie has romantic feelings for Dina. She was awkward whenever Dina got close and flirted in a way that wasn’t subtle to anyone paying attention. However, in the video game, the two got intimate while they waited out the snowstorm that hit Jackson, Wyoming. However, in episode 2 of the second season of the TV series, Dina went on patrol with Joel instead of Ellie, which meant that the scene from the source material wouldn’t happen like in the video game.
In the third episode of the show, Dina and Ellie talk about their kiss while on their way to find and hopefully kill Abby. Instead of this leading to them making out like the game, it ends with Dina admitting that she wasn’t that high when they kissed, while Ellie smiled before going to sleep.
As great as that is, there's a problem. Dina admits that she and Jesse got back together a couple of weeks ago. Whether that’s true or not remains to be seen, but Dina mentioned “not being that high” and being “upset” about her kiss only rating a 6 for a reason.
Their relationship is a big part of the game and leads to one of the saddest endings in video game history. Thanks to the change in the story, two things about this story aren’t guaranteed. Ellie and Dina may not become a couple, and the final part of their story could be altered. Either way, switching how things go down between them is a brilliant idea.
As someone who’s played The Last of Us Part II more times than he’d like to admit, this writer finds himself wondering what’s next. There are things about HBO’s The Last of Us that remain consistent (like Joel’s death), so it's easy to guess that Ellie and Dina will make things official at some point during this or the following season. The problem with guessing is that the show has a habit of making adjustments to keep informed fans speculating. If they didn’t, there wouldn’t be a point in tuning into the show. You could go to YouTube and watch cut scenes from the video game instead if that were the case.
Another point is them getting together or talking about their feelings during the trip makes more sense this way. Like Joel and Ellie during their trek to Utah, she and Dina will have more time to bond and possibly become more than friends. Originally, they got together shortly after Dina broke up with Jesse. It seemed a bit rushed. Now, it will make more sense if things between them escalate.
Yes, certain circumstances are hinted at in episode 3 that could change everything, but even that doesn’t mean anything. For all we know, the situation in question (I won’t spoil a possible plot) could solidify them getting together or staying apart. Once again, that’s the beauty of this tale being modified. You won’t know anything for sure until it happens.
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