HBO’s The Last of Us debuted in January 2023 and quickly became one of the network’s biggest hits, drawing praise from both fans of the original PlayStation game and newcomers alike. The series, adapted from the award-winning video game franchise, follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a fungal infection that has decimated humanity. Along the way, the duo face dangerous survivors, emotional losses, and a bond that grows deeper with each episode.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
However, fans were stunned by the events of Season 2, particularly Joel’s brutal death and Ellie’s budding romance with Dina (Isabela Merced). Yes, we’re all upset Pascal is off the show—but that’s no excuse to spiral into internet trolling. The series had already faced backlash in Season 1 for its devastatingly tender portrayal of Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett). That episode was review-bombed by homophobic viewers, yet it still became one of the most acclaimed of the series. The hate didn’t slow down the LGBTQ+ representation then, and it certainly isn’t going to now.
“You don’t have to watch it.”
When asked about the backlash, Ramsey told The Awardist podcast (via GamesRadar) that they “tried to steer clear as much as I could.”
“Because there’s nothing I can do about it anyway. The show is out. There’s nothing that can be changed or altered. So I’m like, there’s not really any point in reading or looking at anything,” Ramsey said. “People are of course entitled to their opinions. But it doesn’t affect the show, it doesn’t affect how the show continues or anything in any way. They’re very separate things to me. So no, I just don’t really engage.”
The Emmy-nominated actor also gave critics a direct option if they don’t like the direction of the HBO series: “You don’t have to watch it. If you hate it that much, the game exists. You can just play the game again. If you do want to watch it, hope you enjoy it.”
Season 3 Focus
While Ramsey is shrugging off the haters, we’re counting the days until we get Season 3. At a recent Emmys FYC event, showrunner and co-creator Craig Mazin confirmed that Kaitlyn Dever will be stepping into the spotlight. Yes, she does play Abby, the person who killed Joel last season.
“I can’t believe that they let us structure the series in this way, meaning like, we just ended Season 2, and Season 3 is going to be starring — spoiler alert — Kaitlyn,” Mazin said.
Mazin will serve as the sole showrunner for Season 3 following Neil Druckmann’s decision to step back to focus on his work at Naughty Dog, the studio behind the original games.
Breaking Barriers at the Emmys
People might have a thing or two to say about Ramsey’s character, but so do The Emmys. The star received their second Emmy nomination Tuesday morning, making history as the first nonbinary performer to earn more than one nomination from the Television Academy. They’re up for best lead actress in a drama, alongside co-star Pedro Pascal in the lead actor category and the series overall for outstanding drama.
In 2023, Yellowjackets actor Liv Hewson made headlines when they chose not to submit for Emmy consideration because the categories remain separated by male and female performers. Ramsey’s nomination marks another step toward broader recognition for nonbinary actors in Hollywood.
