The Last of Us showrunner reveals cons of Ellie.

The Last of Us, which has been adapted from the The Last of Us game, was praised for following the game's story religiously. Season one stuck to the source material not only when it came to settings and events, but also characters. Ellie, the little girl who was immune to the Cordyceps' virus, was shown as brave, clever, and capable, exactly like her video game counterpart. However, in season two, Ellie isn't as similar to Ellie in The Last of Us II.

In the second season, Ellie is on a revenge mission after Joel's death. But the character in the show doesn’t reflect the skilled and determined character from the second game. She rushes into dangerous situations without thinking things through. Instead of showing growth, she often looks confused or overwhelmed. Dina, her best friend and partner, seems to handle most of the planning and does everything better than her.

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Ellie's fighting ability is also not as good as it was in the game. Most of her kills appear accidental or clumsy, which is a big change from the game. In a recent The Last of Us podcast, showrunner Craig Mazin has said something similar, confirming the differences between the game and show Ellie.

The Last of Us showrunner on Ellie's portrayal

This change in Ellie's character has created general frustration among viewers who have played the game before watching the show. And if one inspects closely, it is evident that Ellie in the game is strong, focused, and dangerous, not someone unable to work her way through every challenge.

Now, co-showrunner Craig Mazin has added to the discussion by commenting on Ellie’s portrayal. In an episode of The Last of Us podcast released after the season two finale, he said,

“Abby is seemingly not like Ellie, in that Abby is incredibly competent… When Abby gets into the theater, she doesn’t screw up… She is in complete control of the situation.”

Mazin does not directly call Ellie incompetent, and as the showrunner, it's better for him if he doesn't. But by saying Abby is not like her, it gives us a sense that Ellie is hinted to be less competent than Abby.

Coincidentally, that aligns with the stark difference evident between the show Ellie and game Ellie. In season two of The Last of Us, Ellie is being portrayed as less capable, especially when compared to Abby. In the video game, both characters are equal opponents. Ellie is not just a smart survivor in the games, she becomes one of the most dangerous characters in the story. She is cold, driven, and highly skilled in combat.

In The Last of Us Part II, Ellie’s journey is one of transformation. After years of training, she sets out on a revenge mission and becomes a deadly force. Players even face her as a competent enemy while playing Abby, which shows how terrifying and capable she has become. The show version doesn’t reflect that. Instead, Ellie seems unsure, slow to act, and emotionally all over the place.

What’s more confusing is how different she is from the version we saw in season one. In that first season, Ellie showed signs of being sharp and brave. She was ready to learn and survive. In season two, you'd think she gets stronger, braver, and more capable, but that doesn't happen.

While Ellie does kill people in the show like she did in the game, her overall presence isn't the same. This makes it feel like her development from season one to season two, from a teenager to an adult, was pushed aside.

When showrunners are adapting a show from a book or game, they often make changes in the story to appeal to a wider audience. But this new version of Ellie doesn't match the story of The Last of Us. Joel dies early on in the game, and what drives the game forward is Ellie's thirst for revenge and the brutal lengths she goes to achieve that. The core of the game depends on Ellie being powerful and dangerous. Without that, the emotional weight of her journey is lost.

Mazin’s comment about Abby being

“in complete control”

suggests that Ellie is not, and that’s not ideal. It creates an uneven balance between the two main characters. Ellie should be a match for Abby, both physically and emotionally. That contrast is key to the story. Instead, the show has made Ellie look like she’s not ready, which goes against everything we know about her.

The Last of Us still has a chance to course-correct. Ellie’s story is not finished. We hope season three makes some necessary changes to portray Ellie as she is meant to be: a force to be reckoned with.

All seasons of The Last of Us are streaming on Max.

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