If you have played The Last of Us Part 2 video game, you might have noticed that the showrunners are making some massive and some subtle changes to the live-action show. In the previous episode, the creators made an unwanted change to Tommy’s storyline, which left the fans disappointed. Dina learning about Ellie’s immunity against the Cordyceps infection is a crucial moment, and we finally get to see it in The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2. However, the showrunners have changed things around to make the discovery more impactful.
Fortunately, the difference in how Dina learns about Ellie’s immunity in the TV show as opposed to The Last of Us Part 2 video game is more emotional for the viewers.
Spoilers Warning: This post contains spoilers about the story of The Last of Us Part 2 video game and season 2 of the TV show, so proceed with caution.
Dina Discovers Ellie’s Immunity in The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 4
The creators have slightly altered the subway escape sequence compared to the video game to heighten the drama in HBO’s The Last of Us TV show. There is no spores region in Season 2 Episode 4, instead, Ellie and Dina just flee the infected horde in the subway.
During their escape, Dina gets stuck in a turnstile gate, and an infected rushes towards her. Ellie quickly realizes that the infected is about to bite Dina. So, without wasting time, Ellie puts her hand in front of Dina and gets bitten instead. Then, they shoot the infected and get away from the infested station.
Ellie doesn’t reveal anything about her immunity to Dina at this point, and the duo finds a safe place inside the Pinnacle Theatre. Now Dina faces a moral dilemma as she thinks she has to put an end to Ellie’s life before she turns into an infected while the latter acts normal. When Dina points her gun towards Ellie, the latter starts screaming and says,
Please listen to me. I would die for you. I would. But that is not what just happened. F*ck. I’m immune. I can’t get infected.
Dina is still in disbelief and continues to hold Ellie at gunpoint. So, Ellie makes a deal that Dina can watch over her from a distance and shoot her if she turns into an infected. Ellie eventually proves that she is, in fact, immune to Dina.
A lot of the times, I wish this wasn’t true… I’m gonna wake up exactly as I’m right now. Me.
How Did Dina Find out Ellie Is Immune in TLOU Part 2 Video Game?
Now, let’s unpack how Dina finds out Ellie is immune in The Last of Us Part 2 video game (review) to understand the difference from the TV Show.
While escaping from WLF soldiers and the horde of infected in the spore-filled subway station, Ellie falls off a tumbling rail car and breaks her gas mask. After killing the infected who almost took out Ellie, Dina realizes that Ellie’s mask is broken and tries to remove hers to share it with her. At this point, Ellie tells Dina about her immunity and urges her not to remove her mask.
Stop! I’m not infected! I’m immune – Ellie
Fortunately, Ellie stops Dina from doing so quickly and removes her mask to prove she is immune, as she is not coughing after being exposed to the spores.
After they safely escape to the Pinnacle Theatre, Ellie further confirms that she is immune when Dina interrogates her about breathing in the spores. Ellie breaks the silence about her immunity by telling her backstory of how she survived the infection, and only three people in her life know her secret.
This is how Dina discovers Ellie’s immunity in the game and firmly establishes that Dina was ready to risk her life to protect Ellie at all costs, even while unaware of her partner’s immunity.
Although they changed the revelation in the TV show, it worked wonderfully, just like in the video game. Both the video game and the TV show did a fantastic job of conveying that the pair would go to any lengths to protect one another.
While we certainly didn’t like the change to Tommy’s storyline, this difference will be welcomed by fans. That said, did you like the way Dina found out Ellie’s immunity in episode 4? Let us know in the comments below.
