
Isabela Merced's Dina Is The Breakout Star Of ‘The Last Of Us' Season 2
The Last of Us
There are plenty of debates about The Last of Us season 2, which seems to be far more controversial than the first. That's no real surprise after episode 2 where (spoilers) Joel is beaten to death in a massive moment that also launched the second game.
There are also conversations about Bella Ramsey's Ellie, that this Ellie doesn't look different enough from the last season when she's supposed to be five years older. Plus, Ramsey's portrayal being a bit different than Ellie's game personality (personally, I think Ramsey is doing a great job).
Unexpectedly, however, a star has emerged in season 2 that I don't think a lot of people saw coming, Isabela Merced as Dina. While Dina was an important part of the game, certainly, Merced's charming and compelling portrayal of the character has elevated her past what she was in the source material.
This is in part because the show has opted to give her a larger role than the game. We saw more of an established relationship with Joel than the game allowed, which makes her mission with Ellie more than just about how she likes Ellie and wants to protect her. And speaking of Ellie, Merced has more chemistry with Ramsey than the two characters did in the game, at least for now.
The Last of Us
Merced's career has blown up as of late. In addition to landing this role, the 23 year-old just played a part in Alien Romulus (ironically across from older Ellie ringer Cailee Spaeny). Now she's set to play Hawkgirl in the first DCU movie, James Gunn's Superman, quite a jump from her last superhero role in Madame Web next to Sydney Sweeney. Some viewers may remember her playing live-action Dora more than half a decade ago.
We can get into game spoilers if you want now, if you're curious where all this is going, and how 'safe' she is or not in this story. Those spoilers follow.
She is in fact safe. Despite a lot of death in this story, Dina survives. And her baby survives. Yes, if the vomiting wasn't a clue, Dina is in fact pregnant via her relationship with Jesse (who will not survive the show). This eventually reaches a point where her and Ellie are living together after the Seattle story is over, but Ellie cannot let her revenge go when she learns the escaped Abby has resurfaced in California. She leaves, and when she returns, Dina is gone, which is how the game ends. But hey, at least Dina lives.
So that's the good news, is that we will see both Dina and Ellie for the duration of the next two seasons and she's not about to suffer some tragic fate. I think everyone here is doing a good job from Ramsey to Young Mazino's Jesse to at least so far, Kaitlyn Dever's Abby, but right now, Merced seems like the big new standout.
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Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.

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Since Lori and Ellie bonded over their mutual love of oysters on their second date and have since enjoyed over 80 regional varieties together, including oysters in the wedding weekend (both on the menu and in the décor) was essential. 'We like to think of ourselves as oyster connoisseurs, keeping a running list with a rating system to track which ones we love and which ones we'd pass on next time,' Lori says,.'To celebrate this shared passion, we incorporated subtle oyster-inspired details throughout our wedding, from the menu to the invitations.' The couple shared a first look before the wedding ceremony, and the time together gave them a chance to pose for photos and exchange vows privately. Ellie wore a fitted ivory lace and crepe wedding dress by Colby John with a square neckline and detachable tulle sleeves. When she walked out of the fitting room wearing the gown at a bridal salon and noticed that her mom and sister had been moved to tears, she knew it was the one. She accessorized with a one-carat solitaire diamond pendant that was a gift from her parents on the morning of the wedding and chose a natural makeup look and a pulled back ponytail. 'I wanted something sleek that would hold up to the environment and require little touch ups,' she says. Lori wore a strapless satin sheath gown with a detachable train from Winnie Couture. 'For my wedding, I wore my grandmother's diamond tennis bracelet and a ring borrowed from my sister,' Lori says. 'The ring had special meaning because my sister had taken our mother's diamonds and transformed them into a piece she now wears every day.' She wore her hair up to complement her dress and highlight her collarbone. Lori and Ellie held matching bouquets in shades of peach, orange, and coral hues, which were perfectly in keeping with the celebration's color palette. The bold arrangements included ranunculus, garden roses, tulips, and greenery, among other blooms. The brides decided to tie the knot overlooking the ocean at Mar Del Cabo, a venue that stood out far above the rest they considered. 'We toured many different venues in Cabo and there wasn't a venue that even compared to Mar Del Cabo,' Ellie says. At the ceremony, the ocean view was framed by a rounded arch covered in orange and peach flowers, including ranunculus, Lori's favorite. The couple hired Agency Treehouse to perform at their ceremony. They both walked down the aisle to a cello version of 'This Wandering Day' from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Ellie walked down the aisle with her mom, Mitzie, and her dad, Joe. Sadly, Lori lost both of her parents before her 30th birthday, so she found special ways to honor them on the wedding day. 'One thing Lori was determined to do was include her parents in both the ceremony and reception,' Ellie says. 'As she walked down the aisle, Lori held two balloons—one for each parent—and released them to symbolize them walking her down the aisle.' Lori and Elie each had a matron of honor and bridesmaids, who they encouraged to choose their own dresses within a sunset color palette. They asked their friend, Elizabeth, to share a reading about marriage before they exchanged vows. Once they were officially married, they celebrated back down the aisle to Donna Lewis' 'I Love You Always Forever," a song Lori often sings to Ellie. After the ceremony, Lori and Ellie's photographer led them onto the beach for a sunset portrait session. The pair posed in the sand against the crashing waves before joining their guests for their cocktail hour. One of their favorite memories of the day was looking down at the reception and watching their guest's astonished faces as they entered. Lori and Ellie enlisted Bunker Projects Studio to build an artistic seating chart installation for their reception. The sculptural display had cut-out windows in abstract shapes. Each warm yellow shape framed guests' names and table assignments for the reception. They customized the display with their names, wedding date, and location. At the reception on the beach, the brides made sure to incorporate the three main hues in the day's color palette; yellow, orange, and green were on full display. They chose a yellow patterned linen and matching runner for the tables as a nod to Lori's mom's favorite color. 'To bring our vision to life, we sourced Henna Mimosa linens and chartreuse napkins from BBJ La Tavola,' Lori says. The centerpiece arrangements featured vibrant orange florals with pops of green. They also created a cozy ambience with light wood flooring and a lush floral arrangement hanging above the dance floor, accented with custom rattan and macrame lanterns. The ceremony floral arch was repurposed at the reception to frame the couple at their sweetheart table, which was set in front of the ocean and decorated with a ground installation of roses and greenery. Lori and Ellie shared their first dance to '1950' by King Princess. 'We loved what the underlying meaning of the song stands for,' Lori says. Their DJ played Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World' for Ellie's father-daughter dance. Lori danced with her brother-in-law, Jamie, to an Adele tune. Great food and drink was a priority for the brides, so along with signature Sea Basil margarita cocktails and a four-course meal, Lori and Ellie also served a three-tiered white wedding cake with sunset colors cascading down the center to mimic flowing drapery. Inside, layers of pistachio lemon and chocolate ganache cake awaited. A late-night churro bar was also on offer. The newlyweds closed out the wedding celebrations with fireworks on the beach, then spent the next three nights in Cabo to unwind. To couples currently planning a wedding, Lori and Ellie recommend personalizing your day. 'Be true to yourself and don't let others' opinions cloud your judgment. Remember it's your day and not theirs," they Photographer Christian Reyes Photography Wedding Planning and Design Imagine This Curated Events Wedding Venue, Catering, and Accommodations Mar Del Cabo Day-of Coordination Nabia Weddings Hair and Makeup Megan Oliveri Flowers Mazarte Floral Invitations Olive Paper Paper Products Niaspapers Seating Chart Bunker Projects Studio Music Agency Treehouse Rentals BBJ La Tavola Wedding Cake Cabo Cake Wedding Videographer Victor Green Films Wedding Content Creator Thru Gabby's EyeUp Next: The Difference Between Wedding Planners, Coordinators, and Designers—And How to Know Which Ones You Should Hire Read the original article on Brides