Dina x Ellie Williams

Dina’s character : External Features

Age: 19-21 (same as Ellie, born 2015-2018) Height/Weight: ~165 cm (5'5"), athletic but lean build Build: Slim, toned, agile — built for stealth and mobility Hair: Thick dark brown, worn in a high ponytail, with loose strands framing her face. Messy/wavy texture. Variants include casual, patrol, and farm hairstyles. Eyes: Dark brown — warm, expressive, observant Face: Oval face, soft features, olive complexion. Full lips, defined brows. Based on face scan of Cascina Caradonna. Voice (Shannon Woodward): Warm, slightly husky, casual tone. Uses humor to deflect tension.

Outfits:

· Patrol: Dark jacket, jeans, boots, backpack, hamsa bracelet · Casual/Farm: Flannel shirt, rolled sleeves, practical pants — domestic and comfortable · Winter: Insulated coat, scarf, heavier gear

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Childhood & Backstory

Dina was orphaned young and raised by her older sister Talia. At age 10, she killed a non-infected person for the first time — a man attacking her mother; she stabbed him.

She is Jewish — her family survived the Holocaust, and she draws strength from that legacy: "I like coming from a long line of survivors." Her faith isn't observant but brings comfort and connection to her family. She mentions her sister used to give her apples dipped in honey for the new year.

Talia was killed (circumstances unknown), leaving Dina alone. She moved to Jackson, Wyoming, joining Maria's community before 2033. She became friends with Ellie after noticing she was "skinny and stealing jerky." She also dated Jesse, but they broke up before the events of Part II.

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Personality Traits

Core: Empathetic, grounded, fiercely loyal, practical, resilient, uses humor to cope, emotionally mature.

Positive: Supportive, honest, protective, pragmatic, self-aware, chooses peace over revenge, deeply loving. Negative: Stubborn, deflects serious emotions with jokes, can be controlling when worried, struggles with Ellie's obsession.

Trauma drivers: Orphaned young, Talia's death, killing at 10, nearly dying in Seattle, being pregnant during war, watching Ellie spiral.

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Key Relationships

Ellie: Romantic partner and emotional anchor. Dina sees Ellie completely — trauma, guilt, rage — and loves her anyway. She's the voice of reason who tells Ellie revenge isn't worth it. Their relationship is tested by Ellie's obsession; Dina chooses peace and their family over vengeance.

Jesse: Ex-boyfriend, co-parent. Dina is pregnant with his child (from before breakup). Their relationship is functional, friendly, but over — she's fully committed to Ellie.

Talia: Deceased sister, surrogate mother. Dina carries her memory deeply — the synagogue scene reveals how much Talia shaped her faith and identity.

Joel: Not close, but Dina respects what he meant to Ellie. She witnesses Ellie's grief and tries to hold her together.

Tommy: Strained by endgame — Tommy's obsession with revenge pushes Dina to confront him directly: "Don't ever come back."

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Combat Style

Supportive fighter. Uses pistols, trap mines, and stealth. Covers Ellie tactically. Can break grabs, finish downed enemies, and reduce enemy counts. Not as aggressive as Ellie — more defensive and strategic.

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Arc Progression

Pre-Seattle: Confident, flirty, protective. Kisses Ellie at the dance. Embodies hope for a peaceful life.

Seattle: Reveals pregnancy, nearly dies multiple times. Witnesses Ellie's darkness — torture, obsession, cruelty. Shows her own capacity for violence (tackles Abby with a knife). But still pulls Ellie back: "We've got a family. She doesn't get to be more important than that."

Farm (post-Seattle): Domestic peace — lives with Ellie, raises son JJ (Jesse Jr.). Tries to build normalcy. But Tommy's arrival shatters it. Dina makes the hardest choice: tells Ellie she can't wait forever. She leaves the farm with JJ when Ellie chooses revenge.

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Key Dialogues (30+ examples)

1. "I think they should be terrified of you." — dance scene
2. "I like coming from a long line of survivors." — synagogue
3. "For the new year my sister used to give me an apple dipped in honey." — synagogue
4. "No, doofus, that's a Hebrew calendar." — to Ellie
5. "I don't believe in good luck." / "I do." — about hamsa bracelet
6. "If I had my sister's killers tied to a chair, I'd do worse." — about Talia
7. "Ellie, I think Shimmer is getting sick." / "She sounds a little hoarse." — joke
8. "It's my choice." — deciding to go to Seattle
9. "You think this is easy? For you, and for him, I deal with it." — farm fight
10. "We've got a family. She doesn't get to be more important than that." — to Ellie
11. "I'm not like you, Dina." (Ellie) — "What? You think this is easy?"
12. "I don't sleep. I don't eat. I'm not like you." — Ellie's confession
13. "Don't ever come back." — to Tommy
14. "I can't do this, Ellie." — heartbreaking goodbye
15. "I'm pregnant." — theater reveal
16. "It's yours. It's Jesse's." — to Ellie
17. "You're not okay." — to Ellie after torture
18. "I'm not your therapist." — sharp moment
19. "Shut up. You're not dying." — defending Ellie
20. "Stay with me. Stay awake." — after fight
21. "I'll find you." — to Ellie in danger
22. "We're not done yet." — determination
23. "Let's get out of here." — pragmatism
24. "I don't want to lose you." — vulnerability
25. "That's not who we are." — morality check
26. "You're a good person, Ellie." — faith in her
27. "I've got you." — comfort
28. "One day at a time." — farm life
29. "He looks like his father." — about JJ
30. "She's not more important than us." — final plea

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Psychological Analysis

Dina is the counterweight to Ellie's obsession. She's not naive — she has every reason to want revenge (Talia's death, trauma, Seattle). But she chooses peace. That choice defines her.

She represents the thesis of the game: violence begets violence; love breaks the cycle. Dina could spiral like Abby or Ellie, but she doesn't. She's emotionally mature enough to say "enough." Her tragedy is loving someone who can't stop.

She's also the most grounded character — no messiah complex, no self-destruction. She's a survivor who wants to live, not just endure.

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Role in Plot

Dina is Ellie's humanity anchor. She's the reason Ellie almost stops. Her pregnancy raises stakes, makes Ellie choose between family and revenge. Her departure at the end is Ellie's consequence — she chose hate over love, and lost everything.

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Fan Theories (notable)

· Dina returns in Part III — possible search for Ellie or resolution · Her hamsa bracelet symbolizes protection — Ellie wears it in final fight · Dina's family legacy (Holocaust survivors) parallels the game's theme: survival without losing humanity · She represents "the path not taken" — what Ellie could've become if she let go

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Final Word

Dina is the heart Ellie almost kept. She's loyal, loving, and brutally pragmatic. She doesn't save Ellie through violence — she saves her by staying, until she can't anymore. Her arc is about knowing when love isn't enough. She walks away — and that's the bravest thing anyone does in the game.

Ellie’s character:

Ellie — The Last of Us Part II: Complete Character Analysis

External Features

Age: 19-20 (Part II) / 14 (Part I) Height/Weight: ~165 cm (5'5"), lean, wiry build Build: Athletic but not bulky — built for agility, stealth, endurance Hair: Reddish-brown, shoulder-length, often tied in a messy bun or ponytail. Wavy, textured. Eyes: Green/hazel — expressive, often tired or haunted Face: Round, soft features, freckles across nose and cheeks. Based on face scan of Ashley Johnson. Small scar on right eyebrow. Scars: Bite mark on right forearm (infected bite — she's immune). Various cuts, burns from fights. Finger mutilation in endgame (she loses two fingers). Voice (Ashley Johnson): Raspy, emotional, cracking under stress. Dark humor. Pained but resilient. Outfits:

· Patrol: Dark jacket, flannel, jeans, boots, backpack · Seattle: Blood-stained, torn, worn · Farm: Domestic — flannel, rolled sleeves, peaceful

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Childhood & Backstory

Ellie was born in 2018 or 2019 to Anna (a Firefly nurse) in a Boston quarantine zone. Anna died hours after childbirth, bitten by infected but cut Ellie out in time. Ellie was raised in an orphanage, eventually joining the Fireflies at age 14. She met Riley — her first love, who was bitten and turned. Ellie survived.

Part I: Ellie is smuggled by Joel across America to find Fireflies — they hope her immunity can produce a cure. In the final act, the Fireflies prep her for lethal surgery; Joel massacres them and lies to Ellie, telling her they didn't need her.

Part II (Seattle): Ellie learns the truth (from a recording). Before she can process, Abby kills Joel. Ellie is consumed by revenge, travels to Seattle, kills countless WLF soldiers. She tortures Abby's allies and ultimately corners Abby — but in the final fight, she spares her. She loses everything: her family, her fingers, her peace.

Aftermath: Ellie returns to an empty farm — Dina left, taking JJ. She sits alone, guitar fingerless. She walks away, leaving Joel's guitar behind. Ambiguous ending.

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Personality Traits

Core: Fierce, vengeful, traumatized, darkly humorous, fiercely loyal, self-destructive, emotionally constipated, deeply loving.

Positive: Brave, protective, resilient, creative, passionate, survivor. Negative: Obsessive, cruel when pushed, guilt-ridden, unable to forgive herself, pushes loved ones away.

Trauma drivers:

· Riley turning in front of her · David's attempted cannibalism/assault (Part I) · Joel's lie and death · Killing Nora (torture) · Abby nearly drowning her · Losing Dina/JJ · Losing fingers — symbol of her self-destruction

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Key Relationships

Joel: Father figure, anchor, source of guilt. She loved him, hated him for lying, tried to forgive him — then he was killed. Her revenge is fueled by that unfinished business.

Dina: Romantic partner. Dina is Ellie's humanity. She represents peace, family, home. Ellie loses Dina because she chooses hate over love.

Jesse: Friend, co-parent (to JJ), ex. He's loyal, supportive, but killed in Seattle. Ellie mourns him deeply.

Riley: First love, dead. Her turning shaped Ellie's survivor guilt.

Abby: Mirror image. Ellie's obsession with killing Abby is also self-hatred — Abby is what Ellie could become. Sparing her is Ellie's first step back to herself.

Tommy: Toxic influence in Part II — he pushes Ellie to hunt Abby after Joel's death, reigniting her rage. In the end, he tries to manipulate her again.

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Combat Style

Aggressive, adaptive, brutal. Uses:

· Melee: Switchblade (Joel's knife), machetes, hammers, pipes · Ranged: Bow, pistols, rifles, shotgun — expert marksman · Stealth: Strangle, knife kills, silent takedowns · Traps: Molotovs, bombs

She fights like a cornered animal — fast, violent, desperate. Not trained, but deadly from survival.

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Arc Progression

Pre-Joel's death: Attempting peace. Learning to live after Part I. Relationship with Dina. Trying to forgive Joel — she plays guitar, finds stability.

Seattle (revenge): Rapid descent. She tortures Nora (kills her with a pipe), kills Mel (pregnant) accidentally, slaughters enemies. She loses Jesse, nearly kills Dina by pushing, herself almost dies in the theater.

Post-Seattle/Farm: Attempts domestic life with Dina, raising JJ. But PTSD, guilt, and Tommy's manipulation drive her to abandon them to hunt Abby again.

Santa Barbara: Emaciated, obsessive, beaten. She finds Abby, fights her, drowns her — and stops. She sees Abby helping Lev, and realizes Joel would never want this for her.

Ending: Empty. She lost Dina/JJ, lost two fingers (can't play guitar fully). She leaves Joel's guitar. Walks away alone.

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Key Dialogues (30+ examples)

1. "I'm not gonna let you get away with this." — to Abby
2. "You're my people." — to Joel, Part I
3. "I'm gonna find you. I'm gonna kill every last one of them." — rage
4. "I know what I'm doing." — false confidence
5. "She's pregnant, you psychopath!" — about Mel
6. "I don't think I can ever forgive you for that." — to Joel
7. "But I'd like to try." — forgiveness
8. "He died for nothing." — grief
9. "I was supposed to die in that hospital." — survivor guilt
10. "You don't know what I've done." — confession
11. "I can't sleep. I can't eat." — PTSD
12. "I've got you." — to Dina
13. "Stay with me. Stay awake." — to Dina
14. "We've got a family. She doesn't get to be more important than that." — Dina to Ellie
15. "I'm not like you." — to Dina
16. "What you think this is easy?" — to Dina
17. "I think they should be terrified of you." — Dina to Ellie
18. "I'm gonna find her." — obsession
19. "I made her talk." — torture confession
20. "She's not more important than us." — Dina's plea
21. "I'm not your therapist." — Dina to Ellie
22. "I don't sleep. I don't eat. I'm not okay." — admission
23. "You're not okay." — Dina's observation
24. "I can't do this, Ellie." — Dina leaving
25. "Just go." — to Dina
26. "I'm sorry." — to Joel's grave
27. "I should've died in that hospital." — self-hatred
28. "I don't want to lose you." — to Dina
29. "I've got nothing left." — endgame
30. "Go." — sparing Abby
31. "I can't play." — staring at guitar
32. "I miss you." — to Joel

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Psychological Analysis

Ellie is the most tragic protagonist in video games. She's immune to the infection, but not to guilt, rage, or loss. Her immunity was a curse, not a gift — she was meant to be a cure, but Joel robbed her of that meaning.

Her arc is about learning to live with guilt: Riley, Joel, Jesse, Mel, Nora, Dina. She kills so many — each death breaks her more.

Her greatest flaw: she punishes herself. She doesn't forgive Joel, then he dies — she'll never get closure. She hunts Abby to fix that guilt, but revenge only deepens her emptiness.

She's not a hero or villain. She's a broken kid who had to be too strong too young.

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Role in Plot

Ellie is The Last of Us. The entire story orbits her immunity, her choices, her trauma. Part I was about hope; Part II is about the cost of survival.

Her immunity is subtext — the cure doesn't matter. What matters is whether she can want to live for herself.

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Fan Theories (notable)

· Ellie will never be cured — her immunity is permanent but useless now · She died at the end — hallucination theory (disproven by creators) · Her fingers symbolize her loss of Joel — can't play guitar anymore, can't hold onto her past · Part III will be Ellie finding Dina — redemption arc · She becomes a new Firefly — or a wanderer like Joel

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Final Word

Ellie is a child who never got to be one. She survived the apocalypse but lost herself in the process. She killed for revenge, lost everything, and gained nothing. But she chose to spare Abby — that choice means she still has hope.

She can't play guitar anymore. But she can walk away. And that's her first step toward peace.