The Last of Us was already a universe Merced knows well. “Being a fan of the video game and then getting into the series is very crazy,” she shares, “having that knowledge and walking around the set, looking and knowing all the details, was an honor. Even the dance scene is almost the same as in the video game, shot-for-shot.”

Dina starts out as Ellie’s best friend, but eventually, things get more intimate. The dance scene at the end of the just-released first episode marks an upward change in direction for their relationship. With their first kiss, they’re already resisting tropes and clichés about LGBTQ+ relationships. “The apocalypse started in 2003, when queer culture wasn’t as accepted,” she explains. “It’s interesting to see it in this context, when it seems like they didn’t have any preconceived notions about being queer, it just is the way it is. It’s great to see how their natural relationship builds. And I think Dina being bisexual is also an interesting dynamic that I haven’t seen as much explored in the media. That they’re both protagonists in the series, as an ensemble, and that they’re represented in this way, is great.”

Isabela Merced and Bella Ramsey’s chemistry is unmatched. There’s something very curious and innocent about their dynamic: Dina comes across as much more jovial next to Ellie, who has lived multiple lives at 19. In some ways, this is a good metaphor for the experience of Ramsey, of whom their co-star speaks with particular admiration. “I asked them for some advice before we started the series because they are more familiar [to the] set,” she says, “being part of a series with so many fans and with so much power on the Internet is very difficult. After seeing [Ramsey] in their natural environment and navigating all the things that come with being a lead character in a huge franchise, I have so much respect for them. I can’t imagine being in that position, I feel lucky to be the [second season]. I don’t make a big deal out of it [laughs]. I hope Bella knows I have their back.”

Photo: HBO