Bella Ramsey in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Is Actually Great

It’s been well over a decade now since gamers were first introduced to a character named Ellie through the first rendition of The Last of Us. Released by Naughty Dog Studios in 2013, what began as one of the most acclaimed games of its time has since grown into a household name among cinephiles and streaming fans worldwide. Most fans agree that the show has managed to stay close to the game in terms of quality. With a critical reception that consistently hovers around the high 90s, the show has also been nominated for and won a staggering number of prestigious awards for its first season.

Among them, a Peabody Award and eight Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards stand out. This ultimately means that few can argue the show hasn’t already done justice to the immense legacy of the game. This is a big deal for gamers, who would likely have been up in arms if the adaptation was deemed to have gone awry by them in any way. Instead, the show has been a massive hit, largely due to its creative pacing, amazing special effects, and the fantastic performances of its cast.

Among the cast, lead actors Pedro Pascal and the brilliant young Bella Ramsey have largely captivated audiences, from gamers to sci-fi-horror fans. Ramsey, in particular, has been a revelation — not because we never knew the young star’s potential, but because of how brilliantly they have elevated their performances since the show began. However, Season 2 was always expected to throw some curveballs into the mix. What surprised me was how effortlessly Bella Ramsey knocked them out of the park.

‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Was Supposed To Be Different

As much as Season 1 of the show was a massive success, the jarring shift seen between the first and second The Last of Us games meant there was a fair bit of tension over how it would be handled. To understand why, you must understand the somewhat convoluted story behind Ellie’s age in the show and the game versus Bella Ramsey’s real age during production. If we return to the original game, The Last of Us Part I, Ellie is 14 years old.

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However, by the time Season 1 of the show was shot, Ramsey was an 18-year-old playing a 14-year-old character. This wouldn’t have been apparent to the average fan of the show, who perhaps never played the game or knew anything about Bella Ramsey before seeing them in The Last of Us. Ramsey has become synonymous with their baby-faced features, which often leave them mistaken for a far younger person. Still, this wasn’t much of an issue, as Ramsey resembled a child close to Ellie’s intended age.

It’s Part II that presents the expected conundrum. While most show-only viewers overlooked the age issue, game fans likely wondered how the show would handle the continuity needed to match The Last of Us Part II, as it is meant to see quite a jump in Ellie’s age.

The Convoluted Saga of Ellie’s Age in ‘The Last of Us’

So, what had gamers feeling tense? Season 2 sees Ellie at 19 years old, five years older than in Season 1. However, it’s only been two years since the first season was released on HBO and Max, and Ramsey mostly looks the same as they did in the first season. Some fans were worried they wouldn’t be able to pull off some of the dark and incredibly violent scenes in The Last of Us Part II.

Although Bella Ramsey is almost the same age as the character they are playing now, they still look much younger than the character in real life. Hardcore fans of the franchise may have seen this as a potential issue. That is, until audiences saw how effectively Bella Ramsey made up for it with their performance.

Bella Ramsey Has Always Possessed Some Serious Star Quality

Even if you have never played The Last of Us, many viewers knew Ramsey from their work in Game of Thrones. It was around 2016 when the world was first introduced to Bella Ramsey in their role as Lyanna Mormont. Besides becoming an internet meme sensation in that show, Lyanna became a fan favorite due to her feisty nature and sensational screen presence despite her demure stature.

As the character from the show took off, so too was a new star born. Bella Ramsey had arrived with aplomb and what was some serious future star power. Since that breakout role, Ramsey cemented themselves as a young actor with some serious talent. Awards and constant recognition weren’t far off, and by the time the role of Ellie in The Last of Us came about, most who knew their work by that point were already well aware of just how good they were.

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There Seems To Be Layers to How Good Bella Ramsey Actually Is

However, fans can breathe a sigh of relief as The Last of Us Season 2 continues to air. Although the character may look like she hasn’t aged much, early episodes in the second season show that Ramsey has already ramped up their performance. With a more measured approach, they’ve aged the character through their acting. There are some subtle but deliberate shifts in everything from the character’s gait to the tone of her voice and the inflection when she speaks.

Other changes are more physical, and she seems to step more heavily, have a more guarded posture, and be far less prone to minor fidgets. These traits, coupled with an unspoken emotional restraint, portray the character’s aging and emotional maturity and serve as a brilliant reminder of why Bella Ramsey is such a remarkable actor. After expecting to see some physical difference to show her aging process, it has been a welcome surprise to see Ramsey find far more artistically creative ways to achieve this. All that’s left now is to see what other layers of brilliance the young star has in store for us as the season proceeds. Season 2 of The Last of Us is now streaming on Max.