The Last of Us Season 2 Backlash Gets Perfect Response From Ellie Actress Ashley Johnson

by

Ashley Johnson, who voiced Ellie in The Last of Us video games, recently shared her thoughts on the negative reactions some fans had to Season 2 of the HBO show. Johnson originally played the resilient character in the popular PlayStation games before the story was adapted into a successful TV series with Pedro Pascal, Kaitlyn Dever, and Gabriel Luna. Bella Ramsey took on the role of Ellie in the TV adaptation.

Some fans were upset by the casting of Ramsey, feeling the 22-year-old didn’t match their idea of Ellie from the video games. This criticism grew stronger when Season 2 of The Last of Us premiered, as the show focused on an older Ellie driven by anger and seeking revenge across the country.

While promoting her work on The Mighty Nein, Ashley Johnson discussed the negative response to the second season of The Last of Us TV show, drawing parallels to the criticism the video game The Last of Us Part II faced when it was first released.

Johnson noted that people are incredibly passionate about the story of The Last of Us, and he shares that love. He explained that while this passion is often wonderful, it can sometimes be challenging.

TopMob asked: “The first season of the game received a lot of criticism, and now Season 2 is also facing strong reactions, but in a different way. As one of the creators, what’s it been like to see how people have reacted and how their engagement with the story has changed across different platforms?”

Ashley Johnson explained that the fans of ‘The Last of Us’ are incredibly passionate about the story – and she’s one of them! While that enthusiasm is usually wonderful, it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. But she gets it – when you love something, you naturally want it to live up to your expectations.

She explained that it’s often challenging when creating something, especially when the creator’s idea differs from what the audience wants. However, Johnson shared her deep affection for The Last of Us in all its forms, expressing her gratitude for being involved in telling its story.

It’s tough when you pour your heart into a project and hope others feel the same way. It doesn’t always happen, and that can be disappointing – you naturally want people to connect with your work. But I genuinely love ‘The Last of Us’ in all its forms, and I’m incredibly grateful to be involved in sharing that story.

I’ve been really enjoying Ashley Johnson’s work as Ellie in The Last of Us – both in the original PlayStation games (on PS4 and PS5) and the incredible HBO show. If you haven’t seen the TV series yet, both seasons are available on HBO Max. We’re all eagerly awaiting season three, which is currently slated to come out around 2027!

Fans of Ashley Johnson, who voices Ellie, can now hear her in the new animated fantasy series The Mighty Nein, available on Amazon Prime Video. The show is based on the popular second campaign of the Critical Role Dungeons & Dragons podcast. You can find more information about The Mighty Nein here.

The Complicated Reaction to The Last of Us TV Show

I remember when Bella Ramsey was announced as Ellie for The Last of Us show, there was a lot of pushback from some fans. It seemed like a lot of us gamers had a very specific idea of what Ellie should look like, and Bella just didn’t match that image for them. It was a bit frustrating, honestly, because it felt like people weren’t giving her a chance before even seeing her performance.

The first season aired, and Bella Ramsey’s performance as Ellie was largely praised. She quickly proved she was perfect for the role, silencing any initial concerns.

The debate about Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of Ellie resurfaced with the release of Season 2. The new season jumped forward in time, aging the characters several years—a change more noticeable in the game than the show. This led to renewed criticism of Ramsey, with many viewers pointing out that her version of Ellie didn’t quite match the character as she appears in The Last of Us Part II.

The game follows Ellie as she embarks on a mission for revenge against those who have harmed her. This pursuit consumes her, causing her to distance herself from loved ones and struggle with her inner demons. Some viewers of the TV adaptation didn’t pick up on the subtle changes in Ellie’s character during Season 2. Instead of a gradual decline, as shown in the game, her shift felt abrupt around two-thirds of the way through the season.

The Last of Us TV series is an adaptation of the video game, and while it’s based on the same story, it includes some important differences.

Viewers familiar with the games might find this adaptation’s Ellie a bit different from what they expected. However, it’s important to remember this is a new interpretation, so it naturally has its own distinct look, sound, and feel compared to the original game.

Read More

2026-02-10 15:05