The Last of Us is a well-known game show within the gaming community. According to PlayStation’s official website, it’s a game set in an infection-ravaged U.S about a smuggler named Joel who has been given the task of escorting a 14-year-old girl named Ellie to a safe place. Part one of the game is where you play through the two companions’ journey across the country to find safety. Part two follows Ellie, who goes on a journey for justice and closure.
However, the game also has a live-action adaptation of the popular game. Recently, season two has aired and is based on part two of the games. The source of controversy surrounding this season isn’t really based on the acting, as most would assume, but it’s based on the actress playing Ellie Williams. Ellie Williams is played by Actress Bella Ramsey, known for her roles in Game of Thrones, The Worst Witch, and Becoming Elizabeth. The majority of the public online are upset as Ramsey does “not resemble Ellie at all.” Ellie, in the games, has a chiseled face, short brown hair, and a scrawnier frame. Ramsey has longer, blackish-brownish hair, a medium frame, and a different facial structure.
Despite these differences, it is important to acknowledge that Ellie is a fictional character and made to be on a computer. An actor/actress will always struggle to match that description and can not adjust what they look like to match the frame or face shape of a character. Anonymous Liberty patriot explains that she thinks people are
“mad that she isn’t conventionally attractive and doesn’t look like the in-game model.”
The acting and the script itself have also been a controversial topic. Many scenes in the adaptation are similar to the scenes from the game. However, some scenes are considered very out of character for Ellie. For example, if you have seen the pregnancy scene where Ellie discovers that a character named Dina is pregnant, in-game Ellie gets upset, whereas adaptation Ellie gets excited. Many fans were upset about this as it goes against everything Ellie believes in. Yet, instead of blaming it on the scriptwriters, Ramsey received hate for it. Another anonymous patriot believes that “the acting is pretty good, but the script is a little off.”
Overall, the controversy seems very stretched out and undeserved, but let us know what you think!