The latest leaked image of Bella Ramsey as Ellie in HBO’s The Last of Us gave fans a glimpse of what they can expect in Season 2. Apparently, the tattoo on her arm did not seem to impress the viewers because it looked far too different from that of the video game.
Ellie’s tattoo is a significant part of the character and it’s such a bummer that the quality does not even look as good as expected. This has already worried the audience that the show is not delivering what it needs to.
Fans React To Ellie’s Tattoo On The Set Of The Last Of Us
A fan posted on X the leaked image of Bella Ramsey’s Ellie sporting the said tattoo on her right arm. Although it looks similar in length, the width and the design did not match that of the video game. Netizens already expressed disappointment at the overall design. Check out their tweets below:
Not even accurate to the game
— 𝐵𝓇𝑒𝓉𝓉 𝒥𝑜𝓏𝑜𝓋𝒾𝒸𝒽 (@IronWolfNetTV) July 9, 2024
This is just unbearable
— sannafayyaz 🇵🇰 (@sannafayyaz) July 9, 2024
Oh hell no……😭😭😭
— Jayden Tirado (@JaydenTirado1) July 9, 2024
Looks bad
— Daniel Rivera (@TheDonDolla91) July 10, 2024
It’s giving pic.twitter.com/UBwRYuT1Wd
— Maurice (@noimoien) July 9, 2024
Naughty Dog co-director and game writer Neil Druckmann explained the importance of Ellie’s tattoo via The Washington Post:
There’s a functional reason for the tattoo, which is covering up the bite. The idea that Joel instilled in her is the bite is dangerous. So, she starts by doing a chemical burn.
Ellie suffered a wound in the first game from the infected that proved her immunity to the Cordyceps infection. The tattoo was designed by California-based artist Natalie Hall. She was personally invited by the studio after the team found it difficult to visualize what aesthetic fits Ellie. Hall came up with the idea of a moth and fern.
Druckmann said that they had this “idea of obsession and being drawn to a light and constantly pursuing this thing.” The same concept was used for the loading screen where moths are drawn to the light. He says it represents Ellie’s relationship with Joel and a constant reminder of him.
It’s quite a thoughtful move if one thinks about it, giving Ellie more depth and personality by inking on her arm something that links her to a very important person in her life.
Expect More Changes In Season 2
After fans have seen Bella Ramsey’s tattoo on the set of The Last of Us, it’s already giving the idea that not much thought was put into the execution. Hopefully, though, it’s not the final one. Amid the release of the first season, it was already expressed by the showrunner that there will be plenty of changes from the source material.
Craig Mazin said via Variety that “the second game is much bigger than the first one” and so they have been planning how to incorporate those details in Season 2, but they are also choosing which ones to alter to better accommodate the flow of the show.
HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 will premiere in 2025.
