The television adaptation of the renowned video game franchise, The Last of Us has garnered immense acclaim from audiences and critics alike. As the show is already greenlit for a second season, Isabela Merced recently talked about the same, particularly reflecting her thoughts on her co-star Bella Ramsey after closely working with them.
The post-apocalyptic drama has garnered widespread attention due to its compelling narrative and complex characters. Given that Bella Ramsey won everyone’s hearts despite their young age, the former admitted how the latter left a deep impression on her.
Isabela Merced Reflected on Working With Bella Ramsey in The Last of Us 2
Isabela Merced, who has worked in notable projects like Transformers: The Last Knight, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, and Dora and the Lost City of Gold, is a recent addition to The Last of Us Season 2.
She plays the romantic interest of Bella Ramsey’s Ellie in the series, allowing her to collaborate with the latter.
In a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Podcast with Josh Horowitz, she reflected on their collaboration, stating that it went away with a newfound appreciation for her younger co-star.
Despite their age, Ramsey is a promising talent, who has already won everyone’s hearts with their role in the first season.
The 23-year-old actress expressed her deep admiration for Ramsey’s work ethic and resilience, as she added, “I’m really proud of Bella.” She added,
I think if I were to close this out, like if this was the last interview I did about The Last of Us before we wrapped, I would say, you know, I really hope Bella gets their flowers. They’re working really, really hard—physically, emotionally, and mentally.
She further continued,
One thing I’ve learned throughout this is, like, wow, you can really admire people who are younger than you. You can really look up to them, absolutely.
Merced highlighted a significant lesson that many in the industry might overlook. In an industry where age and experience are often deemed respectful, talent like the latter can transcend these boundaries.
Isabela Merced Got Candid on The Last of Us Season 2’s Criticism
Merced also expressed her thoughts on the controversy surrounding the show’s Season 2, specifically focusing on the online backlash. For the unversed, some fans and critics alike have been criticizing the show for its casting choices, particularly for the upcoming season.
Some viewers have been voicing their discontent with Ramsey continuing their Ellie role despite the character aging from 14 to 19. Since they are only 20 years old but look younger, many felt that the character needed to be recast.
The actress expressed her confusion over the controversy as she pointed out that “the showrunner and the creator of the video game,” Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, collaborated to make the show.
So, if you like what the guy made and he’s making more of it, why are you mad? You know what I mean? I’m too opinionated to be on Twitter. I really need off because I see this stuff, and it makes me want to go Cardi B on them.
Not just them, Kaitlyn Dever and Merced’s roles of Abby and Dina respectively have garnered significant criticism on their own.
While many believed that Abby’s appearance is different from what’s depicted in the original source, Dina’s Jewish/Israeli heritage in the game is different from Merced who is of Peruvian-American heritage. This has led to concerns about representation and authenticity.
Though the second season will premiere in 2025, the first season of The Last of Us is available on Max.
