The Last of Us has never been free of controversy, and one especially divisive moment emerged in Season 2 of the HBO adaptation. As some viewers criticized the show for being overly “woke,” Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey) added fuel to the fire with the line, “I’m going to be a dad!”—a reaction to finding out that Dina (Isabela Merced) is pregnant, as their relationship deepens.
Though many fans saw the line as a touching, playful moment, it didn’t sit well with everyone. It quickly sparked a wave of memes and parodies, becoming one of the most talked-about quotes of the season. With all the buzz surrounding it, co-creator Craig Mazin recently addressed the scene. According to SkyIreland on TikTok, Mazin explained that the line—absent from the original video game—was added simply because it “felt right,” especially after seeing how excited Ramsey was to deliver it.
“Bella and I were talking about that episode, and, I like to run things past [the actors] all the time,” Mazin said of the line, hinting that he first got Ramsey’s approval before adding it in. “I was like, ‘This just popped into my head.’ I don’t know why. It just felt right. It’s not an expression of even gender, as much as just state of mind. Bella was like, ‘Oh, oh, oh, oh, I have to!'”
It’s not an expression of even gender, as much as just state of mind.
Mazin continued, “Sometimes, to have somebody say, ‘Oh, I don’t mind doing that,’ [isn’t good enough]. You’re looking for them to say, ‘Oh, no, I must! Yes! Please, let me do that!‘ The joy that just burbles out of Bella when they say, ‘I’m going to be a dad!’ It’s wonderful.”
Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby Will Be the Primary Character in Season 3
While the quote sparked plenty of online jokes, it wasn’t the most controversial part of The Last of Us Season 2. What truly upset many fans was the early death of Pedro Pascal’s character, Joel — a moment that, although faithful to the original video game, still shocked viewers. Looking ahead, Season 3 is set to shift focus to Joel’s killer, Abby (played by Kaitlyn Dever), making her the central figure of the upcoming storyline, for better or worse.
The first two seasons of The Last of Us are streaming on Max. Season 3 does not have a premiere date set at this time.
