Why Jesse From The Last Of Us Season 2 Looks So Familiar

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Since the second season of “The Last of Us” is adapting the second game in the Naughty Dog series, which was released as a 2020 sequel to the original game in 2013 (The Last of Us Part II), it’s not surprising that the HBO series is expanding its cast. One of the newcomers is Young Mazino, who is relatively new to acting… but which character will he portray?

Born as Christopher Young Kim in 1991 to South Korean immigrants residing in Maryland, Mazino (originally known as Christopher Kim) embarked on his acting career following training at the Stella Adler School of Acting in New York. He altered his stage name by using his middle name as his first and adopting the moniker “Mazino,” inspired by the comic book series “Tower of God” written by S.I.U., due to existing Christopher Kims registered with the Screen Actors Guild. His initial on-screen appearance was in an unnamed role for a minor production titled “Digging” in 2013, before landing guest roles in popular shows like “Blindspot,” “New Amsterdam,” and “Blue Bloods.” (Notably, he also starred alongside John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, and Ayo Edebiri in the 2025 thriller “Opus.”) What other significant role did Mazino secure, and what can you tell me about his character Jesse in “The Last of Us?”

In this rephrased version, I’ve attempted to maintain the original structure while making it more readable for a general audience.

Beef

In a significant turn of events, young actor Mazino experienced a substantial leap in his career following the 2023 Netflix original series “Beef.” Although the narrative primarily focuses on the tumultuous relationship between contractor Danny Cho (played by Steven Yeun) and business owner Amy Lau (Ali Wong), who clash after a road rage incident in Los Angeles, there’s a rich supporting cast. One of these characters is Mazino’s portrayal of Paul Cho, Danny’s reckless younger brother who often neglects his responsibilities towards their aged parents. This negligence leads to him attempting a questionable business venture with Danny, which ultimately explodes and causes a rift between the siblings. The plot progresses as Paul encounters Amy, develops feelings for her, confides in her, and eventually kisses her, creating several complications (notably, Amy is married). To say that things spiral out of control from here would be a significant understatement.

In the end, Mazino secured a nomination for an Emmy award in the category of outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie. His co-star Joseph Lee, portraying Amy’s artist husband George Nakai, also received a nomination. However, they both lost to Paul Walter Hauser for his role in “Black Bird.” Despite this loss, Mazino gained significant recognition… So, who does he take on as a character in “The Last of Us” during the second season of the show?

Young Mazino’s new character Jesse on The Last of Us is a huge part of the narrative in the game

In the game “The Last of Us Part II,” Jesse is a resident of a secure community of survivors in Jackson, Wyoming, where Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) and his companion Ellie (Bella Ramsey), whom he considers like a daughter, visited Joel’s brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna). In the game, Jesse plays a crucial role as part of the patrol team that monitors areas surrounding Jackson for potential threats, whether they are humans, zombies, or something else hidden. He also maintains friendships with Ellie and her companion Dina (played by Isabela Merced in Season 2 of the series). We won’t reveal any more details to avoid spoiling it for the countless fans of “The Last of Us” who haven’t played the first games.

Mazino delivers powerful performances filled with genuine emotion and heart, even given his limited experience thus far. Therefore, it’s highly likely that he will shine as Jesse in “The Last of Us” season 2. The second season premieres on Max and HBO at 9 P.M. EST on Sunday, April 13, and it has already been confirmed for a third season.

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2025-04-12 16:30