Isabela Merced’s Stunning Dina Performance Outshines the Show’s Biggest Logic Leap

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Warning: The following information may contain spoilers for those who haven’t finished watching Season 2 of ‘The Last of Us’ on HBO or with a Max subscription. Proceed with caution!

As anticipated, “The Last of Us” has sparked much discussion and sorrow among its devoted fanbase in its second season thus far, featuring one of the most heart-wrenching TV deaths I’ve ever encountered. Fortunately, Joel’s absence during several episodes – except for his emotionally stirring appearance in Episode 5 – has been softened by the delightful development of Ellie and Dina’s friendship, with Isabela Merced captivating me completely whenever she appears on screen.

Despite Merced’s intelligence, kindness, humor, and charm as Dina – qualities that certainly explain Ellie’s infatuation – I find myself torn about disregarding what might be the most notable departure from everyday logic in The Last of Us, if not the most significant leap in logic on the 2025 TV schedule: Dina’s hair always seems too well-groomed for reality in this post-apocalyptic world. Yes, I’m envious, but my skepticism remains justified.

I Can Understand Dina Having Nice Hair Within The Comforts Of Jackson

In Jackson, Wyoming’s live-action community of The Last of Us, it’s plausible that both Dina and Ellie have a means to bathe, possibly with soap, shampoo, or conditioner at hand, though they might not have an extensive collection like a salon would. Yet, it seems reasonable that they prioritize basics such as shampoo and conditioner over extravagant hygiene luxuries.

In the Season 2 premiere, when Isabela Merced was stylishly presenting her impeccable hairstyle at the dance with Ellie, I didn’t even bat an eye, knowing she’d want to look her best at such a lively social event. However, is there any reason they’re often seen close to Jackson’s shower area? Absolutely not.

Dina And Ellie Went Through Subway Scares And A Huge Storm Long After Leaving Jackson In “Day One”

For over half of my life, I’ve proudly sported long hair, so I’m quite knowledgeable about what can make it messy without washing. Situations that lead to excessive sweating are definitely on the “Causes Grossness” list. Also, I haven’t experienced the unique panic of fearing that fungi monsters might be chasing me and my potential partner may soon become one of them, at least up until now when this text was written. (Best wishes for future Nick!)

It’s hard to swallow the idea that skilled writers Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann expect us to believe that Dina managed to travel from Jackson to Seattle without any noticeable change in sound or water smoothness. It’s almost as if they’re jesting! Even if Dina and Ellie didn’t encounter any extraordinary difficulties beyond the subway incident, which they did in that episode, there should have been some impact on their journey, right? That’s more like a fantasy than reality.

I’d contend that Dina’s hair would have been unkempt after dodging subterranean perils, had it not been for the massive downpour that swept away her sweatiness. However, this scenario assumes that in the show’s continuity, Dina went to bed with knotted hair and woke up with an even more disheveled mane on her head.

Wait, Dina Somehow Woke Up With Perfectly Maneuverable Hair, Despite All The Rain, Stress, Sex And Sleep?!?

In moments when you run out of shampoo or find yourself in a chaotic situation involving late-night partying, emotional confessions, and intimacy, having a ponytail holder can be an essential tool for preventing a messy disaster with your hair.

However, if there’s a possibility of a mess or mishap involving Dina’s hair, she likely didn’t tie it up. Instead, it seems that the primary concern was the radiant shine and silkiness of her hair that caused glare when it fell across her face while reading maps.

If it turned out that appearances were misleading, and Dina was secretly harboring a real wasps’ nest under her stylish up-do hairstyle.

Dina’s Hair Remained Enviously Voluminous Throughout Day 2

How in… Where the… [Blinks rapidly.]

In the captivating scene of “Feel Her Love,” Dina’s heartrending revelation about her past was particularly impactful. This backstory could significantly shape the future of the two main characters, as suggested by the original storyline. Hearing about her traumatic experiences at such a tender age – finding her murdered family and their killer, and immediately taking justice into her own hands – was both shocking and compelling. Yet, despite her tragic past, Dina’s infectious optimism makes her even more endearing.

While Dina is baring both her soul and her burdens, my mind wanders to the idea that Isabela Merced could generate some award recognition for this part. This notion later evolved into, “If she were to present or receive an award and appeared on stage with hair like Dina’s during this scene, I might not identify her immediately.” This thought deviation might not be entirely appropriate during a discussion about child justice.

It’s clear that I’m not truly troubled or puzzled by Dina always looking so well-groomed with seemingly minimal brushing. We don’t need to question how they manage to clean their hair and clothes between action scenes, or why we never discuss the strong smells on TV. After all, it’s just a show.

Or rather: it’s not TV; it’s HBO. (But not HBO Max, since that’s still coming back.)

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It’s a heartwarming scene when characters, who haven’t enjoyed modern conveniences for quite some time, get the luxury of a rejuvenating hot bath. (Remember the day Andrew Lincoln’s character Rick Grimes trimmed his thick beard on The Walking Dead.) However, they have to be in dire straits first to truly appreciate it.

It appears that there won’t be much of the current character Dina featured in Episode 6 of Season 2, as it’s expected to focus on flashbacks. However, feel free to speculate about how Dina’s hairstyle will change by the season finale, which is set to air on HBO on May 25th.

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2025-05-16 20:08