The second season of The Last of Us has captured the attention of fans with the recreation of one of the most iconic scenes from the video game: the moment when Ellie performs an impromptu concert for Dina, singing Take On Me by A-ha. In the fourth episode, the performance by Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced has been praised for its authenticity and emotionality, an effort in which showrunner Craig Mazin has committed to being as faithful as possible to the original material.
A scene they knew they had to give special weight to
Mazin mentioned during a conversation on Sony’s Creator to Creator program that from the beginning of production he knew he had to include the music store scene, highlighting its importance within the narrative. “That scene was really special to me and left a mark,” Merced emphasized, who also expressed his emotional connection with the music during filming.
Bella Ramsey, in addition to acting, prepared intensely to sing and play the guitar, carrying out the entire process by herself. “The work she did was tremendous, because they are very good at playing and singing at the same time,” Mazin commented, emphasizing the authenticity he was looking for to make the moment feel genuine. The dynamic between Ramsey and Merced during filming was a key point; they both shared emotional moments that made the shoot a very special experience. “Your voice penetrated my heart,” Merced recalled about the impact of Ramsey’s performance.
The new episodes of The Last of Us air every Sunday on HBO and Max, and this adaptation continues to generate expectations among the audience, reaffirming its focus on telling deep and emotional stories.
