Bella Ramsey Talks About Fan Responses to The Last of Us TV Series

Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie in HBO’s The Last of Us, had a straightforward message for viewers unhappy with the show’s adaptations as it heads into Season 3: “You don’t have to watch it.”

Addressing the Season 2 Backlash

Speaking on The Awardist podcast (via Culture Crave), Ramsey responded to the divisive reactions to Season 2—particularly its pivotal and emotionally intense storyline where Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby brutally kills Joel (Pedro Pascal). Ramsey shared that they made a conscious effort to “stay away” from online discussions and controversies surrounding the season.

“There’s nothing I can do about it anyway. The show is out. There’s nothing that can be changed or adjusted [for Season 2]. There’s really no point in reading or looking at anything. People, of course, have the right to their opinions. It doesn’t impact the show, it doesn’t affect how the show progresses—or anything—in any way. So they’re very separate to me. So no, I just don’t really engage,” Ramsey said.

Advice for Season 3 Viewers

Looking forward to Season 3, Ramsey highlighted the importance of viewer choice and respecting personal preferences:

• “You don’t have to watch it.”
• “If you hate it that much, the game is there. You can always replay the game.”
• “You don’t have to watch [Season 3]. If you do decide to watch, I hope you enjoy it.”

Creative Vision and Showrunner’s Perspective

The TV series has consistently made significant departures from the source material—a deliberate creative decision from the beginning. Showrunner Craig Mazin anticipated “uproar” from fans regarding Season 2, and the response matched those expectations. While some fans voiced sharp criticism, others welcomed the season’s daring narrative choices.

Mazin reiterated the team’s focus on storytelling authenticity rather than catering to social media reactions: “We don’t create to either appease people on social media or avoid upsetting them.”

Neil Druckmann’s Role and the Franchise’s Future

Series co-creator and long-time Naughty Dog creative Neil Druckmann will not be involved in Season 3. He is currently concentrating on his leadership role at Naughty Dog and directing the upcoming original game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

The Last of Us Season 3 is set to debut in 2027. Whether it will be the final season of the series remains undecided; a fourth season has not been ruled out.

Meanwhile, Naughty Dog is reportedly working on The Last of Us: Part III, continuing the evolution of the beloved game series.