Bella Ramsey Tells Last of Us Season 2 Critics to Play the Game Again
Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie on HBO’s The Last of Us, spoke about the season 2 backlash on EW’s The Awardist podcast and urged some critics to revisit the games instead of staying focused on the show’s negative reception.
What Ramsey said
Ramsey talked about the reaction to season 2 on EW’s The Awardist podcast.
They said they try to “steer clear” of negativity and noted, “The show is out. There’s nothing that can be changed or altered. So I’m like, there’s not really any point in reading or looking at anything.”
Ramsey added, “I just don’t really engage,” and when asked for a message to critics, they said: “I would say, you don’t have to watch it. If you hate it that much, the game exists. You can just play the game again. You don’t have to watch it, but if you do want to watch it, then I hope you enjoy it.”
Fan reaction
Coverage of Ramsey’s comments was flagged by outlets such as GamesRadar, and the conversation has continued across social feeds and comment sections.
Some fans responded directly to Ramsey’s suggestion. For example, one comment reported on the podcast read: “YES, we could play the game again, but a lot of us didn’t like the game either.”
Production notes and improvisation
Crew and cast choices have been part of the wider discussion. Reporting notes that some moments on the show were improvised or adjusted during filming, according to pieces from CBR, GameRant, and Slashfilm.
At the same time, much criticism aimed at season 2 has focused on writing, tone, and direction — elements that are shaped by showrunners and writers rather than the actors alone.
What’s next: Season 3 and the games
HBO has confirmed a season 3 is planned. Reporting from GameSpot says the next season will focus more on Abby than on Ellie.
Additionally, IGN reports that season 3 will be longer than season 2. Separately, press reports indicate that Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann has left the show.
For players, there was also a recent update to The Last of Us Part II that added a chronological story mode during the summer, giving another way to experience the game’s narrative.
