There have been a variety of opinions about The Last of Us 2. It is arguably one of the most divisive games in recent gaming history. Nevertheless, there is one thing many gamers can agree on: Dina is pretty cool. She is a breath of fresh air and a nice departure from the heavy storylines that involve Ellie and Abby.
Dina has some of the best—and funniest—lines in the game, but she also brings an intriguing element to co-op play as her character can do some serious combat when necessary. While Dina is a crucial part of the story, there is still so much that isn’t known about her. Today, the spotlight is on Dina. Here are a few hidden details you likely missed about this character.
10 Dina’s Name Offers Some Insight Into Her Story
Dina’s name is an alternate spelling of the Hebrew name, “Dinah.” It is a Biblical name that was given to Jacob’s daughter, an Israelite. Her name means “vindicated” or “judged” in Hebrew. The meaning relates to Dina’s story. Early on in the game, her character is seemingly “judged” by a previous boyfriend, and even an elder townsperson because of her personal relationship choices. She is also “judged” by Ellie for a major plot turning point. She has to defend many of her choices, and her name gives insight into this.
9 She Embraces Her Religion
One cool thing that The Last Of Us 2 has been praised for is their attention to detail when it comes to the background of the characters. The developers paid much attention to traditional Jewish practices, as Dina is a Jewish-American character. She can be seen wearing a Hamsa bracelet in the game. The bracelet is said to be a protection against harmful feelings. Along with her combat savvy, could this have helped Dina expertly dodge so many attacks while protecting Ellie?
8 Dina’s Trek
There are few details about Dina’s family, and you might have missed the ones that were discussed. Dina had a sister, Talia, and a mother. She and her family were from New Mexico. At some point, Dina was separated from her family and made her way to Jackson, Wyoming.
For her to make it from New Mexico, through Colorado, to Wyoming, she had to have known how to take good care of herself. It seems that she was the perfect person to go along with Ellie on her journey.
7 Who Are The Ravens?
As Dina discusses her past life, she mentions a group called The Ravens, which is a faction of FEDRA. This group seems to be similar to The Wolves, Seraphites, and the Rattlers. Who are these people? Could they be involved in a potential sequel? Could some of Dina’s family have been involved with this group? There is a reason they were mentioned, but we may not find out why until a later title.
6 Her Family Could Be Dead
There is much sadness in The Last of Us 2. Most of the main characters experienced grief, and even though Dina can be the life of the party, she may have also had to deal with loss. During the game, Dina mentions her family in the past tense. Therefore, it is likely that her family may be dead. Again, they could have all gotten separated, but the fact that she made it to Jackson alone speaks to the possibility that Dina is the only person left in her family.
5 Her Connection To Another Big Series
This one is more about Dina’s voice actor, Shannon Woodward, but it is still a nice nod to the character. Woodward has done some acting work on the HBO show, Westworld. However, another voice actor from The Last of Us 2 also has ties there.
Jeffrey Wright, the voice of Issac Dixon, is also a character in Westworld. Considering that HBO is picking up The Last of Us for a series, is it possible that we could see these two reprise their roles?
4 Dina’s Model Is Currently Playing The Games
It’s an interesting thing to see yourself in a video game. However complex the feelings are, Cascina Caradonna, probably felt each one of them. She was chosen to be the model for Dina. While Woodward captured Dina’s energy through voice, Cascina brought even more layers to the character with her likeness. Yet, one of the coolest and maybe weirdest experiences is watching Cascina play through the game the first game. Watching “Dina” play the original game on a YouTube playthrough has to be a “gaming moment of the year.”
3 Dina Is A Weapon Master
In a world like the one presented to gamers in The Last of Us 2, one has to be comfortable with combat. Dina may enjoy dancing at farm parties, but this woman knows how to wield a weapon. She has become skilled with rifles, pistols, and hunting knives. Again, her time before Jackson (when she traveled from New Mexico) likely prepared her for what she would face with Ellie.
2 Dina May Have A Longer History With Jackson Than First Thought
It is said that Dina arrived in Jackson before 2033. Joel and Ellie arrived around 2034 to connect with Joel’s brother and sister-in-law, Tommy and Maria, respectively. So, this puts her at being at the settlement a full year before Ellie.
She was likely in Wyoming during some of the events from the original game. Could we see a prequel story that includes Dina? The dates do match up for one.
1 Dina May Not Have Left Ellie In The End
Spoiler alert on this one. We have to talk about the end of the game for this entry. When Ellie finishes her last journey to beat Abby, she returns to the home her and Dina shared. When she enters the farmhouse, no one is there. Many gamers have concluded that Dina left her. But some eagle-eyed fans are making the case that this didn’t happen. Before Ellie went to California to find Abby, she wasn’t wearing Dina’s bracelet. When she visits the house, in the end, she is. She also doesn’t call out for Dina. She and Dina likely patched things up before this scene, and Ellie is visiting the home for closure. Maybe The Last of Us 2 has a happy ending after all.
NEXT: The Last Of Us 2: 10 Best Tips For Survival In The Game
