Bella Ramsey’s Blunt Message to Haters Ahead of The Last of Us Season 3
Bella Ramsey has addressed ongoing criticism surrounding HBO’s hit series The Last of Us and offered viewers a no-nonsense piece of advice as anticipation builds for season three.
What was once hailed as a masterpiece of television soon found itself at the centre of fierce debate. Season one earned dazzling reviews, a 96% critics’ score and 86% from audiences.
By contrast, season two still impressed critics with 91%, but the audience score plummeted to just 37%.
The turning point? Joel’s shocking death at the hands of Abby, played out almost frame-for-frame from the original video game. For many fans, it felt like betrayal.
Speaking on The Awardist podcast, Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie, revealed how she handles the backlash.
Bella Ramsey tells The Last of Us critics, “You don’t have to watch” Season 3 #lastofus #hbo #bellaramsey #pinoygamer pic.twitter.com/WoAA1XL7r5
— PinoyGamer (@pinoygamerph) August 30, 2025
“There’s nothing I can do about it anyway. 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,” she said in comments first reported by Deadline.
Ramsey went further, reminding fans that choice remains firmly in their hands: “If you hate it that much, the game exists. You can just play the game again.”
Her words cut through the noise. No excuses. No pandering. Just clarity.
Joel’s death was always on the cards. Pedro Pascal, who portrays him, was rarely spotted on set amid other filming commitments in London, fuelling rumours long before the season aired. Teaser footage showing Joel mostly in flashbacks only added weight to the speculation.
The creative decision, however brutal, mirrors the story of The Last of Us Part II. Viewers may not have liked it, but it was inevitable.
HBO has confirmed that season three will shift focus to Abby, digging into her past and motivations. The story will likely explore her ties to the Wolves, her bond with her father, and the chain of events that led her to Joel’s doorstep.
This narrative shift echoes the series’ evolving structure: first Joel’s journey, then Ellie’s, and now Abby’s. Whether fans embrace it or not, the franchise seems committed to telling every side of the story.
The Last of Us remains a cultural juggernaut. Joel’s death, while divisive, now sits alongside iconic TV gut-punches, Glenn in The Walking Dead, the Starks in Game of Thrones. These moments hurt, but they keep the conversation alive.
Ramsey’s stance is clear: people are free to love it or leave it. Either way, season three is coming, and the story isn’t finished yet.
