Craig Mazin

And I think you'll see some of that as the season goes on and certainly as we go forward with the show.

And I think you'll see some of that as the season goes on and certainly as we go forward with the show.

The look on Ellie's face where all that kind of fun, I'm one of these guys doing this stuff, just gone. I'm not Joel's girl. And it was important for us to show this fight because we wanted to explore how somebody who is Bella's size fights. Because Bella has aged, but she's not getting taller. And the world is full of people that are bigger than her.

The look on Ellie's face where all that kind of fun, I'm one of these guys doing this stuff, just gone. I'm not Joel's girl. And it was important for us to show this fight because we wanted to explore how somebody who is Bella's size fights. Because Bella has aged, but she's not getting taller. And the world is full of people that are bigger than her.

And so we did a lot of research and looking around, and it seemed like jujitsu was the way to go. And I watched videos of small people taking down big people, and it's kind of incredible, and they do it the way she did it there. And that's what they're training her to do. And I think it's amazing the idea that Ellie is like, I know my size. Teach me how to do violence.

And so we did a lot of research and looking around, and it seemed like jujitsu was the way to go. And I watched videos of small people taking down big people, and it's kind of incredible, and they do it the way she did it there. And that's what they're training her to do. And I think it's amazing the idea that Ellie is like, I know my size. Teach me how to do violence.

two people that are bigger than me because I want to be effective in this world on my own. I don't want somebody coming to save me every time. I want to be able to take these people down. And we also get a hint that she's not necessarily fully in control of it because when she's in that moment and she's got his arm and he's tapping out, she's somewhere else.

two people that are bigger than me because I want to be effective in this world on my own. I don't want somebody coming to save me every time. I want to be able to take these people down. And we also get a hint that she's not necessarily fully in control of it because when she's in that moment and she's got his arm and he's tapping out, she's somewhere else.

It's fascinating to see how Ellie finds her purpose in fighting. That's where she feels effective. That's where she feels like she's her own person. And I think a lot of this is about separation. And when you separate from the adult that has taken care of you and raised you, you want to figure out how you're an adult. And adults are effective at things. Ellie is not like Joel. Joel builds.

It's fascinating to see how Ellie finds her purpose in fighting. That's where she feels effective. That's where she feels like she's her own person. And I think a lot of this is about separation. And when you separate from the adult that has taken care of you and raised you, you want to figure out how you're an adult. And adults are effective at things. Ellie is not like Joel. Joel builds.

Ellie doesn't build stuff. She doesn't do construction. But Ellie can do violence. And she does it right here. And then in the next scene we see her, she's blowing the head off a clicker, as Tommy teaches her. And her reaction when that head explodes is, oh! It's a delight. Because those things are dangerous animals. They're free to kill.

Ellie doesn't build stuff. She doesn't do construction. But Ellie can do violence. And she does it right here. And then in the next scene we see her, she's blowing the head off a clicker, as Tommy teaches her. And her reaction when that head explodes is, oh! It's a delight. Because those things are dangerous animals. They're free to kill.

We talk a lot about community. That word is going to come up more than a few times because that is what Jackson is. It is the only community that I can think of that we've... shown, certainly is, that's functional. It may be the only functional community at all in the world. We don't know because beyond the borders of where we've traveled is a bit invisible to us. But Jackson is functioning.

We talk a lot about community. That word is going to come up more than a few times because that is what Jackson is. It is the only community that I can think of that we've... shown, certainly is, that's functional. It may be the only functional community at all in the world. We don't know because beyond the borders of where we've traveled is a bit invisible to us. But Jackson is functioning.

It is taking in refugees. Joel and Tommy are working on renovating some of the houses that weren't livable so that they can house more people, so they can grow. This is what humans do in success. This is what was going on back in the hunter-gatherer days they began. A little small thing becomes London one day. And that's what's happening here. There is a power to that. There is a security to that.

It is taking in refugees. Joel and Tommy are working on renovating some of the houses that weren't livable so that they can house more people, so they can grow. This is what humans do in success. This is what was going on back in the hunter-gatherer days they began. A little small thing becomes London one day. And that's what's happening here. There is a power to that. There is a security to that.

There is also a danger that you become a little complacent. You think you've figured it out. It's been five years. You are bringing the best of what we are back, arts and joy and peace and safety and harmony. But don't overestimate your place in this world.

There is also a danger that you become a little complacent. You think you've figured it out. It's been five years. You are bringing the best of what we are back, arts and joy and peace and safety and harmony. But don't overestimate your place in this world.

It was important... I think to get across that Joel was struggling with why. It's easy for anyone to go, oh, I'll tell you why, because look at how she ended season one. You swore and she said, okay, and she doesn't seem like she believes him. It was important to see that Joel hasn't kind of gotten there yet. And that, in fact, this is relatively new. This is a new development.

It was important... I think to get across that Joel was struggling with why. It's easy for anyone to go, oh, I'll tell you why, because look at how she ended season one. You swore and she said, okay, and she doesn't seem like she believes him. It was important to see that Joel hasn't kind of gotten there yet. And that, in fact, this is relatively new. This is a new development.