[WARNING: Spoilers for The Last of Us: Part 2 below]
Dina was a new character introduced into The Last of Us franchise during The Last of Us: Part 2, and there remains a lot of questions as to what happened to her after the game’s ending. With such a mysterious finale, there’s reason to question the well-being of Dina as well as her young son, J.J.
There has been some speculation over whether Dina and J.J. died at the end of The Last of Us: Part 2. This is fueled by the fact that Ellie returns to the farmhouse only to find no traces of Dina or baby J.J. Given all the horrible things that have happened to them (and all of the dangerous folks they've met) it’s not far-fetched to assume a monster or ruthless faction could have gotten the best of them.
Even though there’s no evidence to suggest Dina and her son stuck around in The Last of Us 2's finale, there’s also nothing that implies they were harmed or taken against their will. There’s no sign of forced entry, and all of Ellie’s things are still at the house – it’s only Dina and J.J.’s things that are absent. Coupled by the fact that Dina told Ellie it was over if she leaves, it seems pretty clear that Dina packed up and left after Ellie made her decision.
TLOU2: What Happened To Dina?
This still begs the question, where did Dina go after leaving the farm at the end of The Last of Us: Part 2? Dina is already at risk being a woman travelling alone in a post-apocalyptic society, but with a young baby in tow, it makes her even more vulnerable. This makes it unlikely that she just vanished off into the night without a plan. Rather, it makes the most sense that she’d go somewhere with a sense of familiarity, some places she knows she’ll have support and safety – Jackson County.
Though there doesn’t appear to be anything officially confirming this is Dina’s whereabouts, it would make the most sense. Dina already knows people there having spent most of her adult life there and is likely close to many of the inhabitants, such as Tommy’s wife Maria. She’s also aware of how well they take care of each other and the children in the settlement. Therefore, it makes the most sense for her to return to her former home with baby J.J. since it will provide her with the most security.
Even more, this would easily help set The Last of Us franchise up for a third installment. Jackson County is probably the first place Ellie would go to find Dina and J.J., or just the first place she’d go upon having her partner leave her. So, if Dina and her son are there, it’d give the game’s writers ample opportunity to make the former couple make up. After all they went through, they both deserve a chance at happiness and a peaceful life.
While The Last of Us: Part 2 doesn’t fully confirm what happened to Dina or J.J. at the end of the game, it’s most likely that they left of their own volition and are staying with loved ones amid such uncertain times.