Bill and Frank Stole 'The Last Of Us' Fans' Hearts
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Warning: spoilers follow for the third episode of The Last of Us.
Episode 3 of HBO's adaptation of survival horror video game The Last of Us took a left turn this week, drawing viewers away from the central quest of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in order to focus on two new characters in what ended up being a largely self-contained, deeply moving story.
"Long, Long Time" introduced us to Bill, a loner survivalist played somewhat appropriately by Parks & Rec star Nick Offerman, who lives alone in a bunker following the outbreak of the cordyceps infection that decimated the population. Several years after the initial disaster, Bill encounters Frank (The White Lotus and Welcome to Chippendales star Murray Bartlett), who has been caught in one of his many traps.
Initially distrustful of this newcomer, Bill reluctantly offers Frank shelter and a meal. The pair tentatively grow closer, and what follows is a tender love story that unfolds over the span of decades, as viewers watch the two men fall in love and live out their lives together, finding happiness despite the destruction all around them.
"One of the beautiful things for me about this experience was being paired with Nick and finding that both of us wanted to just go there. Go to the places that the script asked us to go to, to be vulnerable, and to fill out what the script was asking us to do," Bartlett told Complex after the episode aired. "We were lucky that we enjoyed working together and were willing to walk that road together."
The episode ends with Frank, who has been getting increasingly more sick from an unnamed terminal disease, asking Bill to assist him in euthanasia so he can die with dignity. Unwilling to live without Frank, Bill ends his own life as well, in a scene which is both devastating but also bittersweet, closing out their story on a note of hope as Joel and Ellie reenter the narrative.
Response to the episode online has been overwhelmingly positive, with fans praising the writing of the romance between the two characters, and Bartlett and Offerman's understated performances. Some even described the episode as a highlight of the show so far... while others could barely articulate their feelings on "Long, Long Last" outside of the usual "shaking/crying/throwing up" hyperbole. See the best viewer reactions below.
The way I pressed play thinking it’s gonna be a fun ep with Ellie and bill’s beef and it turned out to be an emotional, heart wrenching hour. goodbye #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/IvJU0xlFa8
— ⧗ (@waltersndanvers) January 30, 2023
the last of us writers were like “hey joel needs a car. what if we write the most touching and heartbreaking hour of television in the world”
— zach silberberg (@zachsilberberg) January 30, 2023
rumors were true this ep was one of the best ep created but AT WHAT COST #thelastofus pic.twitter.com/EupfofaVKc
— joel miller defender TLOU SPOILERS (@ellievjoel) January 30, 2023
“I was never afraid before you showed up” #TheLastOfUs
pic.twitter.com/vBIUf9SsS1— Pakks (anti-hero version) (@_pakks) January 30, 2023
the director said “take 5!” but Nick and Murray heard “change lives” and just broke my soul into a million pieces #THeLastofUs pic.twitter.com/wYargyf5hi
— darcie blu (@darcieblu18) January 30, 2023
"This isn't the tragic suicide at the end of the play im old, I'm satisfied, and you were my purpose."
#TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/kARJweRGJl— A 🜃 tlou era (@anadalau) January 30, 2023
Have there ever been two more obvious contenders for the next round of Emmys? #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/zkBur0O85H
— David Opie (@DavidOpie) January 30, 2023
this scene is so much more meaningful because gay marriage wasn’t legal back then im actually devastated #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/Yn9wDhjlia
— Paul Mescal oscar campaign manager (@wandapilled) January 30, 2023
#TheLastOfUs spoilers
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episode 3 may have been devastating but this line had me ON THE FLOOR pic.twitter.com/HaWFHNOoMS— kenny (@bvckystjames) January 30, 2023
Not #TheLastOfUs making top-tier jokes like it isn't the most devastating show on TV right now. pic.twitter.com/zZz0hCCdcC
— Alicia Gilstorf (@AliciaGilstorf) January 30, 2023
Homophobic gamers having to watch gay men be gay for a whole episode #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/StBqAfzToy
— Rob 🏳️🌈 (@robdjarin) January 30, 2023
sat down expecting an hour of grotesque fungus monsters and got the most gut wrenching love story of the decade #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/A0TrPjmK7S
— Binch Patrol (@FritterBoochie) January 30, 2023
Craig Mazin penned the most beautiful episode of television I’ve ever watched. I’m emotional. #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/GzjDLsTmsM
— Dylan Park-Pettiford (@dyllyp) January 30, 2023
Nick Offerman reading the Last of Us Episode 3 script pic.twitter.com/akiTzL6Gyv
— daman 🦦 (@nallamothud) January 30, 2023
one of you representatives from the Miserable Online League is gonna start something about Nick Offerman playing someone gay and I want to remind you he is married to Megan Mullally which qualifies as a gay marriage
— nolan (@anxiousdeluxe) January 30, 2023
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