Here we are, this is beautiful art. Bill and Frank, we love you. Thank you.
one of the best episodes of television i have ever fucking seen
I have always said that The Last of Us is a game that I would watch as a TV series. Now that I'm watching it on HBO, I'm thinking this is the way I'd like to watch a game being played on YouTube or Twitch or whatever you're streaming on.
The third episode was a slow one, focusing on Bill's backstory, which is very different from the game, but it's a wonderful change, deeply emotional.
In the game, I never had the chance to get to know Bill more, and now that I have, I'm grateful that this show is expanding on what was already a beautiful story.
What's interesting to me about this episode is that they sort of flipped Bill's purpose in the narrative. In the game, he was a cautionary tale for Joel. Joel was keeping everyone at arms' length, especially Ellie, because he was afraid that if he started to care about anyone, it would be a weakness and he'd die. Bill encouraged that mindset and told Joel to cut her loose. Then Joel had to see how Bill's strategy of shutting everyone out just left him alone and miserable and hated by the one person he loved. Yes, he survived, but Joel had to wonder if death was really worse than that.
Now in the show, Bill is almost an aspirational figure. He opened up, cared about someone, successfully protected that person, and then died when that person didn't need him anymore. And Joel is on the path to following in his footsteps.
When I discovered Frank and Bill playing in 2013 after reading that note that Frank left him orginally in the game I never imagined not even in my wildest dreams that I would be able to see this mastery of story, this piece of art. Thank you so much for breaking with the myth that tv/film adaptations from vg are never good. I love where the show is going, and I hope this project makes an example for all the industry of what you should/shouldn't do when you get apart from the original story.
Working off script from the game, the episode takes the opportunity to expand on a character with such depth to really flesh out the true meaning of this series. Even for a slow episode, we can appreciate how beautifully they handled this delicate love story.
This episode itself deserves it's solo movie. Bill and Frank, man. What a story. This is what love truly feels like. An unexpected discovery and a beautiful journey and in the end, a sad yet romantic ending. Masterpiece episode.
A very emotional and well crafted episode!
Bill and Frank’s story really touched me.
Also, finding lots of bigots to block in this comment thread lmao
This was, by far, the greatest episode of a television show for years. Any television show, in any genre... the. best. episode.
Damn this got me right in the feels. A big divergence from Bill and Frank's story in the game but a welcome one.
In a world like that, to have 15 or so happy years together? What more could you wish for. Perfectly portrayed by Offerman and Bartlett.
A beautiful story in an ugly world.
I just finished watching the 3rd episode of The Last of Us. Hell yeah, it was so gay and sooo good. Oh my god, I had tears in my eyes throughout. The series is so good. SOOOO GOOD! That's it.
Exceptional! A whole movie in an episode and Linda Ronstadt, for the credits! Amazing!
Not the episode involving Bill that I was expecting at all.
I remember Bill mentioning Frank in the game but felt there wasn't enough background to truly feel what he was feeling or fulyl understand what it was he had lost... now I know!!
This episode was not only an incredible episode on it's own for a tv show it made the character Bill, and the game itself, that much better!
Ellie in the cellar was a little disturbing though LOL
I don't think I'll forget this episode for a long, long time. I loved the change in pace from the first two episodes and didn't even really miss Joel and Ellie, which goes to show just how good this was. Loved the performances and the story that was told including the deeper themes and messages. Beautiful and heartbreaking stuff, I love it. The quality of this show continues.
As soon as I saw Linda Ronstadt, I knew. =)
Wow. I feel like this never happens in these types of shows. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and something horrible to happen the ENTIRE episode. But this was, ultimately, a heartbreakingly happy ending. And it was all about love. Such a beautiful well-rounded story.
That last shot was perfection.
“I was never afraid before you showed up.”
What a beautiful, heartbreaking piece of television. They don’t make those as often anymore.
Ooof, this one hits hard. When good writing collides with good acting. If you aren't moved by this episode, you're probably infected by the cordyceps.
Wow. The best episode I've seen in 2023. Perfect editing, scene order, and sequences. Not overboard, not lacking. That ending, the song, the car scene, the sunset, and most especially, the scene going back to the room through the window = wonderfully made! Perfect!
god what a good episode, it's still on my mind, i want to be as resourceful as him, such a touchy ending for both of them, you know this is how it used to be like in the old days, you'd go out on a quest, and accidentally end up finding your life partner <3
WOW
Just wow
Meanwhile other shows need entire seasons to make us care about their characters…
Wow, this actually had me crying, that never seems to happen. Beautiful storytelling and world building, I really invested in these characters.
Beautiful and sad. My eyes were red and I was crying big, fat tears by the end of it, but I so prefer this version of their story to the game. Sixteen years in any world, with someone you love who loves you, is remarkable and worthy of ALL the screen time.
10/10 for Bill and Frank, and for the sensitivity given to their heartwarming and heartbreaking tale.
This episode of "The Last of Us" is remarkable for its successful representation of homosexual characters in a post-apocalyptic world. The two characters are well-developed and complementary, with the survivalist having a touch of sophistication. The unique and touching love story adds a lot of humanity and realism to the series. Unlike other works, the theme of homosexuality is not simply included to please a community, but it truly adds value to the story and is fully integrated into the plot. This shows a successful and respectful representation of diversity.
As someone who often hates on movies and shows which throw in Gay characters just in the name of diversity or to make them stand out for one reason or another, this show was so far my favorite episode out of the first 3, it was an incredible short story, I loved how much more attention Bill and Frank got, and even though it was much more different than the game, it was a good choice, it was a great love story and made Bill seem much more human, rather than just a crazy old dude like in the video game.
Superb , a super episode ; I don’t know why but It reminds me of The Leftovers . Both actors are just incredible … “But from an objective point of view It’s incredible romantic……”
Gosh, this episode was beautiful.
It’s always strawberries. From Shakespeare to Firefly to The Last of Us.
An absolutely stunning hour of television with a triumph of a performance from Nick Offerman. Gorgeously crafted so that the horror comes from your own expectations based on the genre + what has come before in the series so far. And it was an amazing adaptation from the game in that it introduced a vital character and moved the story along as it needed to, but in a new and exciting way. This did NOT go the way that I (or anyone who has played the game) thought it would- and that's a good thing.
wow, I want a spin off series about Bill & Frank!!
This was an absolutely outstanding piece of drama - not at all expected but wonderfully put together and juxtaposing Joel dealing with the loss of Tess in the previous episode.
