HBO’s original series The Last of Us based on video game franchise under the same name season one episode three “Long, Long Time” starts with Pedro Pascal’s Joel Miller, and Bella Ramsey’s Ellie as they continue forward to find supplies on their way to Nick Offerman’s Bill due to them needing a car to find Joel’s brother. During this Ellie sees a pile of human bones which Joel wanted to keep her from seeing. In his mind, he sees that even if Ellie is “cargo” she is still a kid that hasn’t seen the real world. As a result of this, he wants to keep her away from the horrors of the world as a way for her to maintain what remains of her innocence. Unfortunately, Ellie decides to see for herself what the world is really like outside of the quarantine zone. In her mind, she sees that it doesn’t matter what she sees as she has seen much worse in the quarantine zone along with losing people she cared about.
A couple of minutes into the episode, the viewer sees Bill as he ends up being the last person in his town. Also, the series demonstrates how he fortifies the entire town due to him being a doomsday prepper which has given him a huge advantage as he makes a mini quarantine zone. The interesting part is that he ends up meeting Murray Bartlett’s Frank who is trapped in one of Bill traps. From here the viewer sees that they form a friendly bond that becomes a romance much to Bill’s hesitation. In his mind, he does not know anything about the man he just met who could be a danger. However, deep down he wants to make a connection with someone as he feels lonely. Ultimately, Frank gets Bill to open up little by little with a song Bill unexpectedly knows due to his mother singing it to him. This demonstrates how deep-down Bill is still human despite him hardening his heart to others as a result of the dangerous people of the world.
Additionally, the viewer sees Joel, Anna Torv’s Tess, as they meet Bill due to Frank wanting them to make friends. The interesting part about this is how they all have a nice dinner together as if they still lived in a civilized world. Eventually, Bill and Frank are attacked by bandits which leads to Bill being shot. Interestingly enough, as Bill lays shot, he beings to talk about how Frank should call Joel so he can take care of him. In his mind, he believes that he will die, and Frank will be left alone which terrifies him more than dying. This shows how he has changed into a person who now cares about someone other than himself. Luckily, he manages to survive, and they get to keep living their happy lives. Unfortunately, the viewer later sees that Frank is now dying from an illness when he and Bill are now incredibly old. From the look on Bill’s face the viewer can tell that he has a broken heart at seeing the one he loves suffering from something he cannot stop.
At the end of the episode, the viewer is shown how attentive Bill is to Frank as a demonstration of his love. Later, the series shows how much the town has changed as the two of them have been decorating everything. At a certain point Frank asks Bill to take him around town and do the things he has always wanted to do as a farewell to life. The sad part is that his final request is for Bill to end his suffering by poisoning him. Understandably, Bill refuses due to him seeing Frank as the reason for him to live. In his mind, Frank knows his days are numbered which is why he wants to die on his own terms. He sees that letting the illness kill him is dying without dignity. However, if he is to die, he wants Bill the man he loves to be the one to set him free.
Lastly, the differences between the series and the game are more prominent in this episode. The episode focuses on the backstory of Bill and Frank where in the game he doesn’t get one. Also, they have a bittersweet ending where they stay together instead of Frank leaving and ending up being dead. In the game Bill is shown to be a man who does not care about others so much. At least in this there is a similarity between the two as that is how he starts off in the series and the game. Of course, there are more scenes of him being a more grounded individual as he knows how to play the piano and can cook well enough while adding the right kind of wine to drink. Overall, there is more content as well as context that the series gives the viewer that the game does not.
Rating: 9.5/10