The Last of Us Episode 3 recap: Blooming love story of a gay couple, Frank's illness and Bill's redemption
There was never much backstory to dig out for The Last of Us fans when it came to the game’s lore. Neil Druckmann made sure he’d do proper justice to Joel and Tess’ long-time associates.
The Last of Us Episode 3 dropped yesterday and it was focused entirely on Bill (played by Nick Offerman) and Frank (played by Murray Bartlett). Neil Druckmann, the director and writer for the original video game, took this second chance at telling the story of this duo. This episode answered some questions fans always had, and it did so in a hauntingly beautiful way.
Let’s dig into The Last of Us Episode 3 recap, and talk about what the latest chapter of this video game adaptation had to offer.
Say hello to Frank
Those who’ve played The Last of Us knew Frank but only through memories of Bill, that particular letter and a rather sad ending to his life, which is different from what the TV show went with.
When Joel and Ellie ended up at Bill’s door in the game, Frank was already dead but Bill was very much alive. In the show, Joel found out that both Bill and Frank are no longer alive.
There was never much backstory to dig out for The Last of Us fans when it came to the game’s lore. Neil Druckmann made sure he’d do proper justice to Joel and Tess’ long-time associates.
This is by far the biggest deviation Druckmann and Craig Mazin have made from the game. Bill from the game offered the gamers a perspective of what loneliness can do to a survivalist in a post-apocalyptic world. It also painted a grim picture for Joel to be cautious of, since the two had similar personalities.
What is Frank sick with in the Last of Us
For those wondering what was Frank sick with in The Last of Us, it’s most likely Parkinson’s disease. There was no clear mention of what he was suffering from, but there are subtle hints to suggest it was Parkinson’s disease. Frank was in a wheelchair since the disease affects the nervous system. This also explains why Frank’s hands were shaking during his paintings as well as when he tried to take medicines on his own.
Was Bill gay in The Last of Us game
Frank’s introduction to the show and the choice to tell the story of Bill and Frank together ensured that Bill didn’t just serve as the means to an end but added a much-needed grounding story that humanises the bleak atmosphere of The Last of Us.
Like Bill mentioned, he was a survivalist and a good one at that, but it was only when Frank came at his door, that he learned to live again.
The episode confirmed the long-running theory fans had about Bill and Frank’s relationship. The duo were indeed a gay couple in the game.
The Last of Us Episode 3 compared to the game
Not only did the episode look to tell a story that was missing from the game, but it also went on to drastically change it.
Bill’s purpose in the game was to help Joel and Ellie get a car battery so that they can reach Tommy. That’s a purpose achieved by the show’s Bill who left Joel with access to his entire weapon arsenal and keys to his car.
Frank got infected in the game and decided to end his life before turning into one of them. The reason he got infected was that he chose to run away from Bill’s town and he grew tired of how Bill managed things. Frank even wrote in his suicide note to Bill that he “hated his guts”.
The story in the show is a much more positive ending to Bill and Frank, one that highlights the best part of Bill’s character and how Frank managed to bring that out of him through love. The whole episode detached itself from the journey of Joel and Ellie, giving Bill and Frank the stage to tell the story of love and hope.
