The third episode of The Last of Us arrived on HBO and HBO Max this Sunday evening (29), continuing the adventure of Joel and Ellie, but at the same time elevating the attention to two new characters: Bill and Frank.
After the thunderous finale of episode 2, in which we say goodbye to a prominent character, Joel and Ellie continued their journey through a post-apocalyptic country. With the two forced to interact more, we get access to some very suggestive dialogue, which shows a little more of their personalities.
Joel seems surprised, even impressed, by the thought of Ellie in their first interaction in the episode. Ellie shows her spirit in some rebellious moments, exploring a whole new world for the young woman.
Unlike the first two chapters of this story, Episode 3 begins in the present time, not at the beginning of the epidemic that has destroyed the world. Which isn’t to say that flashbacks don’t exist in the episode.
On the contrary, they end up becoming the norm when we meet Bill and Frank. Like someone who has never played The Last of UsI went looking to learn more about these characters from a gameplay perspective, and I’ve noticed that this is one of the points where the series deviates from the source material, giving more space to the secondary characters.
That’s because, while only Bill plays a role in the game and Frank is just a presence from the past, the duo who survived the outbreak steal the episode, which is pretty much all about them. The series flawlessly explores how Bill created his safe space amidst the chaos and how Frank (literally) fell into it, as well as the onset of their relationship.
It is this development of a relationship that makes this episode beautiful, despite all the bad that happens around the paddock, and sometimes even inside it. The game has already hinted that Bill and Frank could be a couple, and the series explores that and shows how they lived years and years together.
This is one of the points that differentiates The Last of Us from other adaptations, which often invest too much in the action and forget to develop their own characters. Staying limited to Joel and Ellie’s journey works in games, but it was necessary to expand, and the creators did it masterfully, introducing new complex characters.
Actor duo Nick Offerman, who plays Bill, and Murray Bartlett, who plays Frank, present a beautiful portrayal of the character duo. Offerman in particular, showing a Bill before and after Frank.
The episode seems to differ a lot from the game, but it’s still an interesting portrait that brings an important levity, and at the same time gets involved in the story of Joel and Ellie. One way or another, Bill and Frank are instrumental in helping the two move forward.
The first three episodes of The Last of Us are available on HBO Max. Episode four premieres next Sunday (5) at 11 p.m. on HBO and HBO Max.
The posts The Last of Us: Bill and Frank are the theme of the third episode that appeared for the first time on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
