'The Last of Us' Episode 3 Review: 'Long Long Time' shows LOVE triumphs even in most dangerous situations
There have been a lot of post-apocalyptic projects in recent years, but ‘The Last of Us’ has left every single one of them behind with its epic storytelling. Most of the titles in the aforementioned genre feature a lot of gore, deaths, and action sequences, and make no mistake, ‘The Last of Us’ is filled with such scenes. However, the latest episode of the HBO series made viewers realize how love and affection can also take place during such devastating times. Episode 3 of the series introduced viewers to Bill & Frank and what happened after they met each other for the first time.
If you are one of those who have played the video game, you might be surprised to see how the creators decided to expand the duo’s storyline for the series. On the other hand, if you haven’t played the game, you’ll realize how endearing their story really is.
The episode starts with Bill (Nick Offerman) sitting in the basement of the house and looking at how the authorities were trying to evacuate the town of Lincoln. However, he decided to stay behind and use the resources. Four years after the evacuation, he finds a man named Frank (Murray Bartlett) on the other side of the safety fence and decides to call him in when he (Frank) says that he hasn’t eaten anything in two days. This particular sequence is an integral part of their story and tells a lot about Bill. He is seen as someone who doesn’t show any emotions and hates the world, but the introduction of Frank triggered something in him and forced him to think that the world isn’t that bad.
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The best thing about their story is that it didn’t establish any new world rules or change Joel or Ellie’s objective, but it showed a tender side of the post-apocalyptic world and how two men ignited their temptation to find love in times filled with a lot of dangers. Before meeting Frank, Bill was just a man who was trying to survive by making traps and burying mines for the un-dead. However, Frank taught him how important love is and why it can change your life for good.
In the final moments of their story, we find out that Frank is suffering from a disease that’s similar to Parkinson’s disease. The duo’s final day is really touching and devastating because no one gets to say a proper goodbye to their loved ones. In many ways, the conclusion of their love story was already written when they first met each other and we knew that their story will end with a massive heartbreak. It was a good reminder that nothing is permanent in this life and love can be found anywhere.
Nick Offerman is pure class as Bill and shows a variety of emotions during the episode. On the other, Murray Bartlett is brilliant as Frank and delivers a performance that is responsible for taking the series out of its heavy atmosphere.
All in all, episode 3 of the series is a masterfully crafted episode that tells love can be found in some of the most hopeless places and we just need to take a leap of faith to start the most endearing chapter of our lives. With ‘Long Long Time’, the HBO show has delivered an episode that could very well be remembered for years to come and serve as a masterclass on how to tackle a love story in the middle of a dangerous pandemic.
'The Last of Us' returns to HBO with a new episode every Sunday at 9 pm EST.