The Last of Us Episode 3: To Love Is To Resist

As a video game enthusiast, it has been an extremely interesting exercise to follow the adaptation of The Last of Us for TV – much more to understand the limitations of each of the mediums and how, in the end, a series can develop things in a very extensive and diverse way while the game has to focus more on the journey of the protagonists.

This situation was never more clear than in the third episode of the adaptation, which, for me at least, turned out to be one of the best hours of television I have ever seen in my life. With pardon to the readers, I already admit that during this review, my emotion will be speaking louder than my rationality.

Warning: spoilers ahead!

A ray of hope amid the shadows of The Last of Us

During the first two episodes of The Last of Us, we were introduced to a post-apocalyptic world in which, by all indications, there is no reason to hope. Ellie, a human with apparent resistance to fungal infection, is seen by Joel and for the deceased Tess more as a means of obtaining supplements than really a way of perhaps ridding the world of this danger – and the desolate landscapes through which the protagonists have walked so far cooperate with this feeling.

The third episode, however, brings us another point of view, showing that it is still possible to exist, smile and move on in this world – even if the end is still tragic. Marking the most drastic change from the game, we are introduced to Bill (Nick Offerman) e Frank (Murray Bartlett), allies of Joel strategically positioned in an abandoned city, they will set up various traps to survive.

while in the game Bill was grumpy and extremely suspicious throughout his partnership with Joel and Ellie, with the journey together leading to the discovery that your partner Frank he had killed himself after being infected by the fungus and left an extremely violent letter saying that that end was better than living one more day with Bill, the series changes the scenario of both completely.

On TV, a good 15 years before the series' current narrative, Frank is captured by one of the traps that Bill placed around his city and is saved, and over the years their partnership develops into something romantic – in the midst of that desolate world, love blossoms between the two characters, and their lives begin to have a new meaning. It's beautiful to see. 

It is this love between the two characters that convinces Bill to put some of his misanthropy aside and agree to receive Joel e Tess for a conversation on request Frank, where the two duos reach an agreement of mutual aid, with Joel promising to improve the defenses of the city in which Bill e Frank they live in exchange for supplements and other support in this desolate world.

To love is to resist

Already in current times, but a few weeks before the current events of the series, Bill e Frank now they are elderly, with Frank being confined to a wheelchair due to a terminal illness. Knowing there's not much else he can do, he asks Bill to help him die - and what follows is perhaps one of the most touching moments I've ever seen on TV.

Bill get dressed and also dress Frank, with the two performing a simple wedding. Soon after, Bill hands a goblet with a lethal dose of sleeping pills to Frank, and holding a glass with the same content, warns that for him it makes no sense to exist if his love is no longer there. Both drink the fatal liquid and retire to the room, with their fate sealed.

We then return to Joel e Ellie, who arrive at the house of their companions. The teenager finds a letter from Bill directed to Joel, who reads it and finds in it sweet words from his survival partner, stating that protecting and loving Frank gave meaning to his life – and saying that Joel has a similar mission, referencing Tess.

here we see Joel getting emotional for the first time on the show since the death of Sarah in the first episode – there is no clear explanation, but it is understood that he feels he has failed Tess at the end. However, he is still there, and now with a child who needs him very much to be able to follow, and it is at this moment that we see the protagonist's determination change and lean towards really fulfilling the mission passed by the Fireflies in the first episode.

Picking up the vehicle left by Bill for him, Joel e Ellie go where the protagonist's brother, Tommy, is – in one of the most hopeful hooks the series has had to date.

A different but effective tone

I liked much more than Bill in the series than in the game - and I'm pretty sure the third episode of The Last of Us will be etched in my head for years. The chapter's message, showing that regardless of the condition of the environment, we are still social beings and that love and affection can make even the worst of situations lighter is very beautiful, and maybe something I didn't expect from a franchise that, especially in the second game, made me hate humanity.

It seems like a counter force to what we were presented with in the video game, especially in the second game – but that's not a bad thing. In fact, I think the opposite – I think it's a much more accurate representation of what it's like to be human, and I'm heartily excited to see how it continues to play out, as later this season we'll be exposed to the worst of our race.

But in the meantime, we are left with a positive and hopeful impression – Joel can change, and Ellie, who knows, may be the key.

corner of speculation

• Now that we know that yes, the series can drastically change characters, can we also expect changes at the end of the game? I personally think it's unnecessary, but honestly I'm confident of any decision made by the directors - they would have to get a lot wrong to let me down the way I'm excited now.

• Also, I'm particularly curious about something - could the letter from Bill will accelerate Joel's understanding of his relationship with Ellie? Perhaps, but at the same time I imagine that key moments in the game will have to be slightly modified to suit this new status quo. We will see. 

The Last of Us there are new episodes every sunday, airing on the channel HBO and also on the streaming service HBOMax.

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Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim