Episode 3 of the series The Last Of Us has introduced a story that was not deeply explored in the original game franchise. The focal point is the love story between Bill and Frank, two characters who, like Joel, have been living outside of Boston. The majority of the latest episode centers around this couple, from their first encounter during the outbreak to their eventual life together as a family.
Although it is a creative narrative specifically designed for the adaptation, Episode 3 of The Last Of Us still contains numerous Easter eggs that only fans of the original game will recognize.
The third episode opens with a scene where Joel expresses his sorrow for Tess. He even goes as far as constructing a memorial for his close friend. In the original game, Joel’s feelings for Tess were not elaborated on very clearly, with him only appearing somber in silence following her death. The television adaptation has brought this nuance to a new level, allowing viewers to understand Joel’s emotional depth compared to the original material.
The segment featuring Ellie in Episode 3 diverges significantly from the original material, particularly through her character. When she first steps outside the Boston quarantine zone, Ellie clearly has her own thoughts about the outside world. “I’ve never been outside, there are so many more things than I expected,” she remarks, which highlights her naivety as a girl born after the Cordyceps outbreak.
After navigating through the woods, Joel and Ellie come across a dilapidated building to gather supplies that Joel had hidden away for many years. Here, Ellie discovers an old arcade machine featuring Mortal Kombat II—an important detail related to Riley, her close friend who was still in the Boston quarantine zone. In a segment from the original game, when Riley confronts Ellie, the Mortal Kombat II poster can be seen plastered on the wall of the girl’s room. Drawing from trailers previously released for The Last Of Us, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between Riley and Ellie in the upcoming episodes.
When discussing the origin of the outbreak for Ellie, Joel suggests that the Cordyceps fungus could have been transmitted through common food sources like bread or mushrooms. This notion explains why the infection spread rapidly across the globe. This explanation is drawn from the original game, appearing in a newspaper article that players can find at Joel and Sarah’s house. The only difference in the television adaptation is that the source of the outbreak is said to be in Jakarta, Indonesia, rather than the southern United States.
Bill’s trap home in the television adaptation remains faithful to the original material, named Lincoln. In the original game, players could find a note at this location with the title Lincoln High School. Additionally, based on external design, it may indicate that the television series has built this location around the Lincoln Trap, located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA.
In the first scene outside the basement after the military has completed the evacuation of the citizens in Lincoln, Bill has armed himself with a rifle. This is considered one of the most essential items in the original game, as it helps the player defend against the Cordyceps infection—the method of transmission through the spores of this fungus. However, the HBO series has changed the role of this defense mechanism over the years, meaning that the rifle no longer holds the same necessity as in the original.
Much like in the game, Bill has set many elaborate traps around Lincoln to protect himself from zombies and other dangerous individuals. These traps vary greatly and can potentially ensnare anyone who inadvertently activates them.
Bill’s reclusive personality is also a detail related to the original game, as Bill is very skeptical and trusts no one. This trait is evident in the first segment featuring Bill, where he expresses suspicion towards the FEDRA military. He decides to stay home instead of evacuating. Furthermore, Bill is also particularly cautious during his first encounter with Frank.
In the piano scene between Bill and Frank, the two characters take turns performing the song “Long Long Time” by Linda Ronstadt, a heartfelt ballad that resonates with both of them. It portrays Bill’s struggles to survive in Lincoln and highlights the challenges of a romantic relationship that remains unrecognized during that time. The lyrics of Ronstadt’s song touch the hearts of both Frank and Bill, providing viewers with one of the most poignant love stories in The Last Of Us.
HBO dedicated more than one episode to retell the story of Frank and Bill. While this narrative is only briefly sketched through an item collectible in the original game, in The Last Of Us, Frank died before Joel and Ellie arrived in Lincoln, yet Bill still lives. Joel even finds Frank’s corpse hanging in a house at this location, accompanied by a note addressing the relationship between Frank and Bill.
Bill’s last meal prepared for Frank is reminiscent of the first meal the two shared together 20 years prior. This serves as a touching Easter egg that encapsulates the emotional depth of their relationship and brings closure to their love story.
As previously mentioned, in the original game, Frank committed suicide by hanging when he could no longer endure life in Lincoln with Bill. HBO completely altered this detail by allowing Frank to die peacefully alongside Bill after drinking poisoned wine, deepening the emotional and romantic connection between the two characters. However, regardless of how it unfolds, Frank’s fate remains unchanged.
The final meal that Bill prepares for Frank echoes the first meal they shared together, highlighting the depth of their relationship over the years.
After Frank’s departure, Bill left all his supplies in the Lincoln area for Joel, including transport equipment, weapons, and clothing. This has helped Joel and Ellie acquire new supplies—items that resemble those in the original game and have become essential for these two characters.
After Bill’s death, Joel recognizes his role as a guardian for Ellie and completes a deal with the Fireflies. He resolves to protect her amidst the chaos and uncertainty, ensuring she follows the rules he’s set out, which include avoiding any encounters with infected individuals and strictly adhering to Joel’s orders. All these rules are derived from the original game and are accurately adapted to fit the narrative.
In the final segment of Episode 3, Joel takes Bill’s truck to drive Ellie to the city of Kansas. This truck shares the same style and color as the vehicle in the original game. Additionally, the second half of the episode features discussions about Linda Ronstadt’s ballad, which is also based on the original material, although the game uses a different song.
Source: HBO, ScreenRant
