The Hidden Truth: Unmasking the Disturbing Secrets in The Last of Us' Most Heartrending Episode

Summary

Director Peter Hoar explains why The Last of Us chose not to show Bill and Frank's dead bodies: It wasn't necessary in the brutal world of the show.

Viewers appreciated the emotional power behind Bill and Frank's story, accepting the decision to withhold the revelation of their bodies. Throughout the first season, their relationship stood out, earning both actors acclaim and Emmy nominations for their performances.

Director Peter Hoar revealed in a recent interview with Deadline that The Last of Us made a deliberate choice not to show the dead bodies of Bill and Frank in their heartbreaking episode. The series, based on PlayStation's popular video game franchise, premiered on HBO earlier this year. Set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a fungal infection, The Last of Us follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) as he strives to protect an immune teenager named Ellie (Bella Ramsey). The show also delves into the lives of other survivors, such as Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), whose tragic story deeply affected many viewers. Hoar explained that co-creator Craig Mazin believed it was unnecessary to depict their bodies, and this decision was made early on in the development of the series.

Why The Last Of Us Episode 3 Is So Heartbreaking

"Well, the inclusion of gruesome death scenes was never intended for public display on the page. This aspect was thoroughly discussed as a group right from the outset. The intention was never to incorporate gratuitous violence. EP Neil Druckmann may argue that The Last of Us is set in an unforgiving world, where people inevitably suffer unimaginable physical and psychological trauma. Craig, however, believed that such depictions were unnecessary and redundant."

In episode 3 of The Last of Us, titled "Long, Long Time," the relationship between Bill and Frank is explored through a series of flashbacks. Initially, Bill expressed fear about his future and apologized for growing old, revealing the arrangements he had made to ensure Frank's safety in the event of his own death. However, over time, Bill took on the responsibility of caring for Frank, who had lost the ability to walk due to an illness, possibly Parkinson's disease. After years of living with this ailment, Frank shared his intention to marry and then end his own life. In the present, when Joel and Ellie arrived at their home in Lincoln, Massachusetts, they made the heartbreaking discovery that Bill had followed through with his plans.

Hoar has acknowledged the emotional impact of Bill and Frank's story, as well as praised the performances of Offerman and Bartlett. In a letter left by Bill in The Last of Us episode 3, he advises against opening the bedroom door, suggesting that their bodies are inside. With the knowledge that both characters have already died, many viewers who were moved by Bill and Frank's story likely accepted the show's decision.

It is intriguing to hear Hoar's thoughts on not showing the bodies of these characters and the reasoning behind this choice. Bill and Frank's relationship was a standout in the first season of the series, with both actors receiving acclaim and Emmy nominations for their roles. Despite its tragic ending, The Last of Us episode 3 continues to be a standout in the new HBO shows.

Source: Deadline