The Last of Us Episode 3: Unlocking a 20-Year Love Story Through a Single Game Reference

Summary

The Last of Us episode 3 uses a small reference from the video game to symbolize Bill and Frank's decades-long relationship.

Episode 3 prioritizes characters that aren't the main duo and creates an engaging narrative.

The final shot inspired by the game is memorable and shows the show's respect for the source material.

The director of The Last of Us episode 3, Peter Hoar, has revealed how a small reference from the original video game was utilized to convey the long-lasting relationship between Bill and Frank. In contrast to the game, episode 3 of the acclaimed HBO series focuses on a love story between survivalist Bill and his partner Frank. The episode concludes with a poignant shot of their bedroom window, where the curtains sway gently in the breeze. In an interview with MovieWeb, Hoar shared the extensive visual effects work involved in creating this shot, explaining that it serves as a symbolic representation of Bill and Frank's twenty-year relationship captured in a single moment.

At the start of the game, players are greeted with a dilapidated house as the holding screen. The house is covered in overgrown vegetation and a curtain flutters in the wind. It provides immense satisfaction for players to piece together the narrative. The scene seamlessly blends with the two adjacent houses, but the road and track where Joel and Elie drive off are all computer-generated imagery (CGI). Furthermore, there was no physical truck present in that particular shot. The creation of that entire scene involved the input of everyone involved.

The "golden hour," when the lighting is perfectly positioned, symbolizes the approaching darkness in the final moments. Throughout the game, we depict a 20-year relationship by portraying changes in seasons and lighting conditions.

Why The Last Of Us Episode 3 Is So Memorable

Episode 3 is renowned as one of the series' most unforgettable episodes. It diverges from Joel and Ellie's tale to delve into the love story of Bill and Frank amidst the apocalypse. Although their narrative eventually connects back to Joel's journey, much of the episode focuses solely on Bill and Frank. This distinctive approach sets Episode 3 apart by giving prominence to characters other than the show's main duo, while still delivering an engaging storyline.

The conclusion of Bill and Frank's love story, which culminates in their deaths, is not depicted as a tragic ending. Instead, in a poignant twist, Bill chooses to end his own life with Frank, adding an emotional touch to the episode's finale. This sensitive decision enhances the impact of the final shot, drawing inspiration from the game, and strengthens its memorability.

Despite the differences between Bill and Frank's story in the show and the game, Hoar's description of how the game influenced the final shot of episode 3 reveals that the episode maintains the respect for the source material. This suggests that any changes made in The Last of Us season 2 would still honor the original story. The concluding shot of Bill and Frank's episode perfectly highlights the commitment invested in crafting their episode.