Meet Bill: A Survivalist with a System
You might think you know what to expect by episode three of The Last of Us, but “Long, Long Time” flips that expectation hard. Gone are the infected hordes and violent shootouts—well, mostly. In their place, we get wine pairings, strawberries, and something even more disarming: kindness.
Let’s rewind to 2003. As the world collapses, a man named Bill doesn’t panic—he plans. While his Massachusetts town gets evacuated, Bill stays put. He’s a self-described survivalist, and frankly, he’s been waiting for something like this. His basement is loaded. His traps are ready. And his neighborhood? Now fenced and fortified.
Bill, played by Nick Offerman, is not your average doomsday prepper. He’s methodical and fiercely independent. In the quiet that follows the outbreak, he thrives. Power grids fail? He’s got a generator. Stores close? He raids them with purpose. The man even smokes a pork shoulder with wine.
Then Came Frank
But life has a funny way of rewriting your rules. One day, Bill finds a man caught in one of his traps. Enter Frank, played by Murray Bartlett. He’s disheveled, hungry, and charming in a scruffy kind of way. Bill feeds him. Frank sings Linda Ronstadt. And just like that, a wall begins to crack.
Their first dinner together is awkward, tender, and a little tense. Frank spots a piano, and what begins as a simple tune ends with a kiss. That moment—unpolished, honest—anchors the entire episode. This isn’t just about surviving anymore. It’s about finding reasons to live.
Love, in a Post-Apocalyptic Key
We jump forward three years. Bill and Frank now live together. Their personalities clash—Bill likes control, Frank likes charm—but they make it work. Frank wants to paint fences and plant gardens. Bill grumbles but gives in. Love softens them both.
Frank makes contact with the outside world. Enter Joel and Tess. They trade supplies, help reinforce fences, and become unlikely friends. This ties Bill and Frank into the bigger story—but it never distracts from theirs. Their world is small, but rich.
And dangerous. Raiders eventually try to break in. Bill defends their home in a firefight, taking a bullet in the process. But he survives, and Frank stays by his side.
Time Catches Up
Fast-forward again. It’s the present. Frank now uses a wheelchair. His illness isn’t specified, but it’s chronic, and he’s tired. So he makes a decision: one last good day. He asks Bill to help him die, with a full belly and a heart at peace.
Bill fights it. But eventually, he agrees. They dress up. Get married. Share one more perfect dinner. Frank drinks wine laced with crushed pills. And then Bill reveals something heartbreaking—he did the same. He won’t live in a world without Frank.
They go to bed. And they don’t wake up.
A Letter, and a Legacy
Joel and Ellie arrive to find the house locked, quiet, and still. A letter from Bill waits on the table. It’s addressed to “whomever, but probably Joel.” Inside, Bill writes about love, about purpose, and about protecting the people who matter.
It’s a message Joel needs to hear. He’s lost so much—his daughter, Tess. But now he has Ellie. And maybe, just maybe, she’s worth fighting for.
Why It Works So Well
This episode isn’t just good. It’s extraordinary. Here’s why:
- It’s unexpected. Instead of building the world outward, it goes inward. It trades guns for gardens. It slows down, and it works.
- It’s emotional. The relationship between Bill and Frank isn’t perfect, but it’s layered, tender, and believable. You feel every year they spend together.
- It adds depth. Their story enriches the universe. Not every survivor becomes bitter. Some build something beautiful.
- It echoes forward. Bill’s note doesn’t just close a chapter—it pushes Joel and Ellie into the next one with new meaning.
Strawberries in the Dark
Not every post-apocalyptic tale needs to be bleak. Episode 3 proves that. Yes, the world is broken. But people can still grow strawberries. They can still sing. They can fall in love. And they can choose to go out on their own terms.
In a show built around survival, Long, Long Time reminds us why survival matters at all.
