HBO’s The Last of Us is pushing all the precise buttons by telling new tales

The Last of Us’ third episode illustrates why breaking away from the supply materials will be precisely what a online game adaptation must do the unique story justice.

HBO’s The Last of Us has been very cautious to stay to the supply materials for probably the most half — a wise but in addition quite logical alternative, given how cinematic the original game was. The painstakingly crafted similarities between Naughty Dog’s survival shooter — which was already nice — and HBO’s present have been a significant a part of why individuals have been quick to call The Last of Us the best video game adaptation ever. But it’s by shifting away from the sport in favor of telling new tales that The Last of Us has actually been capable of blossom the best way it does in “Long Long Time,” the collection’ third episode that introduces Nick Offerman’s Bill and Murray Bartlett’s Frank.

As it’s introducing two of The Last of Us’ most memorable supporting characters, “Long Long Time” provides a lot new depth and dimension to them that they virtually find yourself feeling like totally different individuals. But the true magic of “Long Long Time,” and the rationale it’s one in all The Last of Us’ strongest episodes but, lies in how spiritually true to the sport it feels even whereas it’s doing its personal distinct factor.

After holding its focus largely on Joel and Ellie in its first two episodes, The Last of Us switches issues up in “Long Long Time” by leaping into the previous to inform the story of how delinquent, paranoid prepper Bill (Offerman) and hapless survivor Frank (Bartlett) met within the apocalypse. Back within the earliest days of the cordyceps outbreak, when there was nonetheless little understanding of what was occurring, numerous uninfected individuals misplaced their lives because the American authorities started rounding up and executing civilians en masse in an try to include the mutant fungus’ unfold.

While dozens of his trusting neighbors have been unknowingly carted off to their dooms, Frank made positive to hold again of their small city till he was completely sure that the whole factor was fully abandoned and able to be transformed right into a fortified compound for one. Being the delinquent individual that he was, the thought of spending the remainder of his zombie-filled days in solitude and with Ron Swanson-esque self-sufficiency appealed to Bill. All issues thought of, that way of life appeared to go well with him effectively. But that modified the day Frank wandered onto Bill’s property searching for security and as an alternative discovered himself caught in one in all Bill’s traps.

It’s solely clear should you’ve performed the video games simply how far more substance there’s to HBO’s tackle Bill and Frank as “Long Long Time” spotlights how their first, tense encounter started the beginning of a friendship that advanced right into a passionate romance powered by the music of Linda Ronstadt. When you meet Bill within the sport, he’s a jumpy, hard-boiled survivor who’s misplaced a lot over time that he’s grow to be all however shut off from connecting with anybody, and it’s laborious to grasp how he and Joel got here to know each other. All of these issues are positively nonetheless true of Bill’s character in HBO’s The Last of Us, however quite than leaving you to deduce necessary particulars about Bill’s interiority from his sparse dialogue, the present lays a whole lot of it out by giving Frank a voice and presence in a manner the sport by no means did.

The Last of Us is on no account the primary apocalyptic narrative to surprise what it would really feel like to seek out love ultimately occasions and even the primary zombie present to give attention to a few homosexual males passionately loving one another after they aren’t busy mowing down ghouls. But as a tackle a longtime story, “Long Long Ago” brings a lot extra texture and emotional heft to Bill and Frank that it’s truthful to name the episode a big improve to how they’re dealt with within the sport.

“Long Long Ago” reveals you ways Frank and Bill saved one another by giving each other causes to stay and, in doing so, made positive that they have been each round to grow to be allies to Joel and Tess. Because it’s so wrapped up in Frank and Bill’s lives, it’s legitimately shocking while you notice that one of many fights they find yourself having is about Frank making contact with somebody who seems to be Tess. It’s pleasant to observe as the 2 {couples} grow to be buddies, and you’ll simply think about how their collective bond performed an necessary position in holding all of them grounded. It additionally makes it that a lot simpler to grasp why Tess’ dying impacted Joel a lot.

As it’s zooming in on pivotal moments throughout Frank and Bill’s years-long relationship, “Long Long Time” can also be very deftly encouraging you to step again and admire the bigger world they exist in for what it’s: a lonely, violent place the place individuals die and happiness is tough to return by. Those are among the greatest takeaways from the a lot, far more bleak manner Bill and Frank are dealt with within the sport throughout a collection of missions about gaining access to a working automotive.

In that telling, it’s solely implied that Bill and Frank have been ever lovers, and by the point Ellie and Joel arrive of their city, Frank has died by suicide after rising disillusioned with Bill, making an attempt to go away, and being attacked by clickers within the course of. By displaying you the arc of their relationship, although, “Long Long Time” primes you to be devastated by the best way issues play out for the pair and to grasp a few of what their time collectively might need been like within the sport earlier than issues went bitter between them.

By displaying you the arc of their relationship, although, “Long Long Time” primes you to be devastated by the best way issues play out for the pair and to grasp a few of what their time collectively might need been like within the sport earlier than issues went bitter between them. Obviously, Bill and Frank spending many pleased years as a pair earlier than deciding to finish their lives collectively as outdated males like they do in “Long Long Time” may be very totally different from Frank turning on Bill and Bill finally outliving Frank like within the sport. But the essences of each eventualities aren’t so distinct that they really feel wholly divorced from one another, which is exactly the kind of vibe that you just wish to get from a “faithful” online game adaptation that’s wandering off the overwhelmed path.

The Last of Us’ capability to faithfully recreate issues is spectacular, true. But it’s the present’s capacity to construct out new items of lore that really feel like they have been at all times current that’s most promising, particularly with characters like Storm Reid’s Riley and Melanie Lynskey’s Kathleen on the horizon.

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