The Last of Us S01E03 Recap

A heavy episode 2 prepared us a bit for tonight. Here is the recap of The Last of Us S01E03. The episode opens with Joel washing the blood off his knuckles and building a cairn by the river. It’s morning and the day catches up with him as he walks back to Ellie. She asks if he wants his coat back as he unpacks some food and throws it at her. Ellie tells him not to blame her for Tess.

They set off for a five-hour hike to their destination. They cross fields, bridges and roads. Joel is much more concerned about people than about the infected. She challenges him about his scar. He tells her that someone was shooting and missed. She again tries to get him to give her a gun.

They approach a building called Cumberland Farms. Joel stashed stuff in the building. In a great comedic moment, we learn about her love for Mortal Kombat. While he is looking for his supplies, she explores the building. She finds a hatch. After opening it, she shines a lamp down and climbs down herself. It’s very dark and looks like a jump scare city. Soon enough she discovers a zombie and some Tampax. The zombie is not in good shape. He appears to be trapped under a partially collapsed building. Ellie examines him with her knife. She cuts open his head and finds mostly mold underneath. She puts him out of his misery. Meanwhile, Joel finds his stash. He hears strange noises from the room. She doesn’t mention what she did, but does point to her pack of Tampax. He puts one of his guns in the hideout and they leave.

They pass a plane that crashed and Ellie laments that she was never allowed to fly in the sky. Ellie wants to know how the pandemic started. Joel provides insight into how the mold spread through the supply chain. Sugar and flour and built up in people’s systems. It happened almost entirely in one weekend. When he finishes the story, he tells her they cut a shortcut because he doesn’t want her to see it. She insists and they walk towards the skull mountain. We learn that the small towns were liquidated and the people were murdered by their own government.

We immediately get a flash back to 2003. The cities are being evacuated and one house has cameras everywhere. Inside, we see Bill who seems to be the last gun-loving conspiracy nut in town who has a shotgun ready to fight if needed. He has a lot of ammunition, a whole arsenal of bullets and some acid. He is ready to kill some people. He tries to come out and kill the soldiers, but they have already left. He is now alone in town. With the city to himself, he begins to loot the shops around him. Food, building materials and even natural gas.

His generator is big and loud, but it works. He creates a series of booby traps and starts raising chickens. He is well equipped to handle the end of the world. He is also quite the chef. However, only good food does not seem ideal. While eating, he receives an approach warning and the zombie triggers one of his booby traps and dies.

He has an electronic gate to let him in and out of the city four years later. He’s working in the basement when he gets another warning. When he goes to check, he finds someone who has fallen into one of his traps. He determines that the man is alone and tries to reach the Boston QZ. Bill offers him a ladder. As Frank climbs out, Bill gives him a test to see if he’s infected. Bill tells him to go to Boston. Frank asks if he can stay a while. Bill admits.

Inside, Bill leaves Frank clothes while Frank is showering. Bill is a bit clumsy because he hasn’t been around people in ages. He has cooked food for them and brings food to Frank. Frank looks surprised that they eat on plates. Bill even opens a bottle of wine. I’m sure it’s a surreal experience. Bill is a really good cook. It’s rabbit and Beaujolais. Frank is having a great time. He sincerely thanks Bill for everything.

He tells Bill he will go, but Frank wants to play the old piano in the corner. He finds some music from Linda Ronstadt and starts playing and singing the song. Bill says no to that song. Frank asks him to play and then he goes. Bill starts playing and singing. It’s fantastic. Frank is moved. He wants to know the girl he was singing about. Is not a girl and they share a kiss. There’s a lot of beard in that kiss. Lots of love too. Frank tells him to take a shower. Frank waits for Bill to get out of the shower, they are both naked and go to copper tax. It’s Bill’s first time. Frank makes sure he can stay and they continue having sex.

Three years later, they are still together and having what feels like an old fight. Frank wants to paint and refuel for a project. He wants to paint and mow the houses on the street. Frank eventually wants to have friends. Frank is the optimist and has already met Tess and Joel and invites them to dinner. Bill isn’t particularly thrilled about dinner and even less thrilled when he’s let out with Joel. Joel wants to collaborate. Bill makes it clear he doesn’t need them. Joel offers him aluminum. Later the next day, Joel mentions that robbers will find them and steal all their things. They will come in the middle of the night.

Three years later, the two run for exercise. Frank makes Bill close his eyes and shows him strawberries. He traded Joel and Tess a gun for some seeds. They share a strawberry. It’s a beautifully shot scene. Bill apologizes for getting old and tells Frank he was never afraid until he met him.

The robbers come at night. The booby traps work and Frank goes looking for Bill. He grabs a gun himself and goes outside. Bill shoots the bad guys. He is shot. Frank drags him in. Bill thinks he’s dying. He tells Frank that he has copies of all the keys and to call Joel who will take care of him. He promptly faints.

Ten years later, Bill ushers an elderly Frank in a wheelchair into a warmer place where he can work on art. Frank doesn’t seem to be in great shape. They eat and Bill reminds Frank to take his pills. He must open the bag for him. Frank can’t walk at all and has to be helped to bed. They are your grandparents before they go to bed. It’s so sweet and wonderful and wouldn’t be so sweet if it weren’t overshadowed by death.

The next morning, Frank tells him that today will be his last day. He is sick and no one can help. He asks for another good day. They go to the boutique and then get married. They have dinner and after dinner Bill will crush his painkillers and give them all to him with some wine. Bill says he can’t and Frank asks him to love him the way he wants.

The wedding scene is almost too much to take. Nick Offerman deserves a nom. His performance here is so tender. So charming. So full of pathos. He brings him food in the traditional way. After dinner they drink a glass of wine together. He puts the pills in the wine and stirs. He hands the glass to Frank. Frank wants to make sure it will be enough. Bill assures him. He downs the wine in one gulp. Bill does the same and Frank realizes there were already pills in the wine bottle. Bill plans to die tonight too. The two go to bed one last time.

Joel and Ellie show up in town. Joel knows the code to get through the gate and they notice that some things in town are not right. The flowers are dead. They enter Bill and Franks’ house. Joel tells Ellie to wait by the door. Joel begins to look around the house. Ellie sees a letter. It’s Bill’s. The envelope also contained a key to a car. Ellie reads the letter aloud. In the letter, Bill tells Joel that they are alike and both hated the world, but they had jobs and protect other people. People they loved. He gave Joel all his guns and gear to protect Tess. A real gut-punch moment. But he also gave him a key to a truck. The car has been maintained including parts for a battery. They are in business.

Joel returns and asks to see Ellie’s arm. It hasn’t gotten any worse. He tells her he has a brother in Wyoming. He is a firefly and will know what to do with her. He gives her the ground rules and she agrees.

When they pack up the house later, they grab supplies while the battery charges. Ellie wants to take a shower. She insists Joel do the same. While looking around the house, she finds a gun and puts it in her purse. They load into the car. She finds a tape and it’s Linda Ronstadt again. They go out of town.

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