Bill literally trapped himself a husband.

In a post-apocalyptic world, these two said no to suffering and pain, and went out on their own terms, with their hearts full of love for each other and the life they built together. Intensely emotional episode, absolutely, and I cried a lot, but this episode was full of joy. They beat the odds, they found reasons to go on, and they went out on their terms in a world where most don't. This was a happy episode, in a lot of ways. They got 16 good years together. You love to see it, even if it hurts to watch the sun set on their lives.

she really said "y'all just ate" lmao she knows 🤣

"hopefully its not gonna be too scary this episode" well you got your wish... with the cost being the most heartbreaking experience thus far 😭😭

This was one of the best episodes of television ever made, as far as I’m concerned. Relentlessly, ruthlessly poetic and beautiful.

For me, the most deeply moving and poignant thing I’ve ever seen both on TV and in film. As a gay man it hit twice as hard, knowing that in their universe, they weren’t able to marry because of the timing of the pandemic yet still lived out their lives in love and happiness. I simply will never forget this episode, and still haven’t stopped crying! 100/10

there's something so interesting to me about the script in this episode (all game story and how magnificent this adaptation was aside) and its the amount of care for little details and the amount of parallels to itself in just the same episode and the significance of those!! like... bill eating rabbit alone in the dark, then with frank in a rather dim lit room on opposite sides then together in the same room but full of plants and with what looks like better lights; them eating the same food on their last day as they did in their first;. ellie and joel driving out listening to the song that made bill and frank bond essentially (while joel is also wearing the flannel frank was wearing when he arrived !!); bill's first harvest being a carrot then finding carrot paintings all over the house (and a little painting of strawberries frank painted); a town and house completely empty, decaying, lacking decoration and care etc and filled with very much alive plants and lots of care from most probably frank at the beginning but now also bill !!; the contrast between frank saying "this is my street too so let me love it how i want to" then telling bill his death plan and saying "do you love me? then love me the way i want you to"; bill going from someone who doesnt trust joel in the slightest to telling frank to call him and that he'll take care of him (essentially trusting joel with the only person worth saving in bills words); not rlly a parallel but bill apologizing for getting older and frank replying with "older means we're still alive" meaning both not infected but also as two gay men, aids free; also not parallel but them getting married in a world where gay marriage isnt legal added another layer of pain to that whole montage; bill going from an almost robotic safety maniac to someone who gets distracted MID RAID because the love of his life is exposed to danger and gets him shot etc etc i could go on but u get the idea... its all SO well thought out and executed its incredible how they essentially managed to make an UP! prologue fbut 45 minutes long and still managed to show us how profound and pure their love was enough to make us fall in love with these two so deeply and so fast :( i saw someone a couple days ago say that the idea that just as how characters in videogames get good and bad endings they liked to think that bill in the game got his bad ending meanwhile bill in the show got his good ending he deserved and i couldnt agree more :^) (i didnt mean to write so much my god this is a huge chunk of text but i hope its coherent eng isnt my first language T_T)

26:12 Bella Ramsey doing Nick Offerman's laugh as Ellie reading Bill's letter is such a crazy touch i keep bringing it up everywhere i go.

My favorite part about Bill and Frank's story is how perfectly it ties into Joel and Ellie's growing relationship. You can really tell that the letter Bill leaves at the end hits Joel hard. Protecting Frank was what gave Bill's life purpose after the outbreak. It teaches Joel that loving someone is probably the only thing that he has left in such a broken world. That's the only way he can truly live again, not just survive. Bill believes that person for Joel is Tess, but the audience knows exactly who it's eventually going to end up being. And Bill asking Joel to keep Tess safe just reminds Joel of his past failure. Not just how he failed Tess, but also how he failed his daughter 20 years ago.

Hey Nia, such an amazing episode. My whole family is really enjoying this series. I'm glad you're so engrossed in this amazing story. There is so much you don't know yet. All of us who played the games are just so happy with the care they took to tell this story with love. Great reaction!

AS a grown man, they got me with this episode. I cried like a baby, so I feel your heartache Nia. To see how their relationship and love grew and blossomed. --------- What great writing and directing. THis is up there with the, "Kiksuya" eposide from "Westworld". ------ Wow, let me wipe the tears one more time.

That stone pillar he's making in the opening is called a burial cairn to memorialize Tess. Cairns are found all across the world and serve multiple different purposes.

this episode was a masterpiece in TV history of all time. GOATED

The world fell apart in 2003, one year before same-sex marriage was legal anywhere in the US. So the two of them got married on their last day without it ever having been a possibility in their lifetimes. It's just so sad.

I swore I wasn’t going to watch anyone else react to this, then you popped up so I broke my promise. This episode absolutely gutted me. Their relationship was so similar to mine only I lost my husband while on vacation. I cried all day yesterday after watching this.

Shordy fighting for her life to stop tears every episode 😭

Need to find me a good man. * **starts digging a hole** *

This was so well done.. The game was very different. This was so heartfelt.. Well done HBO. (The backstory of Bill & Frank is so well done) In the Game, you never meet Frank.. and you only see Bill, (who recue you from one of his traps) ❤❤❤ Ray.

I love how this was handled. I love that with every change, it is either me questioning if that was part of the game or gladly accepting the broadened world story. I was so heart broken by this but in the most bittersweet kind of way. I do find it funny that they had the most cinematically phenomenal, heart wrenching love story just to explain how joel got a car

Nah she couldn't handle it.. the song at the end opened the flood gates again 😭😄

It's amazing how this episode could portray such a beautiful and believable love story in 30 minutes, something that many modern movies can't do in 2 hours, or even spanning several movies (cough Twilight, cough prequel Star Wars trilogy) ...

The episode is so beautiful. Thank you for reacting to this. This episode had such an impact on me and (from what I've heard) other viewers. It had me so intrigued and ended up with tears streaming down my face. This episode is by far made an impact on television and is definitely one of the best episodes in television so far.

This episode is brilliant... not just brilliantly acted and passed, but it lays down the entire theme of the show. A theme that for sure will be running through the entire series. "Save the ones you love. Fight for the ones you love." In this world, that means everything.

At first I only thought this episode was sad, and it is. But the more I think about it, the more I envy Bill (and Frank, but mostly Bill, because he's the one I can relate to). He lived the way I'd like to live. On his own terms. Isolated, but not too isolated. Loved and loving, and yet self-sufficient.

Every single reactor I've watched (6 or 7 of them by now) thought we were going to see the army shooting those innocent people, and were relieved that they didn't show it, so don't worry, you're not alone there!

Bill was surviving, and Frank showed him how to live.

Ethical Choice: Leave it unlocked for others to use Choice if you want to survive: Leave it locked up and secret from people as a place to come to

I was so caught off guard by this episode, but I cried just as much as you did, and to me that's what makes it so well done, and so incredibly powerful.

You have such a sweet heart it’s wonderful to see your perspective, and oh-boi this episode made me cry too. It was so powerful but actually my husband and I agreed, before the story told us what was going to happen, that we’d want to do the same in their situation. In this case I worried for a moment that this is just perpetuating the gay suicide trope, but really I think Bill and Frank lived great and long lives compared to the people around them. They even were afforded incredibly humane and respectful deaths! I suppose it’s odd to think this will likely be one of the calmer episodes, but for what it is I really loved watching it.

What an episode. Heartbreaking. Tragic.

Growing old with the love of your life in the middle of a zombie apocalypse and dying under your own decision is pretty much a happy ending. (And pretty much the only happy ending we will see in this series 😉,)

i watching this episode the night it came out and i still can’t think of or remember an episode or movie that has made me cry this much or that has made me feel so many emotions in the span of like an hour.

The most unrealistic part to me is Baltimore QZ making it four years. The mushrooms would’ve taken us so quick-no amount of Old Bay would save us 😅

I’m soo happy we got thrown together with the reaction vibe! You are really cool!🌸☘️🌺🌼

While I am bummed we didn't get to see a snarky interaction between Ellie and Bill, and that they omitted one of the better sections of the game, trying to pull off that entire sequence within a single episode would have been a near impossible task. Nevertheless, I'm completely satisfied with this beautiful character study of Bill. Excited to see where they take the series next.

The way their final night mirrors their first night together, down to the meal and how Bill presents the plate is rather touching. Beautifully done by the creators.

Such a beautiful episode, thanks for sharing your reaction.

26:58 "this episode is brutal." very

My favorite episode is coming up, I feel it lol. It’s actually so fun watching someone else react who hasn’t played the game/doesn’t know what to expect. Not that any of us do really but having played the game we know where it’s going. Girl this whole episode had me in tears. Nick did an amazing job as Bill. I don’t want to spoil anything 😩 but keep them tissues on hand.

There is no way to not fall in love with Bill and Frank. Tears every time…

I really loved this episode. So beautiful and touching. And people that have criticized this because Joel and Ellie didn’t have as much screen time or the fact that it’s a love story between two men. It’s so wonderful and beautifully acted.

When I watched this episode I thought about your last reaction immediately and was like "Wow they really bouta make us cry every week" lol Also the judo chops at 3:25 looked deadly!

Wonderful video! This is one of the most beautiful yet heartbreaking episode in the history of TV shows! I'm still crying each time I watch it. 😭

Beautiful reaction

Things are only going to get worse from here on out. You are in for a bumpy ride the game was an emotional rollercoaster.

Thought I didn't have any more tears left for this episode, but watching you watch this got the water works flowing again. Dang it! LoL

Love the reaction

Bill was a genius would have never thought of those traps

@Nia Maki, 16:31 And THAT'S the thing. Bill wasn't living! He was surviving and he was lonely as hell. Frank truly loved Bill and he wanted Bill to live and enjoy life. Frank could see through Bill and tell that he was miserable. Bill was never allowed to be himself, really be himself. He was a good boy, did all the things his mother wanted. He tried being with a girl and that wasn't him. When the town was evacuated, he was happy, no more people to cast judgement on him. He was finally free, finally alone, surviving, but not living. Frank wants Bill to experience all the things he's been denied. A well kept community, friends, parties and surprises like strawberries! 18:53 This story is pretty different from the game, but it is also soooooooooooooo much better than what we got in the game. For one, this is a much happier story. Anyway, Bill built a fortress that was so fortified that anyone whoever tried to take it would only get one shot, and he made sure that you'd regret it so much that you'd never try to come for him again. He lived in his fortress for 23 years, but the last 16 years were the best he ever had. While everyone else in the world was struggling to get by, battling infected, military, slavers, raiders and whatever else, Bill and Frank got to live relatively normal lives uninterrupted, and they were free for the disdainful judgment that society surely would have given them had the world not ended. Bill did what the the military could not, he beat the cordyceps. 19:53 Had the story ended here and Frank died and Bill lived, they could have made this story turn into the story many of us who played the game know. Frank is barely in the game--we mostly know about him from letters left behind...and we find his body...hanging from a tree...since he hung himself after getting bit while trying to leave Bill ='( Bill is a bitter old man that hates the world when we meet him in the game. Had Frank died, and Bill went on, he very likely would have slipped back into the man he was before Bill, but probably much worse since he lost the one person that meant the world to him. Many online speculated that Frank was suffering from either Parkinson's or cancer and Craig Mazin chimed in stating that they didn't want to say what it was in the story, but because so many people wanted to know that he wanted to clear things up a bit. He said that they didn't exactly decide on a decease, but they did narrow it down to two: MS and ASL. It must have been so hard for Frank to live in a world with no medical help from a medical profession. The best this new world could offer him, thanks to his friendship with Joel and Tess was medication, and who knows how good that was since their aren't any real pharma companies anymore. What a beautiful story, yeah. Perfect from start to finish. I've enjoyed every story we've gotten, and even though this particular is very different from the Bill and Frank's story in the game, this change is great. This change is going to be important moving forward. I can't wait to see what other changes they make, if any. This team is doing an amazing job, and I don't think they're dropping the ball at this point. They've been running with the ball from the 10 yard line uncontested and they're still going. Another great reaction. Keep those tissues/towel nearby. This isn't a happy story, but it is a great one. It is "the Last of Us."

wonderful reaction, thank you.

3:42 Did you see that twitching? I think we lost her guys

Awesome episode

Glad I found ur channel

i liked the popups, gives us your unspoken thoughts 👍🏼

Linda Rostand was the ONLY thing that could make Joel smile.

Bill taught Frank how to survive. Frank taught Bill how to live. They lived like kings together for 16 years, as compared to anyone else in this world. They basically "won" the apocalypse.

Cried during the episode and cried during your reaction too NAURRRRR

This was a truly beautiful story. I wasn't prepared either.

A beautiful episode. So emotional and well acted. I'm sure after all those years alone, Bill was lonely. That's probably why he gave Frank a break and invited him in. If this had been year 1, I bet Frank would have been left out in the cold.

Such great acting from them 2 men to convince us of that much love in such a short time

"But, y'all just ate" 😂

Having never played the game I'm starting to wonder if there will be any episodes that aren't heartbreaking. Nice reaction Nia.

Chorei com o episódio e chorei com sua análise... obrigado por compartilhar seus sentimentos... é bonito saber que tem seres humanos com o coração bonito

You have a very calm and soothing voice. You could do those "Help you sleep or relaxation" type audio recordings they make lol

One of the best episodes of television ive ever seen

This was a beautiful and tragic episode, and one of the best episodes of TV I can remember. I could go on and on about it, but there's nothing I can say that someone else in the comments hasn't said already, and in a far prettier way. Plus, as a queer girl, seeing more representation of healthy LGBTQ+ relationships is always a wonderful little bonus. 🏳‍🌈 This episode did contribute a new shared quote to my household on the regular though. You didn't show it in the reaction, but because of Bill and Frank's argument in the street, at least a few times a week, either me or my dad will suddenly shout "The government ARE all n*zis!" and the other answers "Well, yeah, now..." Gets at least a smile out of me every time. Thanks, Bill and Frank!

Nia, you are the most adorable reactor. I feel you on this episode.

This was such a hard episode man… The full length reaction can be found www.patreon.com/posts/77960974? My afterthoughts just in case is here: The Last of Us Ep 3 Conclusion kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m5OYebqq1Nmpemg.html

Love your reaction!! I had similar reaction to you. For those of us who have not played the game (I am assuming you haven't?), we didn't know who Bill and Frank were. When Frank first appeared, I thought he was going to steal and kill Bill. And when Bill got shot, I thought Frank had to live alone. Just when your mind is thinking one direction, the writer tricks/surprises with another plot twist. Brilliant writing and ways to keep the timeline story interesting and engaging for the audience. The choice of words and imagery is just out of this world. 10/10 episode.

This was easily in my top three episodes of television I have ever seen. Do well scripted, directed, and to see Nick Offerman in such a dramatic role and showing that he has so much more range than just comedy was wonderful. If he doesn't get an Emmy for this one episode, then I will never watch another awards show ever again. Two fun facts and one somewhat heartbreaking but interesting fact: - I live outside of Boston and what they claimed was 10 miles outside of the city is a HUGE bunch of horse sh*t!! Maybe...MAYYYBBEEE, 100 miles outside the city in the Berkshire Mountains, but definitely not within 40 miles of Boston. - Linda Ronstadt's song from this episode, much like "Running Up That Hill" in the newest Stranger Things season, shot to the top of the iTunes downloads this last week, jumping over either 900% or 9,000% in sales compared to its average. - Massachusetts was the first state to legalize "gay marriage" (I use quotes because love is love and marriage is just marriage, doesn't matter who it's with) in 2004, but the show begins with the outbreak happening in 2003, a year before it became law. Ostensibly, due to the outbreak, hardly anyone survived including those in the LGBTQ community, so the chances of anyone getting married in any form were slim-to-none prior to that. That means that Massachusetts still potentially had the first gay marriage within the show's canon.

Hey Nia, at the start of the episode you asked whether it's worse if the episode is scary or if the episode is heartbreaking. I don't know girl. I don't know. ------- Not seeing an endless row of clickers and stalkers coming at us made for less anxiety, but the emotion, pain and heartache is quite intense as well. -------- What an amazing TV show and such amazing, well crafted storytelling.

I been looking for your channel for like hourssss yesterday wondering if you already reacted to Ep. 3. Finally found you again (and will not lose you cause I got the bell on!)

I just sat and watched a woman weeping for half an hour. Best episode ever.

“This is the first meal they had together” *sobs* This is exactly what I did when I watched it

This was such a beautiful episode 😭

“Love”… in one’s life… is “Survival”…

Favorite episode Can’t wait 4neXt 1

If he brought that birthday cake home that he promised. I think they dodged at the very least, 3 bullets in episode 1

Bill taught Frank how to survive. Frank taught Bill how to live.

lol I am adding this to my watch later just because of the title. I know exactly which meme that is.

I loved you reaction

6:00. It must be a bizarre life, knowing everything that will happen a minute before it happens, and not really knowing for sure! Crazy superpower! Hope you learn to harness it!😆🌸🌺🌷🌿💐

IM CRYNG SO HARD

Hey, they had many years of a great relationship. More than most! It’s so beautiful!🌸🌿🌺💐🌷🌼

3:48. I just realized recently that, she was bit, she should have become one of these! If it were I, definitely curious!🌾

one thing to keep in mind, in this alternate timeline, marriage would never have been legally possible for them where they lived. made the episode really powerful imo

If frank had only walked a couple feet away, he wouldnt have fallen in the hole and they’d never have met 😯

"No" must be your favorite word. There can only be a story, if the characters say, "yes"

i cried so much during this episode 😭 watching reaction videos has me crying again i cant with this fucking episode AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Heartbreak is the price of loving, but is life worth living without having to pay such a price? THE LAST OF US' message is: Love is the light in the darkness. Look for it and when you find a worthy repository for that love, for your own benefit, open the window of your heart and let the light of love in and out.

Well done.

As a resident of Baltimore the Baltimore QZ would fall immediately. Im amazed we lasted 4 years.

They won’t move in because resources and Bill isn’t exactly "welcoming" and plus Joel is still looking for his brother I’m assuming.

Imagine sitting next to her while she breaks down like this lol

probably my favorite reaction cause it was the closest to mine 😭

here I am, crying with you lol

do you listen to the podcasts for every episode? also i would love for you to react to the game after the show is over lol i think its so fun comparing the two :)

I didn't think highly of this episode like everyone else at first watch, mainly because of the changes it made versus the game, however after watching the whole series and rewatched it, it is indeed a damn fine piece of television

I like how you pronounce it "sammiches." Subscribed for Firefly. This reaction means I made a good choice.

Ode to love