Summary
- The Last of Us' best episode explored new characters, proving a spinoff could work by staying true to the source material and telling great stories for newcomers.
- Episode 3 offers a new perspective on the apocalypse, expanding the world and showcasing how other survivors adjust to the end of the world.
- The success of 'Long, Long Time' suggests audiences would be willing to explore stories set in The Last of Us' world that don't feature Joel or Ellie, opening up possibilities for spinoffs.
The Last of Us' best episode from the first season proves a spinoff focusing on a new cast of characters could totally work. Video game movies might be something of a cursed genre, but when it comes to television, they tend to fare a little better. Netflix's animated Castlevania is Exhibit A, but the critical acclaim and ratings that greeted HBO's The Last of Us adaptation prove it's possible to stay true to the source and make a great show for newcomers at the same time. It helps that the game it adapted already had great writing behind it.
The Last of Us may have followed Pedro Pascal's Joel and Bella Ramsey's Ellie for most of its nine-episode run, but two of its most acclaimed outings explored side stories. "Left Behind" explored the relationship between Ellie and her friend Riley (Storm Reid) and received praise for its central, tragic romance but arguably the best-received outing was Last of Us' "Long, Long Time." This centered on the tender love story between survivors Frank (Murray Bartlett) and Bill (Nick Offerman) over the course of 20 years.
The Last Of Us Season 1, Episode 3 Is The Show's Best Episode So Far
On one hand, The Last of Us episode 3 could be considered a "filler" episode, and one that doesn't really advance the main story. This is a somewhat dismissive take on "Long, Long Time" however, as it does several things that relate to the main narrative, and reinforces in Joel the need to protect Ellie. More than anything, episode 3 is a great character piece and acting showcase for Offerman and Bartlett. Over the course of a single episode, it charts the ups and downs of their characters' romance, features several heartbreaking scenes and ends on a bittersweet but hopeful note.
Bill and Frank might die at its conclusion, but they also proved that despite the apocalypse it was possible to carve out a safe haven and build a life together. It's genuinely impressive in that in a season that has several standout episodes - including the premiere "When You're Lost in the Darkness" and the aforementioned "Left Behind" - that "Long, Long Time" still stands as the clear favorite amongst audiences and critics.
Bill And Frank's Episode Offers A New Perspective On The Apocalypse
Some viewers may have disliked the digression the episode took away from the main characters, but it still served an important function. The first two outings established the bleak world of The Last of Us, setting up the rules and fleshing out the relationship between Joel and Ellie. "Long, Long Time" was a chance for the series to stretch its legs and offer a new vantage point on the ruined world, with episode 3 providing a snapshot of how other people adjusted to the end of the world.
In a Last of Us movie, the entire Bill and Frank storyline would have probably been cut out, with Joel and Ellie only discovering their bodies and reading the letter Bill left behind. In HBO's adaptation, this episode is a way to explore other survivors and offer new perspectives on what it takes to survive in this harsh new world. Spending time with the doomed lovers only makes further episodes more impactful, and hints at the scores of other untold tales in Last of Us' world.
It should be noted that while Joel and Ellie only play a ing in "Long, Long Time," Bill's letter is extremely meaningful to their story. Bill its to having never liked Joel particularly, but he respects him nonetheless and knows they have a lot in common. They both know how awful the world can be, and what it takes to protect a loved one. This is the key to making Joel step up and commit to being Ellie's guardian, after trying to shut off any emotion towards her previously; of course, this also plays a role in Joel's shocking Last of Us' ending decision.
The Last Of Us Episode 3 Proves A Spinoff Could Work
There are only two Last of Us games thus far, with season 1 adapting the first title and even its DLC Left Behind. Time will tell if the forthcoming second season adapts Last of Us Part II in its entirety, but outside of the arrival of a third entry, it appears HBO's series won't be running for many seasons. Considering the success and acclaim the first season received, "Long, Long Time" is a strong argument that viewers would be willing to explore stories set in that world that don't involve Joel or Ellie.
This could take the form of an anthology show that features one-off tales of other survivors that could include familiar characters, or it could be completely unrelated to the main series. This would of course need the blessing of the show's co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, but it is one way to continue the show without stretching out the story already established in the video games. The Last of Us has the potential to expand on its source material and tell other stories, but the question remains if that's what the showrunners want too.