Bury Your Gays & The Last of Us 

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I find the reactive accusation of burying the gays thrown at this episode infuriating. Bill and Frank -won-. They. Won. As you said, most people in the real world don’t get anywhere near such a fulfilled, intentional love story. I almost cackled when you remarked that Bill and Frank literally did not get buried.

There's a Greek myth about an old married couple who were offered a wish by Zeus in return for their hospitality, and they wished that when the time came for one of them to die, they would both die at the exact same moment. After a long life, they became intertwining trees. I remember hearing it when I was very small, and I've always found it a beautiful idea. This story made me think of that.

Considering game Frank’s fate, the show runners technically resurrected a gay lol First time meeting him, he literally comes out of a hole in the ground. Back from the grave to take part in one of the most beautiful love stories seen in television and film.

One other thing I caught was when Frank discusses a code system for the radio with Tess, he mentions using songs, and then says '80's obviously means trouble'. And Frank having lived through that decade and what it meant for people like him, it makes total sense.

This episode completely floored me and my partner. Bill and Frank were given what is possibly the best possible ending in this story, but also in real life. So many people dream of growing old with their partners and dying peacefully on their own terms. I truly believed these men lived their best possible lives and that queer joy at its core.

Bill and Frank get the happiest ending of anyone in the TLOU universe. Yes, anyone, including main characters. How anyone could think this was Bury Your Gays is beyond me

I'm just imagining you writing that "first of us/last of us" line and smiling smugly going "I'm so clever"... Fantastic line

I found this episode so moving because the relationship of Bill and Frank was a mirror of my relationship with my partner/spouse (both bearded men), except we had 33 years together rather than 17. He had an incurable, genetic illness for the last year and a half of his life, and watching Bill take care of Frank brought back memories of my taking care of him. It is wonderful to see a representation of a relationship that occurs in life, not just in the media.

Imagine being as good as frank at reading social cues

"What is better, than watching someone speak passionately about a thing that they love, except maybe love itself."

I sobbed like a baby during this episode. It was so beautiful. It made me happy to see stories written that allowed for the completion of a person's life, to see a bigger picture than just the magnifying glass on their tragedy.

“Doing like a treadmill thing, but outside on the dirty ground and the floor doesn’t move” I passed away 😂

The entire episode I was waiting for one of them to die tragically, at this point I'm so used to it that I just expected it, and then they didn't do it!! They let them live long happy lives and die peacefully in each other's arms, they gave them the happiest ending of any of the characters and it was just the most beautiful surprise

We love apocalyptic daddy bears! The amazing thing about the episode is that it was written by a straight man, Craig Mazin. He was very aware of the "bury your gays" trope and worked relentlessly to correct that with this series. He wanted as many middle-age, gay men involved as possible hence the casting of Murray Bartlett as well as having Peter Hoar ("It's A Sin") direct the episode. He had another queer actor in mind but he was unavailable so they went with the perfectly cast Nick Offerman (his wife Megan Mullaly insisted he had to do the part). Mazin said he continuously asked for input from older gay men because the characters already start out in middle age and progress into elderly fragility, he wanted truth of the lives of such men. Two fun facts about the episode: 1) Everyone assumes Bill's "this isn't the tragic suicide at the end of the play" is referencing "Romeo and Juliet" but the writers are adamant about noting it's actually a reference to the Mart Crowley 1960's play "The Boys in the Band". 2) The quick flash of a portrait at the 23:30 mark is actually a portrait of Murray Bartlett from the queer series "Looking" where he plays Dominic.

My boyfriend and I (both trans men) hugged each other and cried during this episode. Well, he teared up, and I sobbed. Going in I knew this episode had a queer relationship that was gonna have an emotional ending but I was really worried it would be a typical tragic post-apocalyptic accident. I was so relieved at how it turned out. It truly felt like they won. This was a happy satisfying ending and wow did I need it with how the world is right now. I'm so grateful to TLOU showrunners, and thank you for covering this for us and bringing up the Hays code too.

watched episode three, cried, watched it again with my boyfriend, cried, watched your summary with clips of it here, cried again. the "bury your gays" trope is so wrongly applied to a story that spans twenty years and a whole relationship, where they get to put each other first, over and over, even in death, as old, well-loved men. thank you for the video, also you look fantastic 🫡

To think how wonderful they spent their honeymoon forever in each others' arms.

I watched this episode and I cried like a baby. Also last of us said 'bury your gays? I thought you meant berry your gays.' This episode is so sweet.

"I traded one of your guns" "Which one?" "Don't worry babe I didn't give away your fave boom stick I got you"

“I’m old. I’m satisfied. And you were my purpose.” I’m tearing up just typing that. It put to rest any thoughts of the trope for me because the rest of the episode was a testament to a life well lived. The deaths were painful as death always is. But the alternatives of Franks continued decline or Bill’s loneliness in a world without medical or social support doesn’t make any sense practically or emotionally. It’s a beautiful, human love story, with a bittersweet but good ending. The only bad thing I can see is it’s uniqueness. Hopefully one day stories like this won’t be remarkable because the characters are gay. I think this is a step in the right direction that inspires more in the future.

That moment when Bill brought out the same meal he'd cooked for Frank is when I broke down and started bawling. God this episode was so good

I just really appreciate that they were both very clearly masculine men, who were deeply and openly in love. That alone is far better than just about any representation I have ever seen.

What a beautiful story! They weren't buried, they lived a whole life and then they got what I would call the good death. A death they chose because it was time, a death without pain or violence, enveloped in love. How beautiful!

"it's like one of those hang in there kitty posters, but it's a dead woman!" 1:59 great out of context quote right there

He didn't steal that wine; that was a legitimate salvage operation.

Oh man, new Caelan Conrad vid. Time to wound my soul again.

I loved this episode so much, I loved that it said it was never too late to find love, to be yourself, to have a meaningful relationship. Bill has never had a relationship with a man, and now he's like 50ish years old and the apocalypse has happened and by all reasonable expectations it wouldn't happen, but then it did, it wasn't too late for him to be happy

This was one of the best reviews of this episode! As an older gay man (mid 50s) you put it in both perspective and context perfectly.

I started crying as soon as they kissed. I started crying watching this video. I feel like queer rep so rarely gets to be so full and human. Also queer couples getting old together always fucking gets me. The first time I saw it was actually the Macklemore same love music video and we have come so far since then in comparison to this. Thanks for covering my favorite episode of television ever.

"I see this again and I'm about to bury some gays!" "Like the 'hang in there' kitty posters, but it's a dead woman." This is my first video of yours and holy shit, you are an incredible script writer. Such a heavy topic tackled with nuance and occasional humor shining through the clouds. Bravo.

Not me crying through this video like I did the episode. I’m so happy you covered this, great job

Sidebar: thank you for properly crediting THE CELLULOID CLOSET I know it’s a minor detail but strange how certain LGBTQ+ creators can’t get it right

From a deeply closeted late 80s/ early 90s queer kid, thank you so much for this. For so long I just thought I was weird and sinful for being attracted romantically to both boys and girls when I was a kid. I pushed it all deeply deeply down and now I'm basically asexual. But I finally came out last year in my mid- 40s, and now I find videos like this life-giving and soul cleansing. Thank you for sharing your beautiful self with the world in this way

I do wonder how they'll handle Riley and Left Behind

watching the celluloid closet as a teenager was a revelation. I still put it on to fall asleep to when i am depressed about the world (so always).

not me ugly crying while watching Caelan talking about show I didn't watch based on a game I never even heard about. I appreciate your hard work and I can afford lowest tier so I am a lil bestie now

My group call watching the episode was full of LGBT folks who were so happy to see all the time skips happening because we got to see two gay men get to grow old together, which is all any of us want. In a show where characters die every episode, this was the best possible ending they could have had. This story was not about the death of two gay men. It was about the life that two people in love shared together.

You worded this entire video so incredibly well, it's got me crying. This episode really was just so... good.

I feel like Bill and Frank had the most beautiful story in a world of ugliness and loss. Literally every other character in the show has lost at least one person they have loved. Bill and Frank lived their story filled with love and got to close the chapter on their terms and in each other's arms. You couldn't ask for a more beautiful love story.

This episode ended me. I was stoked to see two queer men get old and happy through the ups and downs of life in a fucking zombie apocalypse.

The connection is shown not told in the most loving and subtle way their love was tender, beautifully written and acted. I so was moved their passing of time gave them a dignity we need to see more of, my heart truly broke but worth it, the ending was bittersweet.

Unless the character's name is either Joel or Ellie, they most likely exist to die.

Found you recently and binging the lovely content. How did you snark for 30 minutes but also have me wanting to double upvote for the lols then 10 mins later I'm crying. Dude pls

Caelan this is gorgeous. Gorgeous. I hadn't seen the show. I still got very emotional

That episode was so beautiful. I was so angry at the letter Frank left Bill in the game. TO see it play out this way and to get the whole backstory was amazing. I cried the whole time.

I found myself smiling through the episode, it was so beautiful and bittersweet. Such a great tribute.

I have nothing to add, I'm just aggressively smashing that 'like' button and crying

Bill and Frank won the apocalypse.

Always nice to hear Jessie’s voice!

Damn Caelan you always stretch my brain in such interesting ways because of your multilayered analysis and half the time you make me ugly cry with the emotionalism rawness you bring to your subject matters. You are the best at what you do on youtube. Thank you for bringing the nuance and care to your videos that I love

I'm gonna cry all over again. That episode was so beautifully written. And it makes me happy that you also watched The Magicians. That show meant so much to me and so few people have watched it.

I never planned to watch the show, as I'm not very into zombie or similar themes, so I'm extra glad you dug into this episode. I would have totally missed it otherwise. Even just this summary of the episode was so fulfilling to hear about. I'm glad it exists as it does. Thank you for making this.

Interacting with this video for the algorithm. Thank you for explaining this to those that missed the meaning.

I’ve never watched the last of us and probably won’t (it seems like nightmare fuel for me) but your synopsis of this story arc had me ugly crying Excellent work as always 💙

This is so important. Thank you

Damnit, I can't have you making me cry like this when I'm at work!

I sobbed like a baby during this entire episode. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a gay love story like this my entire life- it mattered so much to me

oh my god i didn't know i wanted to watch this show, but this is one of the most beautiful things i've seen and i can't wait to see it

Your writing turns on a dime. I laughed and cried, and grit my teeth with some jealousy because I need to write more, and you did NOT have to go so hard. I am so glad you did.

OMG I loved this so mucccch! That last line was sooo beautiful.

Caelan, the videos you make are so beautiful. Thank you for giving your art to the world.

I'm in my mid 40s i can remember when their wasn't out characters on tv and only joe Jackson's real men was the music i was a teenager in hs when melissa etheridge, kd lang, etc came out before that we had to imagine and studios intentionally queer coded people and relationships like on the golden girls I'm so glad things are slowly changing it's a long time coming

Shedding happy tears as a sacrifice to the algorithm. Get the video zoomin

I cried watching that episode and I cried all over again watching this essay

I'm in bed with gastroenteritis and when I randomly clicked, you made me forget my pain for a whole half hour. Thank you, fellow Canadian. You do us proud.

The amount of emotion I had just watching these clips in your video is a testament to the impact of this story! This was a fantastic video! Very well made/written. I think I’m going to go rewatch that episode now and cry my eyes out!

I had zero knowledge about either of these characters at the start of this video and I bawled at multiple points during it.

Considering how many times I started to cry during your video for the pain of both real and imaginary people I liked this a ridiculous amount. Thanks for the time, energy and care you took in addressing this topic.

I never would have watched this show (just not my genre) so thank you for sharing this beautiful story

Berry your gays 🍓🍓 (Loved the video! ❤)

I remember playing the game for the first time and the person I was with kept insisting that Naughty Dog was trying to "shove wokeness down our throats" it was then I realised that any thing that deviates from society's rigid expectations of sexuality will be viewed this way.

I have a niece and nephew that are both transgender and i love them more than anything in the world, and would do anything to learn more and understand them. This was the first video I’ve seen of yours by chance because I loved this episode so much. I’ve subscribed to your channel because it’ll be another way for me to understand their world a little better. Thank you.

Everything in this video needed to be said and I'm glad you said it 💜 I haven't seen a lot of queer love stories, especially ones that get character arcs, happy lives, and even a happy - if bittersweet - end. I don't get to cry very often either. This episode gave me both of those. It felt like a milestone in storytelling and representation to me for all the reasons you talk about (and you brought out a couple more that went past me at first) Anyway thank you, you deserve good things 😊

Brilliant synopsis! I really enjoyed all your insights and humor. Here, have a comment and a like, maybe the algorithm will notice.

This was wonderful. Thank you, as always.

The entire first time I watched this episode, I was so tense I couldn't let myself feel the events unfolding on screen, so I only really got teary eyed towards the very end of their arc. I knew the story from the game, and the fear of it becoming a Bury Your Gays story at any point during the episode was so intense. On every subsequent viewing of the episode I've not been able to stop devolving into a sobbing mess every few minutes, and every clip, gif, quote I see from the episode has the same effect. This was by far and away the best queer love story we've ever seen told in my opinion, and I am so beyond happy that this was the story they chose to tell in what is one of my favorite IPs of all time. Thank you for taking the time to explain to those claiming it to be another BYGs story how very much it is in fact the opposite, and doing so with such great nuance and depth.

I'm glad you clarified that this was not that trope. I personally hate it when any gay death infection is seeing as "bury your gays". This story was really beautiful because we saw two people live out their lives fully to old age. And their experiences together informed the main story by showing that there was value to their love. Bill and Frank went out on their own terms in reaction to a disease very closely related to Frank's old age and build deciding that he was also satisfied with the life he lived up to that point. This was beautiful.

I loved watching this episode when it first came out. It was already an episode that emitted so much love that is only amplified by understanding the layers of character writing historically. I appreciate the analysis and explanation from your perspective.

Comment for engagement. I cry over Bill and Frank everytime I think about them. What was once a bad representation, turned into something beautiful and I'm so grateful that they went this direction when it would have been so much easier to go down the route of the game

I still get teary eyed when seeing the episode. They did such a amazing job.

This expressed all of the ways I’ve felt about this episode. Thank you for putting it out in the world. I’m going to go keep ugly crying about it now. 💖

Your retelling was quite nice. I teared up as I did with the episode.

Wow I can't believe I got out of bed to watch this and become a blubbering mess ahwajwhrjwhrw 😭

I was just thinking about how UNDERRATED your work is (and I hardly ever use this term) and I hear you mentioning how "our friend" the algaerythm treats you. I absolutely adore your content. Much love from Latin America!

Beautifully done. So glad I found your video! Just thought I'd mention another layer to add: the song Long, Long Time is about the singer's unrequited love for someone who doesn't even notice them. If you check out the lyrics, you can see why it made Frank cry while kissing Bill. It's an amazing study of their characters. The way Frank does it, it's for the pretty tune and the quaint, twangy, old-timeyness of Linda Ronstadt's singing without delving too deep into the lyrics.. But that is just the surface... like you say, he SEES Bill. He uncovers how deeply Bill groks the lyrics to his core when getting him to play it. And further prods Bill to reveal his true self by asking who the girl was. Testing if Bill was ready to open his armour and admit what he really wants. And damn, did Nick Offerman deliver. The trembling vulnerability of Bill being terrified and thrilled at the same time when they kiss and then when he's about to experience his first time. Even tiny moments like noticing the finger mark in the dust on his mantle when he bursts in on Frank with dinner. Or the hesitations and awkward lingering because there is a naked man taking a shower right on the other side of the bathroom door... his awkward walk to go shower with the little dash up the stairs after the kiss... And good gods, that strawberry giggle...! I think Murray Bartlett's warmth and gentle support for what must have been an intimidating situation for Nick as a straight man playing a gay character really shines through too and what they, and the writers/crew created with Bill & Frank is incredible.

Holy shit. This is seriously genius writing and speaking. I cried all the way through.

This was absolutely beautiful, as a preface I'm aroace (and that's all you get to know). I haven't watched anything on this series (or the games) other than a theory on how the zombie outbreak spreads. I legitimately cried just during your recap that's such an impactful and wonderful story.

Thank you for the video

I didn't expect your video to make me cry, but here we are. Keep up the good work. We see you.

I love the nuances of "who is the girl" frank offers both a cover and a way to open up at the same time. He knowes, he is very confident in his knowlage . . . but that does not mean Bill if willing or able to open up, to accept that. You can not force that realisation or moment of acceptence onto something, they themselfs have to be able to say it or it is meaningless . . . so he says something he knows is untrue to see whatever bill will hide behind it, or takes it as an invitation to finaly come clean

crying laughing at "treadmill thing on the dirty ground" I had to pause because i was momentarily ded

TLOU viewers vs Basic Media Literacy. Difficulty rating: impossible. Surprised to see that people jumped to read this as bury your gays and very glad you took the time to push back on that. I was a little worried at first that the show was going to uncritically support ultra conservative doomsday preppers, but I think they did great job of setting up Bill as a man who has everything he needs to survive, but nothing he needs to live. I also appreciated how much of Frank and Bill's characterization and relationship was done outside of dialogue. The wary stances and jumpy reactions growing into the kind of soft touches and intimate looks that we so rarely get to see for queer relationships on screen. The way he brings two glasses with the final bottle of wine so you just know whats coming next. A 10/10 queer story, I just wish my neighbors would stop chopping onions while I watch.

Thanks!

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 beautiful explanation of this episode!!!! Bravo! 😢😢😢😢

You always manage to pack so much emotion into your videos and I truly appreciate how you approach sensitive subjects with grace and compassion. This was really well done, as always ❤️

Thank you, Caelan. This was so powerful. Much love. 🩷💛🩵🏳️‍🌈

I'm lesbian, just did three years of therapy, yet that episode was my most cathartic feature length cry in years. Felt so seen in a way that is hard to explain. I've been putting off watching stuff on it like this video, because it's just so shocking and disappointing that feeling didn't reach people like I wish it did, just because misunderstanding a single concept of media analysis. I didn't really want to think about it that way or ruin the impact it had on me with all the misguided negativity. But this is so importnt to understand, and you explained this very well.

Oh my God Caelan you cannot do this to me, I am in public 😭 when you brought up that gay marriage wasn't legalized until after the outbreak, I lost it. This episode was something truly special. I'm not gonna say 'I never cry', I've had misty eyes brought on by lots of media through the years but this was the first story that had me, in full view of my wife, openly sobbing. Like, nose dripping kinda crying. It was so powerful.

most beautiful video essay ever