First Time Watching The Last of Us - Episode 3 - Reaction & Commentary 

What's one home comfort you would struggle to live without during a zombie apocalypse?

I think the point of this episode was to open up Joel's willingness to care for and protect Ellie, just as Bill did for Frank. What a masterpiece of an episode. Also: Moist.

Nick Offerman didn't have time in his schedule. But his wife read the script and informed him that he was taking the part. So he made time. Also, he is classically trained and had to roughen up his singing/piano because his first attempts were too polished.

My favorite part of this was when they got in the truck and he said, seatbelt. And she just stares at him blankly.

For those curious fans about the full letter of Bill including the last part, here it goes: August 29, 2023 If you find this, please do not come into the bedroom. We left a window open so that the house wouldn't smell, but it will be probably a sight. I'm guessing you found this, Joel, because anyone else would have been electrocuted or blown up by one of my traps hehhehheh. Take anything you need. The bunker code is the same as the gate code but in reverse, do not make a mistake or you will also get blown to shit. I am not joking. Don't fuck that up hehhehheh. Anyway, I never liked you, but still, its like we're friends. Almost. And I respect you. So i'm gonna tell you something because you're probably the only person who'll understand. I used to hate the world, and I was happy when everyone died. But I was wrong because was one person worth saving. And that's what I did, I saved him, and then I protected him. That's why men like you and me are here. We have a job to do, and God help any motherfuckers who stand in our way. I leave you all of my weapons and equipment. Use them to keep Tess safe, until such time as you and she decide you've had enough. At that point, I recommend pairing 40 Vicodins with a nice Brunello. Bill

Great episode. A little sad Bill wasn't alive to meet Ellie, but worth it for the story!

The people in the truck were DEFINATELY carted off to their deaths. Those were their bodies in that field that Joel and Ellie were looking at. Guess you missed the transition of the rainbow baby blanket and the green dress.

What I liked about both games and other games do this as well is finding random notes from survivors during the game telling a story of what happened before. The TV series gets the chance to tell those stories and change them just enough to make them a nice change of pace for fans of the games. I'm guessing the next episode might be more action based as sweet moments never seem to last long in this franchise

I've watched a lot of reaction videos (I've admittedly become obsessed with them since TLOU started) and yours is my favorite. Please keep doing this videos. To me, this episode served two purposes: 1. Showing that in a world as bleak and dark and dangerous as The Last of Us, that two people can find happiness. 2. This, in my mind, finally convinces Joel that (as Bill put it) "there is someone worth saving" and to take care of Ellie. My hope is that in the future we, as the human species, can learn to treat people for who they are not what they are.

It IS filmed in Canada, thank you very much 😊 In Calgary and Edmonton I heard, so I imagine these shots are from the Rockies.

Excited for this one after hearing all the good things. Plus offerman is my boy. Nick and Megan are couple goals.

Absolutely superb episode. Probably one of my favourite things I've watched on tv. Also, there's usually some part of me that's moist!

If you want to auto cry, the name of the song that plays during Bill and Frank’s final day is called “On The Nature Of Daylight” by Max Richter….you’re welcome 🥲🥲🥲

I just found these reactions and you're so enjoyable to watch, Ryan! Loved this. It was moist 😂

You call it a Mushroom Kiss! I called it the Fungus French Session! 😂 Just found your channel! Love the videos!

Your energy coming into the beginning of your intro was fantastic & had me rolling cause well you definitely had no clue what this episode had in store for you lol goodness Ryan I just adore your reactions 💫

I've seen people calling it tragic or sad, but I think it was a happy story. They got to pass in old age, after a long life where they were loved, with agency and dignity. This is something neither queer nor disabled/terminal characters are usually granted in media. Also seen it compared to the start of Up. The big difference is Carl had regrets, Bill didn't, he was "satisfied". The apocalypse happened in 2003. That is the societal framework they are coming from. One where gay marriage wasn't legal. One where initial meetings were often conducted through coding because being too open, too out, was dangerous. Especially in a small town. Bill probably had more genuine social interaction after the outbreak than beforehand. Because of small town stigma and pre 2003 socially acceptable homophobia. From this perspective the apocalypse gave them a chance at life they may not have gotten otherwise. Bill likely never would have known love. Frank brought beauty to Bill's life. As I have seen others say, Bill and Frank won the apocalypse. And Bill and Joel became friends. Even if they didn't want to call it that. Mutual repect. Mutual trust. Mutual care for the other. And Joel had the code. Watching Bill's arc was a great way to externalise Joel's internal arc, they are so similar. The show story is exploring how love and relationships can be toxic. And this was a beautiful juxtaposition to that. Functionally it didn't change a lot from the game story. Bill and Frank existed. Joel and Ellie got resources. Joel and Ellie still broke down some walls. But, story wise it did add things for the show. A lot of what was cut there will be plenty more of in the show. And game players get to experience something new. In the context of queer representation in media, including the "kill your gays" trope, I really appreciated this change. And the lack of bodies was really respectful of the story being told - it wasn't a story about their death. It was a story about their life and love. Sometimes in apocalypse stories you can end up in a place wondering if the world is worth saving. The love story topped off with sprinkling of Ellie's delight at the world and Joel's ability to find purpose and drive again showed that there may be something to fight for. It also seems to signify the end of the world as it existed before. They cannot recreate the past, they are going to need to find a new future.

100% agree! I prefer this story to what was shown in the game. Great reaction!!

Frank has a motor neuron disease such as muscular dystrophy or ALS--according to the creators. Usually men get the latter.

Very moist

Bill and Frank both must have been in their early to mid-70s by the end. It would have become increasingly difficult for him to maintain the house and perimeter and what end would he have had alone? A silly accident could leave him starving to death with a broken leg or being torn apart by raiders. This end is perfect. He gets to leave with the love of his life.

It's hard no cry 😢 in this episode 🙁. It was a masterpiece!

Another great reaction glad you are enjoying these. This is beautiful and people are talking about awards for the episode and the actors. Filmed throughout Alberta Canada from July 2021 - June 2022. The author Stephen King (who has his own pandemic apocalypse mini series The Stand) criticized them for the "10 hours outside of Boston" statement which is just suburbs not forest. There is a podcast that the show runners do every week after that week's episode. For this one they mentioned that Frank's medical condition is MS or ALS. Pedro is going to have competing series for a little bit because the Mandalorian starts March 1st.

Such a phenomenal episode

Ok i gotta say this because its been mentioned in alot of reaction videos. Bill was standing out in the open without cover shooting at the raiders. Did everyone think that if Frank hadn't distracted him he would have seen the bullet coming and skipped out of the way? That's not how bullets work.

So, you asked what we would miss in the apocalypse and this gives me the first real opportunity I have had to say this on a video. While mine is hot water, I can guess Bill really missed strawberries. This is definitely going to be one of those topics of conversation that come up, especially when it's just two people. "What do you miss most from before the troubles?" Bill is surprised to see them and maybe a little nervous, what if they're not as good as he remembered? Then, when he tries them, he can't help but giggle. I love this little detail and there are hundreds of little details like this in the episode.

You got a little sultry. To understand this moist reference, you need to watch Throw Momma From the Train. Billy Crystal, Danny DeVito.

Love it ❤️

Bill still would've gotten shot. He was standing in the middle of the blooming street. He never would've seen the bullet even if Frank hadn't called him. He can't dodge bullets while standing smack dab in the middle of the road.

No, he didn't know he had the disorder before the fall. It just came on over those last 10 years. It's most likely MS or ALS or the like. A neuromuscular disorder. No cure.

What a moist reaction.............good job!

This was such a fantastic episode. It's a shame how religion makes people not realize that love is love and makes people tried to tell others who they can and can't love. The only thing about the show that I didn't care for is I wish I had seen more a little bit more zombie action. I know they followed the game but there were some episodes that were just a little slow for me but overall it was fantastic

My eyes were moist also 😢

My eyes are moist.

Nick Offerman said in an interview that he didn't know if he wanted to do the role of Bill but his wife Megan Mullally read the script and told him to take this role.

moist reaction bro

That scene in the "so far undiscovered" basement under the "Cumberland Farms" shop makes zero sense from a logical POV. I mean, as logical a POV as is possible, in a world conquered by fungi, anyway. It starts with Ellie going down there and then keeping her attention to the rack on the one side, instead of lighting out the entirety of the room first. Nobody would do that. Well, maybe a 14 y.o. reckless girl, who doesn't think through the possible consequences of her actions would. However. But how come that all that's left of the stairs down there is the stair stringer on the wall? Where's the rest of the stair? I mean, it can't be rotten away, right? And if it had, then the stair stringer would have rotten, too, surely? Then the collapsed wall under which the infected is buried. Why did it collapse? Why isn't the upper floor collapsed into the basement, too? There's nothing indicating that there was anything from above collapsing down into that basement. It were literally a bunch of bricks lying on that dude. The ceiling looked ok. Why was there an infected in that basement? What was in that basement? Some racks and some lockers. I mean, as a storage room it was pretty uncomfortable to get all the stuff down through that little trapdoor. And as a locker room it lacked basically everything _(but the lockers)._ And so on, and so on... I mean, I get why that scene exists...it's just the many "why"s and "how"s around it, that irritate me. Edit: moist.

No, 10 miles west of boston definitely doesnt look like that. Its way too mountainous and piney

moist

moist 🤣🤣

...moist...

80s means trouble likely because they were gay men who lived through the AIDS crisis and the 1980s led to a lot of people dying with the government not carining. This episode's even more poignant on the marriage scene too because in the world of the show the apocalypse came before gay marriage was available anywhere in the USA so it's not something they would have been able to know would have been there for them legally by now.

Loved this reaction. Moist.

Moist? What kinda soulless monster are you 😭🤣 lol

A lot of people seem to have missed the reason that Frank told Bill to go take a shower. Almost everyone says it is because Bill smells bad, but the real reason is far more important. Frank had already been in the shower, he had stripped himself bare, making himself completely vulnerable, and showing Bill trust. By telling Bill to take a shower, he wanted to see if Bill would trust him in the same way. Also, no one seems at all concerned that Frank's plan to fix up the building of the town is a stupid idea. By fixing it up, you expose to the Raiders the fact that there is enough there worth taking. As for the raiders, not the ones you see in the show--which I think is representative of the many attacks against them over the years--but the ones who followed. I mean, one of them, at least got away, and reported to the group about the defenses. Then in their second attempt they would have sniped Bill, one day when he was out doing things in the town, and then sniped Frank when he was out watering the flowers/painting the buildings what have you. Then they would have used a truck to ram through the gate, or perhaps sent a group of their captured slaves against the defenses until they were exhausted, and then they could just walk in and take the stuff.

Mmmoist. Hehehehehehehe.

Moist! 💦 tears😢

Sub moist.

Moisture. 💦

Moist 😉

Moist 😏

Moist

Moist......that is all

Moist!?!?

Why do you think only 'homophobes' could dislike this episode? I happen to be gay and I did not like this episode at all because of it's unrealistic portrayal, not of the gay couple' but of the life they were living. Sure, for a few years they might have experienced bliss, but as more and more people (on the radio perhaps) came to know about them their lives would have become far more dangerous. There would not have been all of that safety to expose yourself painting a house, or fixing up a business. The fact that Frank was more artistic of the two could have (and should have) been expressed in many other ways. Also, letting Tess inside worked out, but what about the others he contacted? Wouldn't he have TRUSTED them too? How can we believe that ALL of the contacts over 20 years were 'good people'? See, this episode is filled with reasons, other than homophobia, that people might not like. ALSO, the Mary Sue (you know the Girl who is the Key to Everything trope--think The Children of Men, Obi Wan, and and so many others lately--is strong in this one. Seriously, in the game Joel was a strong White Alpha Male (you see a bit of that in this episode when he bitches up Bill by TELLING him to 'get that gun out of my face', but you have to have that since Bill was WHITE (gay can get you only so many points), and since Joel had been CUCKED by ALL the females in his life since this show began, and even though Ellie was a wise acre she was still a child, and acted like a child. She did not give 'adult' speeches as we saw in her 'it's not my fault' speech. Further, after all that she has been through up to the point where she encounters the hatch (the death of Riley, her first bite, her survival during the fire fight over the battery, her attack by the clicker and later finding that she had been bitten again, and the death of Tess) there is NO way that she would A) open the hatch with out calling Joel--something she could not do since in modern films/TV no female can be seen as NEEDING a man--B) gone down INTO the basemen without a weapon, and then to top it all off she found only two items down there. A package of PROBALY out of date tampons, and a small can of something that she did not even consider picking up. Why not? Because all she needed was an item that most men would have overlooked as not being vital, so that when she rejoined Joel she would be able to SNARK. "Picked over my ass'. Thus justifying EVERY Mary Sue thing she did.

Moiiiisttt

moist