we were not ready.. | Fans REACT to THE LAST OF US on HBO - Episode 3: Long, Long Time (SPOILERS) 

I listened to the official podcast yesterday, and something Mazin said just impressed the hell out of me. He said that he was writing about two middle-aged gay men who enter a long term relationship, and while he knows what it's like to be middle-aged and in a long term relationship, he didn't know what it's like to be gay, so he knew he had to do his legwork. He wanted to make sure at least one of the principal actors was gay (Bartlett). He also assembled a team of middle-aged gay men (director, editor and production designer) to make the episode, and consulted them to make sure not only that story and the details rang true, but that it wouldn't be filmed with a "straight lens." That's how you do some goddamn representation. This episode is historic.

They had sixteen mostly happy years together in the apocalypse, that's a much better life than nearly every other human still left.

I am a straight 43 y.o. male, this episode had me in tears... I am so happy to see love, regardless of gender, portrayed in such a realistic and normalized way.

I just noticed that the end of the letter that didn't get read, after it mentioned Tess, was a recommendation about wine pairings. True to form, Bill.

sorry if this is too personal for a youtube comment, but: the first time i watched this, i was alone. i started sobbing when they kissed, and kept sobbing the whole time, because i saw too much of myself in frank and too much of my boyfriend in bill. the second time i watched it, it was with my stepdad, and i heard him quietly sobbing beside me - he told me it was one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen, and that if it doesn't win awards, he'll blame homophobia. the third time i watched it was with my boyfriend - we both started sobbing around "you were my purpose" and didn't stop until the episode was over. he turned to me after, held my face in his hands, and we promised that neither of us could die until we'd lived as long and as happily as them, until we'd gotten married and had a house and fallen asleep in each other's arms. this episode is my favourite so far, and maybe partially because i can identify with them, because their relationship resonated with my own - we have another partner (polyamory ftw) and i need to show them this episode too (they're less invested in tlou, but like to watch and listen to us talk about it bc sharing interests is my love language), both so they can experience its beauty themselves and so i can promise the same to them. this episode... god. i knew bill and frank would make me cry, but i wasn't even close to ready. it means the world to me to see a relationship i could identify with shown w such tenderness and real love behind it - and i'm a young adult! i'm barely old enough to drink! i can only imagine how much harder it must hit for older people to see stuff like this. it's the exact kind of relationship that i think the media was missing hope you're both doing well 🫶🏳️‍🌈

I've rarely seen older LGBTQ+ representation and it's just so lovely to see 💛I also really love that the story doesn't necessarily revolves around them being gay! There's no queer trauma and they don't make it their entire personality. They're both complex characters that fell in love and they just happened to be men. Simple as that :)

I feel that Joel called Tess "mine", not in a demeaning way, but more in a way that he doesn't really know exactly how he feels about her. Joel is in the end, like Bill, but unlike Bill, Joel never had the chance to explore his relationship with Tess in a way that they had. (talking from the stand point of the TV series).

No hyperbole here: I honestly think that this was one of the greatest television episodes of all time.

I feel like every single queer person that watched had the exact same reaction to that first kiss. My gay little heart can barely take it. Such a beautiful story.

I'd like to say, I appreciate how you all, as reactors, understand that you are commenting over the show and take the time to go back and rewind what you might have missed due to talking over the dialogue. Talking over is part of the gig, the commentary is why we watch you. But the ability to realize you did it, and the desire to make sure you see and hear what you may have missed in order to get the full experience, sets you apart from just about 99% of every other reactor out there. We watch you to live vicariously through you and when you miss things due to talking (which happens), we feel like we are missing out too. Thank you!

19:40 The little turn of the plate as he sets it down. The presentation has to be just so. I loved Nick Offerman's comment on the episode, "Frank is the flower. Bill is the soil."

Bill taught Frank how to survive, Frank taught Bill how to live. I love how the game and show versions have the same story impact but by different routes. Game version showed Joel what he would become if he refused to let anyone into his heart. The show version showed Joel what he could have if he does let someone in.

One absolutely gut wrench that takes a time to realize... While Bill makes sure they both die, he only has the wine from the bottle. Frank has the bottle and the extra. Bill made sure Frank died first so he could take care of his last moments.

While I love watching reactions to the show from people who haven't played the game, both of your reactions as fans of it are by far my favorite. The perfect imitation of lines from the game are the best.

"That's the gayest thing you could've done." - Make a fancy ass dinner "That's the gayest thing you could've done." - Singing to each other. You two are so funny. I loved your honest reaction with hands over mouth jaw dropped, and just your raw reaction.

"You were my purpose" That line... 😭😭😭

7:18 I love this interaction between them so much because it says a lot more than the words that were spoken. I love that they let Pedro breathe out the scene and gave him the room to express that. Joel is never a person who would've blamed others for his failures, especially a child. Especially Ellie. He does not blame her, he would never. He blames himself. But he also does not have the patience or the emotional strength to express all that and converse with Ellie. To let her know that it wasn't her fault. So instead of arguing, or expressing his world state/adult understanding that he has. He instead accepts her words. Joel was relived to hear his emotions voiced from her blunt, strong and objective POV. And he was grateful for that. Brilliant framing, scene composition and acting on part of Pedro Pascal. Thus begins their very unique and almost poignant relationship. Btw, Love what you guys are doing. I love you both so much. Just watching other queer people experience these stories, gives me joy and life. Edit:- Adding this after seeing the full video. Bill I think is in his Late forties when we first see him. Maybe like 47-49. Then when he meets Frank he is 52-53. Frank probably just turned 40 maybe he is 44. It's hinted that Frank was physically in good shape before he got sick. So at the end of their story, they were in their late sixties. At least that is what I like to think. Also, I am happy they removed the magazine scene. While Ashley's performance was good in that scene, it always bothered me somewhat as to that was how far they could've gone with that in the game. Because Bill being gay was only ever an heavily implied thing. The cassette was ode to their beautiful and tender romance.

I'm autistic, too-and my current special interest is watching reaction vids for this tv show...and yes ! to including the cat in the discussions LOL Appreciate your heartfelt as well as humorous conversations about this fantastic series.

This old gay man loved watching this with you two ❤

You are right! They did a great job of just letting these two dudes love one another. Other shows would have made a thing of it, but here...they just let it be. It's not crazy or weird, it's two humans who are in love.

29:01 "I haven't cried like that in a while" me- "Oh boy..... get ready"

33:03, something tells me in an apocalypse people (gay, straight etc) will probably pair bond a LOT stronger than they do now. No time to worry about being unhappy or bored, when the person beside you may have to defend your life with theirs at a moments notice.

I love that they changed it so that Joel screws up the letter from Bill not that Bill screws up a letter from Frank. Keeping the same symbolism.

As a 47 year old that is bisexual, and was forced to hide my sexuality most of my life, and my entire youth in my very staunch Roman Catholic home (plus ya know, the 80's and 90's and potentially being killed and all that), it makes me so very happy to see realistic, loving, non-stereotypical (exaggerated/demeaning) representations of nonhetero people in media now. Frank and Bill, unlike the game, went out loving each other and in each other's embrace; and ultimately how they decided to. Can't get much better than that in a post-apocalypse.

I loved y’all’s reaction. I can’t wait to see more. My favorite part was at 27:31 when y’all just talk openly about the lack of representation and how his was a beautiful moment in television. ❤

I'm only half way through watching this and I had to pause to comment . This by far is my favorite reaction to this episode Its about as pure as the story itself ....Thank you

Bill knew how to survive. Frank taught him why that's important.

I agree with everything you said about representation. I have never seen such tender moments between a gay couple, particularly two masculine middle aged/elderly men, portrayed on TV. I've never seen two gay men grow old together on TV either. Although Bill and Frank did die, I feel like they did a great job of subverting the "bury your gays" trope by giving them the most respectful and graceful death possible. It was their happy ending. Also, Neil Druckmann has said a few times that the core of the first game is the theme of love, but I think since it's a video game it has to have a lot of action which can distract from that at times. It's great that they're able to focus more on the theme of love in the show

Gah, I need to find me a good man. * **starts digging a hole** *

Love your reaction! I missed that they were playing "It Can't Last" from 2 in the strawberry scene. Their use of the music has been so good. Vanishing Grace being used as Bill took Frank to bed at the end broke me. That was such a beautiful love story. Not a beautiful gay love story. Not a beautiful apocalypse love story. Just a beautiful love story. Period. You mentioned how normalized they showed the relationship. Heck, it seemed more normalized than how most straight relationships are presented in TV and film. People talk about how tragic and sad this episode was, but honestly to me it was more beautiful than anything else. In spite of it being the end of the world, they found each other and lived their best lives together. We all die in the end, and they had 16 years together and passed peacefully together. That's beautiful.

Normalizing the beauty of a love story no matter who you are. It was one of the most beautiful tender moments of all of tv as far as I am concerned.

As a hetero male I consider this episode to be the true definition of "must see tv". It was absolutely brilliantly done from start to finish, and if there aren't some emmys earned for it, someone needs their fucking head examined.

The subtleties behind their performances were just sensational. I'm so PLEASED with how the actors portrayed the characters, the writers for writing the episode this way, and just everything about it. It wasn't a story about a gay romance so much about a story about romance between two people who happen to be gay. It just felt so authentic, zombies notwithstanding OBVIOUSLY. As a gay man, this episode made me reeeeeally happy! They got to live such a full life filled with love, especially during such a shitty time for the world as a whole in the setting.

Does this end in tragedy, though? I think this is one of the best love stories ever. Do they die, sure, but everyone dies. I don’t think this is tragic, to me this is two people who got to live life to the fullest.

I'm a cis guy and I was crying so much. Loved your reaction, you two are just adorable.

I LOVE how they showed Bill and Frank playing two different versions of Long Long Time on the piano, as it told so much about each character's history and worldview without a single line of exposition; Frank's rendition being much more light, cheery and hopeful while's Bill's was far more somber and lost (LIGHT and being lost in darkness still being key themes of course). 🤔 The beautiful thing was how they revealed the original song at the end, proving to be more a mix of both their versions. They truly completed each other... 😢

If you listen to the podcast for the show, Craig Maizin said the actor who played Frank, the director, the lead editor, and a few others for this episode are all middle aged married gay men. Obviously they had a huge impact on the episode feeling (what I hope) so authentic.

One thing I can say. This episode felt like a safe space that is crammed in an apocalypse of hurt and loss. It was heartwarming to watch, but also symbolic.

I think Ellie was thinking about Riley, when she took out that infected 😏😥

Frank knew it was time to go when he couldn't paint Bill anymore.

One of the finest episodes of television ever, love is love

Shoutout to these two for rewinding the dialogue they missed. So many reactors talk over stuff and it drives me insane. Subscribed

Lovely reaction, you two. I definitely appreciate watching TLOU fans reacting to the show and noticing a lot of the same things as I have done. As a cis-het man, this was one of the most tender and realistic stories I have ever seen on any medium. I know I can't possibly understand it from a personal standpoint, but the representation of two gay men here was so respectful and beautiful, and very important in these really challenging times. Druckmann/Mazin and company are just nailing it with this show. I can't wait to see what they will do with the rest of the episodes. Thanks for your reactions!

I FUCKING LOVE yalls series! The cutest, most wholesome reaction. And you're correct. This very much needs to be normalized. Love like this exists people...get over yourselves

This episode has many bittersweet notes. Gay marriage wasn't fully legalized until 2015 in the US, so since the world ended in 2003, they never even got that as an option. And I'm from the area where Bill is at. Very repressed and anti gay. Bill taught Frank how to survive. Frank taught Bill how to live. The turning point between game Bill and Frank and show Bill and Frank is that fight in the streets. In the game Bill doesn't relent, he wants to be closed off, Frank gets mad, leaves, gets bitten, and dies. And Bill forever becomes a bitter shell. He servers the purpose of showing Joel what he could become if he doesn't open up. In the show Bill compromises, learns to change a bit. Stays with the love of his life and goes out satisfied. He still serves the same purpose to Joel, except now he shows Joel what he could become if he does open up. Same lesson, different sides of the coin. It was great for us game players, because we get to see the possible "happy ending". And now Joel is reflecting on his choices.

Nick Offerman was the perfect casting. 2003 was so different, and Bill was a gay man who had never been with a man this late in his life. It was all new to him. Despite all that, the love came through. And to see a traditionally manly man like Nick Offerman ugly cry, oh man it killed me. Bravo. TV will never be the same again.

My view on that confrontation with the infected in the beginning is the manifestation of Ellie's unresovled anger concerning the loss of Riley as much as her dealing with why she didn't turn.

This is one of my favorite reactions. This story is beyond being gay. It's about love, and caring and being open about yourself even if it's justo to one person for the rest of your life. Live your life and love strong. And all of that with two outstanding actors that I love specially Nick, it's just a treat to all of us. This episode made me want to stay here a little longer.

Fun Fact. In the original script that Neil wrote, Bill was not specified as a gay man. The line of dialogue was "He was my partner" but it was not specifically stated he is a romantic partner. Accordign to Troy Baker, W Earl Brown who played Bill made the choice to play it as a romantic partner. Neil like the reading and prompted him to change the scene where Ellie is looking at the magazine to a Male in the dirty magazine not a female. In fact in the game the "dear john letter" you find actually doesnt say either way the they were romantic partners. So we can thank W. Earl Brown for giving the character of Bill so much depth in the game that led to the writing of Bill and Frank in this episode. Here is the source where Troy is talking about this in the Last of Us Defintive Playthrough. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_HYnBY8MRdM.html

For me it was about Frank teaching bill to live so in the end bill basically said in the letter to Joel that’s it’s not worth surviving if you don’t have anything to survive for. And that shifted Joel’s feeling towards Ellie in a way

This is one of the most beautifully written and acted episodes of television ive ever seen

FRANK AND BILL WON..... Beautiful episode and a beautiful reaction. Sending you both so much love and hugs 💓

Thank you for the disclaimer at the beginning. As someone who hasn't played the game, as I'm not a gamer, I don't have existing knowledge of the entire game; referring to both part 1&2. I will hopefully remember to come back to watch your reactions, unfortunately, it won't be until I've seen everything. Whether it's movies, TV shows, or cars, I hate spoilers. I'm going to subscribe so that I can find you again.

The tenderness of Bill and Frank's first encounter really hit me hard. Considering that they met in 2007 in middle-ish age meant that they were around to witness the AIDS crisis a couple decades earlier. Same-sex marriage also wouldn't have become legal in non-TLoU Massachusetts until 2004, which adds another layer of poignancy to their story. They already survived an epidemic that seemingly targeted people like them, so for these two to find love and build a life out of the ruins of another devastated community is a lovely way to inject hope in a seemingly cruel reality.

This channel is the gold standard against which all other The Last of Us reaction channels are measured.

“You _know_ I don’t know who Linda Rondstat is” 😂😂😂❤

I love how at first you guys were excited that there seemed to be something going on between them and then like instantly shocked that the show would actually show that without cutting away.

I've been thinking about Ellie's morbid fascination with the Stalker. I think she wants to know what might be going on inside her despite her immunity. There's a sense of: 'this could be me any minute now.' Also, a wee bit of revenge, aye?

This episode took me sleeping on it to truly appreciate it. I’m so familiar with this story that I sometimes have to turn my “nitpicky fan” brain off, which they are making easy to do with this show because it manages to color in these characters so well. At first, I was kinda surprised they took an entire hour to do backstory only to not have Ellie ever meet Bill. But the backstory was BEAUTIFUL and it ultimately accomplished the same result: Bill teaching Joel, in his own way, what happens when you let someone in. In the game, it’s done through a dark and jaded lens that shows Joel only loneliness and anger awaits him if he pushes people away because he’s afraid of losing someone like he did Sarah. Like he did Tess. The show version of Bill gives Joel this wisdom in a much more optimistic way, and tells him that some people are worth saving. The same overall takeaway, but I’d argue it’s even more impactful than how they did it in the game.

I was not ready to cry when the episode launched, and was not ready to cry with you guys...great video as always xD

Loved the commentary. I have been watching many reactions, waiting for someone to highlight to rarity of this overt gay love on television. You hit the mark. Thank you.

This episode did something impressive for me. I was watching it with my straight best friend who is also unintentionally pretty stereotypically toxicly masculine. Me myself am... straight though ive 'done the deed' with another man in the past. The stupid thing is, he doesnt disapprove of homosexuality, I OBVIOUSLY dont disapprove of it since ive partaken in it and might again, but both of us get viscerally uncomfortable with the visual representation of physical intimacy between two men. Something i suspect has more to do with the way we were taught to be masculine, than with an actual disapproval of the gay aspect. That discomfort was definitely present for the first half of the episode. Yet nearing the end we were both physically crying, something we never did in each others presence before despite being best friends for 8 years and being roommates for 6 of those.

When I sat down to watch The Last Of Us, I already knew about Sarah (Joel's Daughter), the giraffe, and the hospital. Bill and Frank were a complete surprise to me. I bawled like a newborn the first time I watched this episode. I went back to RU-vid to look up the Bill and Frank parts of the game and was sorely disappointed. I love the series version of the story infinitely more than the game, but that's just me. I understand why some people would prefer the game...

I will fight everyone to my teeth, who claims the story of Bill and frank is a tragedy. They lived with the person they loved, they where happy and died on their own acord, peaceful and together. There is not a lot mor someone can ask for, especially after a apocalypse. It's a happy story

I love the image of Frank and Tess have a delightfully lovely time inside to the house while Bill sitting outside angrily with Joel about to pop

This was a perfect episode. Thank you for your comments. I felt exactly the same when I watched it the first time.

Bill and Frank got a whole life together before they died.

I love how you both would 👀 at each other everytime bill was gay when he was meeting frank 💀 those were “I know what you are” glances if I’ve ever seen them

Well this episode was so different from what I was expecting, but cinematographically it was a masterpiece. iNCREDIBLE. I was really hoping to watch all the action, Joel upside down, the gym and the bloater was something I was soooo loking for, but ok. I can't complain about a short movie made beautifully. I'm still hoping for a little bit more action in the future, great to see your reactions again! Really one of the best I've been watching since the show started! Keep it up!! :D

So, who else noticed the music played at the time when Bill and Frank walk to their bedroom for the final time? One hint...begins with G ends in raffe

@49:47 Joel going for the Arizona Iced Tea 🤣

and because it was so normalised and open, the homophobic bigots bombed this episode with 1-star reviews on IMDB😒 it had an 8,5 rating on Monday and now it's 7,9 already

Been loving your reactions! Kinda pleased that they don’t exactly tell us what is afflicting Frank, but as someone who has seen ALS breakdown a loved one, it hit me hard. Immediately understood wanting to go out on their own terms. They had a life together and a love any of us would be lucky to experience.

You've absolutely nailed it. This episode is so fantastic because it just feels "normal". It's not fetishised, it's not two shaved twinks, it's just an expression of love. I wept along with y'all. And I'm so thankful for this dang show. Also in absolute awe of how quickly you picked up on the tlou2 song and title, that is so impressive.

27:30 Great reaction, I was also spechless. For all LGBT series and movies we got, this was by far the most human I have ever seen in screen.

The use of the Max Richter music On the Nature of Daylight during that end montage was just unfair.

This episode made me cry so hard that I was worried my neighbors would come check on me. I'm not exaggerating. People don't talk enough about how significant it is that Bill immediately admits, "There's no girl," to a stranger. Frank may have gotten a gaydar sense from Bill, but Bill is so paranoid, he likely would've ignored any intuition like that he had. Frank could've been a raging homophobe who would've wanted to harm him for being gay. There were several real world examples of that happening to people at that time. Bush was trying to ban gay marriage then too, so this had to be intentional timing on the show's part. The fact that Frank cries when they first kiss, and Bill is so hesitant at first but reciprocates the kiss quickly despite how paranoid he is, shows just how lonely and starved for love both men have been. The showrunners have said Frank had MS and already knew about it. As a wheelchair user with a degenerative neuromuscular disease, this episode hit me hard. I definitely would've done the same as Frank and Bill at the end. No one seems to realize I'm gay unless I donate my hair, making me more masc. Granted, society tends to see people who use wheelchairs like me as completely non-sexual, so it's unsurprising. If Nick Offerman doesn't win awards for his performance in this, I'm going to be mad.

The show took the two mains bookended the epi with them then had one hour of side characters put them in the forefront and gave them a wonderful backstory I mean that’s a risk and it paid off!!!! Shows the quality of the show the writing the directing and acting!!! I would also suggest watching Black Sails, no spoilers but it might surprise you

This was a beautiful story about love pure and simple. I started this episode looking forward to Ellie and Bill's bickering but what I got was so much better.

very excited for your reaction to this one! 😢❤

I love watching y’all’s reaction, I was watching it with my husband and wished I had filmed our reaction and subsequent conversation lol it was really fun watching yours, and I loved what you said about this being a pivotal moment in TV history.

Gay marriage was legalized in Massachusetts a few months after the Outbreak Day in this timeline. Very poignant. :/ I was expecting to cry at an episode of TLOU. I was not expecting this sort of storyline to be what did it, in a zombie apocalypse show. Man.

As a straight man what I loved about the characters and their love is the fact that it felt natural and it wasn’t being shoved down my throat that they were gay beautifully done. if that makes sense.

You two are so cool. Loved listening to this. Subscribed

I didn’t read Ellie’s look at the trapped Infected as to do with herself as much as I read it as a “Is the person still there underneath?” And it didn’t react to pain. It was all Infected inside and so then her reaction was anger at it, maybe at the Infection in its entirety? I don’t know, maybe it was about herself, it depends on where they go with episode 8 I think? Left Behind.

Ladies , I have watched hundreds of these reactions and this is by far my favorite ❤️. I loved what you had to say about how big of a moment this was an entertainment history. You incapsulated the moment better than anybody else on RU-vid.👍🙏

This is by far the most forensically detailed analysis.

As a recently out of the closet man, that's in a relationship with a trans man. And TLOU being my #1 game in 2023. I love you're content.

I have watched this episode so many times, but I really loved watching your reactions. I remember years ago how there were the gays and the lesbians, but we are all a family!

I loved the looks on y’all’s faces when Frank said “who’s the girl” 😂

Watching your reactions to this entire episode, as a straight man, was fungusly beautiful. I want a Bill and Frank Adventures spin off. I’m down to watch. Hard. Core. PS: loved your post comments. Keep up the great work! I’m subscribed.

You guys are amazing! Awesome reaction vid! This episode was a 10/10

To your point, in the bedroom scene one of my first thoughts was “that’s a lot of burly beard in one room” lol anyway cried my eyes out during this epi and Linda didn’t make it any easier😭

Ellie torturing and murdering that infected was all about revenge for Tess and Riley I think. She had just learned they’re a hive mind and she’s still upset about losing Tess.

Each episode is a vignette of love stories with tragic endings. Joel and Sarah, Joel and Tess, Bill and Frank and more to come.

When this episode was filled it was originally about 2 hours or more. I need that uncut version of this episode. Lol

I loved this episode. You're right about it not being forced. I fall under the category of strictly hetero but I bought into their connection and was happy the stars aligned for the two of them.

Instantly subscribed - you both have such great energy and I loved how immersive this video was! Will tune in next week for sure!

Amazing reaction. Go back to the first dinner and you can see some flirtation. The way he looks at him and the flick of his hair. Such an amazing episode

Absolutely loved your reaction and will watch the next ones as well :-) So genuine and it shows how important it is the be inclusive and just be normal about it. If I were to ever write a show I could only hope for reactions like yours. Much love to you both!