HBO’s The Last of Us is a triumphant success. With a premiere of 4.7 million viewers and a follow-up episode of 5.7 million viewers the next week, it’s fair to say this show has people’s attention. In the first episode, we’re introduced to our core characters, but we do hear about several people we don’t see right away.
In episode 1, Ellie asks who Frank and Bill are after seeing their names written down in Joel’s book. In episode two, Tess mentions the two men again as people who would take Ellie off of Joel’s hands. Though, she does mention that Joel would have to convince them. Episode three of the adaptation is dominated by the story of Bill and Frank. While this is a large departure from the game, audiences are treated to a much better look at these two characters and their relationship.
Who Is Bill In The Show?
Bill is still a survivalist, but lives in his home instead of a church. Despite being in the apocalypse, he maintains a fairly comfortable life. He’s clean, well-fed, and lives in a home that’s decorated to be somewhat fancy. Bill is less abrasive in this adaptation. He’s also much more cultured. Seeing his relationship with Frank humanizes Bill in the eyes of the audience and shows that he can let someone in. Bill is also self-sufficient, tending to crops and animals for food. The video game version of Bill seems to be more of a scrounger than this version.
Bill and Frank are shown to have a very long relationship of about 16 years. Considering the state of the world, that’s a lifetime. Audiences see Bill and Frank argue, make up, and experience all of the highs and lows any couple would go through. As the two grow older, Frank becomes sick. Bill is left caring for Frank on a daily basis until Frank decides that he doesn’t want to do it anymore. This is a hard moment for Bill, who is asked to assist in his lover’s suicide. Instead of going on without Frank, Bill decides to take his own life as well.
Bill’s final message to Joel is one of hope. He asks that Joel use all of his supplies to protect Tess and what Joel and Tess have together. Bill wants to see Joel and Tess experience the happiness and safety he had with Frank. This is drastically different from the video game version of Bill who warns Joel away from trusting or protecting anyone. Bill’s final message echoes that of Tess, describing Joel as a protector meant to save people.
Who Is Bill In The Game?
Bill is the ultimate survivalist. He’s paranoid, he doesn’t trust anyone, and he has traps just about everywhere. While it’s never elaborated upon, he has an existing relationship with Joel and Tess. It’s presumed that he helps them in some way with their smuggling operations. Joel and Ellie go to Bill in the hopes of acquiring a car. Bill laughs off the idea of him owing Joel that big of a favor, but doesn’t protest when Joel insists that he does. The notion of Joel leaving Ellie with Bill is never suggested in the game, so it never comes up during the trios’ time together.
Bill’s partner, Frank, is missing from the moment Joel and Ellie show up. Bill claims that Frank took a bunch of his supplies and left. Bill leads Joel and Ellie on the hunt for a car battery they can use. After several encounters with infected, the trio get their battery and find a usable truck. Unfortunately, the truck is in the same house as Frank’s hanging body. Frank left a note for Bill expressing his hatred of the man, which Bill tries to shrug off in front of Joel and Ellie. Before Joel and Ellie leave, Bill warns Joel that caring for Ellie is only going to get him killed. He’s adamant that people can’t care for anyone if they want to survive.