First Things First…
When the reviews first started rolling in before the show premiered, there was talk that this episode is the showstopper. Now that it’s aired, it sure sounds like the reviews were right.
Based on the preview after last week—and Tess imploring Joel to take Ellie here with her last words— I know this is where we meet Bill and Frank. And I know one of them is played by Nick Offerman, and the other by the dude who plays Armand in The White Lotus. So there’s a lot to be excited for.
Not to mention, I’m so curious how the Joel/Ellie dynamic will play out with Tess gone. So, let’s dive in!
6 Things I Like
6. A Misanthropic Survivalist’s Wet Dream
I’m not sure it’s meant to be funny, but I laughed when Bill first emerges from his house, gas mask on his head and gun in hand, making sure he’s truly alone.
From there, it’s compelling to see the way he builds a life for himself separate from any sense of society—and deprived of all human contact—yet enjoyable in its own way.
He’s an extremely capable man who not only builds loads of protection for himself and keeps his generator humming, but who’s also enjoying wine and delicious looking steak while people in the QZ are surviving on rations.
It’s a fun glimpse into this guy finally getting the kind of isolated life he’s dreamed of. But it also serves as the perfect juxtaposition for what life will turn into when Frank bursts his way into Bill’s life and heart.
5. The Two Faces of Ellie
“Dude, you got to go up in the sky.”
Ellie
Ellie and Joel see things very differently. Even though so much of society has been gone for 20 years now, Joel still takes a lot of stuff from the past for granted. Like when Ellie sees a plane and thinks the idea of being able to fly is so cool, while Joel just remembers the overpriced sandwiches and getting stuffed in a middle seat.
Of course, since Ellie had never even left the QZ before this excursion, there’s so much that’s new to her—so much she’s learned about in school but has never seen or experienced.
She’s excited to see the Mortal Kombat arcade game, even though she can’t play it. Getting in the truck at the end of the episode gives her a lot of new stuff to appreciate. She even says early on, “I’ve never been in the woods. More bugs than I thought,” with a sense of wonderment. It’s all similar to the way she was enamored with the hotel in the last episode.
But there’s another side to Ellie that I’m getting more fascinated by…
She makes her first kill in this episode—but not before she makes a surgical incision in the forehead of an infected person that’s trapped. Is she just curious? Is she trying to find out if she has what it takes to actually kill something that used to be human?
Or does Ellie have a sadistic streak that’s going to get worse the more shit she sees?
4. Welcome Back, Tess
Well, we didn’t have to wait long to see Tess again.
As part of Bill and Frank’s story, we see their first meeting with Joel and Tess. It’s fun seeing how Frank and Tess carry the conversation and bring life to the gathering, and clearly miss having a social life. Meanwhile, as soon as they get up from the table, leaving Joel and Bill sitting there, we see that they have similar practical worldviews. Which means they don’t want to be there and don’t really like or trust one another.
3. Strawberries
The strawberries represent the middle stage of Bill and Frank’s relationship. There’s so much here in this simple gesture of Frank secretly planting a strawberry garden. It’s him giving back to Bill, who has given him so much in terms of tangible things like food, shelter, and protection.
Bill actually giggles with joy after tasting a strawberry. It’s another sign of how Frank has opened up his world and his heart.
This scene also contains some terribly ironic foreshadowing. Bill apologizes to Frank for getting old faster, when in fact Frank is the one who gets sick and needs help with everything. And Bill says…
“I was never afraid before you showed up.”
Well, we’re about to see one of his worst fears come true.
Beautiful scene.
2. Bill’s First Time
The start of their relationship is an incredibly vulnerable performance from Nick Offerman, and a tender one from Murray Bartlett.
When I kept hearing about Bill and Frank, I wasn’t sure if they would be in a romantic relationship or just two guys who wound up stuck together and built a friendship.
It became apparent quickly that there’s real chemistry between the two when they’re at the piano.
From their first kiss and embrace, there’s so much pain, sadness, fear, and desperation in Bill. Even when he walks away to take his shower, he’s so tense that his shoulders are up by his ears. For such a gruff, grizzled, middle-aged man, he actually seems like a child here.
While Frank—obviously the much freer of the two—isn’t immune from being in his feelings. Who knows what life and love have looked like for him the four years prior?
And the scene in bed is incredible. It’s tender because of how kind Frank is and, again, how vulnerable Bill is. And it’s sad realizing Bill has lived closeted and, with the pandemic, must’ve given up on ever having love.
1. Wedding Day/Death Day
And the final stage of their relationship is their last day together.
Frank is gravely ill, wheelchair-bound, and needs help taking care of himself. Bill is much older, too, but still quite capable.
They could’ve gone on with things the way they were. Clearly, that’s what Bill wants. But Frank doesn’t want to go on being totally reliant on Bill while his health continues to deteriorate. So he decides to end his life on his own terms.
He tells Bill everything he wants from him on that final day—including that they get married.
And when Bill says through his tears of agony that he doesn’t want to end things, Frank asks Bill if he loves him—and when he gets the “yes” he knew was coming, he says…
“Then love me the way I want you to.”
So they have their last great day together, and unbeknownst to Frank until it’s too late, Bill also ends things for himself on his own terms. He says to Frank, “You were my purpose.” And with no purpose remaining, the idea of going back to his solitary life feels too overwhelming and pointless.
Instead, they leave this world together—presumably in each other’s arms.
Tim Matassa
