FIRST TIME WATCHING: The Last of Us S1E3!!

I think I am going to get through the episode without any tears and then I see Nick Offerman crying and then I lose it.

David Lonewolf Wright

I know this is a year late but if you're still wondering why 80s music played in episode 1, I'm pretty sure Joel mentions that if they don't reset the radio or something it automatically plays 80s music, like a dead man's switch, so they'd been dead for weeks. A fun detail though, the lyrics of the 80s song are "I'm taking a ride with my best friend." Idk if it was on purpose but that's a pretty spot on metaphor for what they did. Really great writing

Oliver

Honestly, Natalie stresses me out more than the show does xD

LightsCameraJake

yeah you were quick on remembering we heard 80's music at the end of the first episode cuz when i watched this i totally forgot and then by the end when joel finds it still on in the bunker it hit me im like fuck they legit told us it wasnt good lol!

Zach Zbinden

Neil Druckmann said this is the happy episode 🙃 I can’t wait to see how she handles ep 5

Foggy

not really because its not a "real spoiler" but it does change someone perception. so it should be.

MJ Eid

Sorry if this is a dumb question but Im new here - are these comments moderated to avoid things like this? I only ask as I can see more examples of it...

Tom Green

I also only realised that when watching Nat's reaction.

Tom Green

I don't think the show has yet showed Joel that. Joel only saw Bill continue to be an asshole his whole life and Joel never saw any of the positive moments between Bill and Frank. They were arguing in front of him. All Joel saw was Bill's words when he died, and those words have limited meaning when they come from a person that you don't respect

Thoko

Natalie, I'm not gonna lie: when I saw that you were going to watch this series, I was like "oh, please take good care of yourself!" It's a rollercoaster!

Amber S.

My favorite two things to say about this episode are, A: Bill taught Frank how to survive and Frank taught Bill how to live. and B: The game and show differed, but had the same story effect, just coming from different angles. In the game Frank is dead, and Bill is a closed off, paranoid, mean dick wallowing in his own suffering. Joels interaction with him there shows him what he might also become if he -does not- let people into his heart again. Where the show, instead, showed Joel what he could have if he -does- let people into his heart.

Kirk Hodges

I just noticed the significance of your name and I was immediately tempted to toss out some lines from Dave Chappelle's impression of Rick James

Thoko

I'm not surprised that it worked. Some people just interpret events differently. Some people look at a pattern of results and say "this situation always results in this outcome" and others like myself, say "the previous people just went about it the wrong way, its the details that matter, not the superficial aspects". The problem with Hollywood is that they have a bad method of evaluating and green-lighting a project. A shit script from a mediocre writer but based on an established brand and attached to established actors is better to them than a great script with an original and unknown brand. But when a good video game creator decides to adapt their own game, the problem is solved.

Thoko

Your friend is a furry?

Thoko

In 2003 it was not legal to do many of the things that Bill and Frank ended up doing (such as setting up lethal traps). So I dunno... but I feel like they just did what they wanted and that a lack of a law is not a plausible reason for them to delay marriage. I think it just wasn't important to them because it when you live alone a ceremony is just symbolic. It has no legal or social recognition, and they had zero chance of adopting kids or anything like that. But when it was time to die, the dude wants to embrace the symbolism to turn a negative moment into a positive one

Thoko

I've seen other people making this comment but I don't think it makes much sense. Its not accurate to say that a lack of legality caused gay people to "not think much about wanting to get married". They definitely thought enough about it to fight for change. My opinion is that they didn't get married earlier because when you're only two people alone, a wedding is mostly symbolic and therefore not much of a priority. If they had been an isolated heterosexual pair they probably would have still left their wedding to the last moment

Thoko

I have heard people say this, but I think that maybe this is a bit exaggerated as being the reason they didn't get infected because only one person in the neighbours household got infected (by something other than being bitten). Basically my point is that there was probably some chance of being infected that way but that it was inconsistent at best

Thoko

Bill and Frank had a hinted at "partnership" in the game, but nothing as fleshed out as this, definitely a great story told.

Peter Moe

I’m very happy you did this, thank you

Peter Moe

Someone might have commented about this but can't see it. After listening to Joel explain how the outbreak started you can then think back to episode one. They were out of pancake mix so skipped pancakes. Joel said no to the biscuits because he's on adkins. Sarah said no to the cookies because they were raisins not chocolate chip. Joel forgot to pickup the cake. They basically spent the entire day JUST missing getting infected...

TheRhodsey17 .

Gay marriage was not legalized/passed into law until 2004, and the apocalypse happened right before that, so they probably didn't think of getting married until the very end.

FatLittleButterfly

Frank wasn't suffering from Cancer. It was a muscle degeneration disease probably MS or ALS. Which is why he wasn't even able to take his pills.

Navjot Singh

I understood that reference.

Michael G. Munz

I'd love if you did 4 and 5 back to back. They're sorta Part 1 and Part 2 of a sstory

Barbie Pootsky

One thing that I don't think I saw addressed elsewhere in the comics is that at the time that same-sex marriage didn't become legal in the US (ironically in Massachusetts, where Bill and Frank lived) until 2004, but the cordypocalypse jumped off in 2003. So the idea of them getting married wouldn't have been something taken for granted like in our 2023.

Michael Ford III

Oh man, Episode 5.......

Alan Felicia

Gosh I hope you react to two episodes next week because I simply cannot wait two weeks for episode 5s reaction

Maddie

Yeah she's the bait right and Joel's the nutcracker.

devin flynn

My Roomba was a god send when I got my furry friend. I just have an apartment so the Roomba works great keeping the living and dining area free of hair

WithoutATrece

What an amazing episode of television. Fun fact: Nick Offerman actually replaced the original actor who had to drop out because of scheduling conflicts, but I can't imagine anyone else doing better here. It's masterful work from both Bartlett and Offerman. When I first learned about this adaptation of the games, I was very hesitant, as the track record for game adaptations has been, uh, let's just say less-than-stellar in the past. But this has exceeded my expectations and then some. Who'd have thought just taking the original story of the game and expanding on it would work? /s

Mike Hell

They stated this was their "Magnum Opus" episode and we can truly why

Nick James

This Episode is like a 80% divergent from the game. honestly I like the games take better (just because it has a greater meaning to Joel) but as a die hard last of us game fan I think that isn't a surprising take. you should play or watch a playthrough of the game

Ross Grimes

This is such a great example of why I wish people would just shut up about future episodes of stuff. Nat’s anxiety at the beginning of the episode was colored by people’s “you’re gonna cry” comments. Just let her experience the series please!

Jason Gillman

Watching you at the beginning of Bill and Frank's relationship being so anxious and terrified Frank's going to kill him or something is a great case study on human behavior. If we spend all our time worried about what might go wrong, we miss the beauty that's unfolding in front of us. (yes, I'm guilty as well)

John

You mentioning the plague being Mother Earth fighting back, you might be right. The real cordecypts fungus that infects insects tends to infect populations as they get larger. It very well may be nature keeping certain populations in check.

John

I looooove the games but what they did with Bill & Frank was quite frankly beautiful and much more emotionally satisfying than the game. Despite my initial reaction (weeping!!!) in this world this was quite the happy ending as they got to grow old together and go out on on their own terms relatively peacefully. Masterful writing, acting and film making all around, one of the most affecting stories I've seen in a long long time.

Charlie Tocher

Just an incredible episode. Honestly, from the script to the acting, getting the audience to care so deeply about this relationship over the span of 30 minutes from meeting the characters is just a massive feat. It's a notable change from the games, but I think it works fantastically here.

Erik Stevenson

Not at all. I find those to be more of a spoiler than revealing anything about the plot or characters. Spoiling the mood and feel of the movie or show is textbook definition a "spoiler"

LightsCameraJake

? not to start anything, but those that feel the need why spoil an experience? "A lot told me I'd cry a bunch" paraphrasing..seems to set expectations for someone about to watch something for the first time...wouldn't it be best to not have preconceptions going into something? Maybe I'm be unnecessarily picky 😆

Charlie Keeler

The score during Frank's last day was so simple yet so beautiful. It just added to the heartbreak. I wanted to also touch on Nat's thoughts about assisted su*cide, because I've seen comments from another reactor and the comments from their reaction suggesting that this episode is glorifying or romanticizing it. I don't think that it is. Forgetting my personal views on the topic, I think it's important to recognize that this isn't our world. This is a world of absolute peril. Bill and Frank are living in a very safe, contained bubble. Frank has a debilitating illness, taking away his motor functions, causing pain, not letting him enjoy the things he loves, and making him rely completely on someone else. Bill is getting older, weaker, has suffered a gunshot wound to the gut himself that is probably limiting him physically as well. They're kind of out of options at this point. Frank could go on existing until Bill could no longer take care of him, or Bill could die before him. Then what? Bill, as he tells Frank, is satisfied with his life. With Frank gone, his purpose is fulfilled. As much of a loner as he once was, he can't go back to living without Frank, and he won't move to a QZ. So this is a choice by both of them. Both of sound mind. It's not desperation. It's not giving up. It's acceptance of reality. It's not glorifying su*cide. It's glorifying love and acceptance at the end of life in a world with so few examples of it.

Marty McGee

Nah I'm still ugly crying each time. I'm an old softie though.

Marty McGee

Not sure if anyone else mentioned it, but part of the significance of Joel saying, "...if mine brought strangers into this" to Bill is that he doesn't actually feel comfortable giving Tess and his relationship a label.

Shadowen

I like to think of it as a kind of what if .. and the game version Frank left after the 3 year fight hence the bitterness. :-)

FalcorDragon

Bill and Frank do exist in the story of the game but, because you only really get the perspective of Joel and Ellie in the game, you don't actually see their relationship. In the game, Bill is still alive and Frank has recently died. His death and their relationship was different in the game but I think this is the best possible change they could have made. This level in the game is mainly just you navigating Bill's traps, meeting Bill and being told that you need to trek through his entire town to find car parts in order to progress to the next part of your road trip. While fighting infected, you find notes scattered around that illuminate bits of Frank and Bill's relationship. All of that is great gameplay but it makes for terrible TV. Because we aren't stuck to the perspective of the main protagonists like in the game, the filmakers are able to show us flashbacks and such to fill in for all the zombie killing and other gameplay that wouldn't translate well to TV and would be repetitive/tedious to watch. Which is fantastic. Because the result is the best parts of the game's story mixed with something like this, which is one of the most beautiful love stories I've ever seen on television.

Sean Maher

This whole episode was a departure from how they did it in the game, but it was well done because they still were able to achieve the same goals. The chapter in the game with Bill was meant to do two things- get Joel and Ellie a car, and teach Joel the danger of completely closing yourself off to the world. In the game, they did this by having Bill be the paranoid recluse we see at the beginning of the episode, but I appreciate how in the show they taught the same lesson but in the opposite way, with Bill showing Joel that having people you care about is what makes the surviving worth it.

Mike

Yep. He serves as a lesson for Joel either way; this one is just a lesson for Joel to let people in and embrace hope, instead of a lesson on what not to become.

Jeff K

I love this episode so much. No only do we get a beautiful gay love story, but it thoughtfully navigates disability and end of life care and..... Bill and Frank won the apocalypse. They grew old together. They built a life together. I love Frank's insistence to fix up some shops and keep up the neighborhood. It let them live, not just survive.

The Last Teletubby

also i compared the game. i like this story much better. you don't even meet frank in the game, you find his corpse after he was infected and bill is extremely bitter and angry. he's supposed to serve as a cautionary tale to joel but they changed it to be more inspiring to joel to think about letting his guard down toward ellie

Ariana Mitchell

Nat. I understand that you have stress of the possibility that this could happen. The world will fall apart when our generation is Old/ dead. Its our grandkids that will do the suffering. EDIT WHAT DO YOU MEAN KIDS GROW UP SO FAST SHE LOOKS IDENTICAL Edit 2. Sulfuric acid can be used to make your own gunpowerder (sulfur is REALLY important) Edit 3. Really feel how hard this hits Joel. He LITERALLY killed the one guard that buys from him, ALL OF HIS FRIENDS and lover die within a week or so ( that he finds out atleast) He lost everything again. The only thing he has left now is his Brother Tommy in Wyoming and Ellie.

devin flynn

Fun? fact but Craig Mazin, the writer for this/Chernobyl, but was Ted Cruz's roomate in college.

Śéáń

I adore the video games and I'm really starting to appreciate the way this show captures the essence of what is so great about them. I don't consider this different from the game, since it tells the same vibe of story that was hinted at when you interact with Bill in the game, through what he says and also the letters you find in game. It's kind of like a full re-make/remaster of a specific side characters backstory and it's so lovely.

Joey Johansen

Well that was even more crying from Nat than I expected, and I expected a lot. At one point she was crying so hard my cat came over to see what was wrong. My cat was staring at her about 4 inches from the screen like "Are you okay, lady?".

Richard Maurer

In a way its a bit appropriate for valentines day haha

Rey

Honestly at this point to not be considered woke I think a show would have to consist of a white man constantly punching someone in the face while a white woman stood behind admiring him. Literally everything is called woke these days, often before it even premiers.

Richard Maurer

Truth i just said she might not survive this series and left it at that.

MJ Eid

Basically, any advance knowledge should be taboo, but people just have to go there. Almost as bad as telling someone they're going cry, maybe worse, is telling someone they're going to laugh or get scared, especially if they hint at when it's going to happen. Almost guaranteed to ruin it. While Nat was going to cry either way, maybe people could restrain themselves to "you might need some tissues for this one" and let it go at that.

Richard Maurer

Can't wait to watch your commentary tonight. Probably one of the best love stories I've seen put to film in quite a long time. Loved this episode. Such a great example of how you can build on an existing story (game) and improve it.

Slick447

Well, now you know why people said you would cry. I was bawling my eyes out when I saw this the first time. Now, after seeing it 10 times already, only a few tears managed to sneak in.

Heretic

Yeah, it was announced the same day if I remember correctly 😢

Amanda Ray

Now think back to the first episode… what 80’s song did Bill & Frank play? I’M TAKING A RIDE WITH MY BEST FRIEND! It’s Never Let Me Down Again by Depeche Mode. Once I realized that I started crying again.

djKENTO

Nick Offerman is a national treasure and if this episode doesn't win ALL the Emmys I will be very angry. It's maybe the best episode of telelvion I can remember watching in at least a decade. It's up there with Buffy's "Hush" and "The Body," The West Wing's "Two Cathedrals," the end of The Good Place. The acting, writing, directing, the score... All of it is just stellar. The creators said in the post-episode interviews that their rule when deviating from the game was they would only do it if it clearly made the story better and they knocked it out of the park with this one. I hope they keep it up.

G. T. Blackwell

Nat should just not read the comments until after shes finished the series. People here seem to have a compulsive need to spoil things they’ve already seen.

jamie jones

I'm a little annoyed that folks in the comments here spoiled things for you. Even saying "You're gonna cry really hard" is a spoiler in and of itself, people.

Jomero

Oh my god, one of my favorite movies is The Road (2009). Even though is not an horror, I think it would be very nightmare-inducing for you. It's a post apocalyptic tragedy, truly top-tier in my opinion

Fostena

Now can people stop spoiling shit for future episodes and ruining the endings?

jamie jones

@Mastervodo and that's exactly why so many gamers bitched about the second game (although another part was because of a major plot point that happens early on, which I won't spoil for those who don't know it). One of the big complaints I've seen is that Druckmann "got woke" for the second game when they don't realize he was "woke" all along and they just didn't pick up on the clues that he was.

Jeff K

Such a masterfully crafted and beautiful episode.

jamie jones

Thats been pissing me off. All these people warning her shes going to cry and as she watches it nothing bad is happening and everything is nice. Telling her shes going to cry is a huge spoiler. People here need to cut the shit

jamie jones

Also using this episode with Max Richter should be illegal

Tay Schumaker

I really hope Natalie watches the inside the episode special at the end of these episodes. I think she would like watching the behind the scene stuff that went into the episode and the mini interviews.

i fully almost ruptured a lung from how hard this episode made me cry. i appreciate they showed that although rare, you can live a fulfilled and happy life in the apocalypse

Ariana Mitchell

@Jeff K they would just say the game was too "woke".

Mastervodo

I like that Bill chose to die with Frank. Frank was his purpose, and literally the love of his life, and without Frank, all he was going to do was grieve and suffer the rest of his life. I think it was the right decision. It sucks outliving those you love most. This episode was beautifully sad. And I like that Natalie shows authentic emotions when she watches things. I wouldn't want to watch a reactor who wouldn't cry at this episode. They may be psychopaths. Happy Nat is not a psychopath!

Mastervodo

In the game, you don't meet Frank and you don't get all this lovely backstory. I'm not gonna tell you about the game much because it's vastly different, and most of the people I've seen have preferred the show's version. This is such a great episode. To show that even with the world burning down, someone can still live a somewhat full and loving life... What Frank more than likely had was Parkinsons, which would be poetic as Linda Ronstadt had to stop singing due to her voice failing because she has Parkinsons. To be able to make the decision for himself, before dementia hits, is a blessing really.

Haughtbreaker Nic

The people who get pissy about it being “woke” clearly didn’t catch all of the clues in the game that Bill was gay there, too.

Jeff K

Love this episode SO much! I have some gamer friends (gamer myself too; I just never got around to playing Last of Us unfortunate for me) who are a little annoyed with this episode because what happens in the game is apparently a really fun bit with some witty exchanges between Bill and Ellie. But this episode is undeniably amazing! I also love that it made a bunch of people get angry crying about being "too woke". Always get a little satisfaction when that crowd gets their undies in a twist xD lol As always, great reaction Nat, and fun watching shows along with ya! <3 (*psst psst to Nat* 'Just do Planet of the Apes cause ya wanna and it's TIME!!!' xD xP)

SmokeAndACoffee

This was a great episode, in the game you get no backstory on Bill and Frank so it was nice they did this, Also in the game on the start screen where you push play in the background is an open window, they wanted to end every episode with an open window. Annie W. died at 46 she was in so many shows! She was also the voice actor for Tess in the game. They cast a lot of the voice actors for this show too! The voice actor for Marlene was the same actor in this show.

Jayson Phillips

I just realized that the song that played at the end of the episode was the song Bill and Frank played on the piano when they met. I actually got to listen to the lyrics this time around without me crying my eyes out.

iMarks

So, about Bill and Frank in the game. In the game, Bill is living this small town alone, with boobytraps and guns and all that. Joel and Ellie go meet Bill to get some supplies. Bill mentions his partner Frank who left Bill and you find a letter where Frank explains that he's leaving Bill. And those were only mentions of Frank in the game.

LJ Mickey

I've seen like 2 years of Natalie reactions now, and I swear - I think we've broken Natalie a bit with some of the movies and series we've suggested. She's so morbidly pessimistic lately! So scared everyone's going to die! Everything is going to go for the worst! Are things going great? DEATH INCOMING! We need to start suggesting some comedies for poor Nat.

Mastervodo

This episode makes me cry every single time. What a wondering Valentine’s Day gift Natalie <3

Ksweets

If someone did a poll, "which reaction is your favorite - laugh, cheer, cry, or terror", and people were honest, I'm pretty sure cry and terror would be fighting it out for the top spot. No judgement, just my opinion.

Richard Maurer

Such a beautiful and sad Valentine’s Day episode. If a show is gonna scare the crap out of me, the story better be good. So far, this one’s great. Nick gave the performance of a lifetime.

Byron

Prime example of how telling someone their going to cry or watch out for this episode completely ruins their authentic reactions and feelings towards an episode. when will people learn.

MJ Eid

Also regarding Annie Wersching: I believe she died the same weekend this episode aired, if I’m recalling correctly. Which made Joel mourning Tess in the episode that much more poignant.

Jeff K

Don’t worry Natalie, I also ugly cried for the entire last ten minutes or so of this episode 😂😭 woo, time to watch it again for the 3rd or 4th time!! 😅

Amanda Ray

Good timing on watching this episode!

Mastervodo

I used to be a Youtube reactor like you. Then I took a table to the knee.

Mastervodo

It really is. Obviously it's a heartbreaking episode, but it's such a beautiful love story.

Jeff K

It's time to play everyone's favorite game show, "Let's Watch a Reactor Weep Uncontrollably"!

Jeff K

Since you were talking about his involvement at the beginning, Craig Mazin was the showrunner/creator and writer of all the episodes of Chernobyl, and he is Co-Showrunning and writing this whole show alongside Neil Druckmann (who was the director of the game). I believe he directed the Pilot as well.

RonJon

Can't believe I'm going to put myself through this one again. Also you probably already figured it out, but the co-creator of this is Craig Mazin who also created Chernobyl. He created this with Neil Druckman who created the videogame it's based on.

Tay Schumaker

Happy Valentines!!!! Let me grab my tissues 😭

Jamie A-H

Hi Nat, Happy Valentines.. I hope Tyler takes you out for a nice date night tonight..

Baggie Mark

What a perfect day for this episode!!

Shanice W.

very serendipitous confluence of date and episode

Wu Sha Ling

Happy Valentine's Day Nattie G. Knew this was going to be the episode for you, and was interested to hear your thoughts but I guess from your message I know already. That was a killer reaction Nat 😢 I couldn't help but notice the symbolism of your choice of drink today Nat. Oh my goodness 😬 A few cues of the score came from the game score, and yes the events concerning Bill and Frank play out very differently in the game, so now you have an excuse to play it and find out for yourself. Yikes he he 😄 Thanks for an awesome video today Nat 💛

Darryl Low

This should be interesting.

Richard Maurer

Wow it's almost perfect how that worked out. 🤣😩😭

Boomcity