With the central post-apocalyptic world in its backdrop, The Last of Us episode 3 unfolds Bill and Frank's cathartic relationship and ends on a bittersweet but satisfying note — here is what it means for the two characters. Defying the narrative structure of The Last of Us' first two episodes, episode 3 does not begin with a flashback. Instead, it first sets the stage for its storyline by giving a glimpse of Ellie and Joel's journey after Tess' death and only then harkens back to the moment when Bill and Frank first met.
Instead of emulating Bill and Frank's narrative from the source material, The Last of Us episode 3 enriches and re-imagines it by adding some heartwarming nuances. While the rest of the world gradually morphs into a bleak hellhole of fungal infections and corruption, Bill and Frank find love after fatefully crossing paths. Over the years, the two create a beautiful life for themselves amidst the chaos and tribulations of the outbreak and together bring an emotional closure to their borrowed time.
Bill & Frank Killed Themselves In The Last Of Us Episode 3
After setting the foundation of Bill and Frank's romantic relationship, The Last of Us episode 3 makes a time jump to 2023 and reveals that Frank has an unnamed age-related degenerative illness. To Bill's dismay, Frank tells him that he wants to take his own life before his condition deteriorates. Although reluctantly, Bill complies with Frank's request to love him the way he wants. With what follows, the two take one last stroll in their neighborhood, exchange vows, and then sit down for their final supper.
While Frank awaits his death after drinking a glass of crushed pills and wine, Bill also surprises him by declaring that he downed the lethal concoction. "The isn't the tragic suicide at the end of the play," he proudly says before taking Frank upstairs and spending his final moments in his lover's arms. When Joel shows up at Frank and Bill's place with Ellie in The Last of Us episode 3's closing moments, it becomes evident that the two killed themselves but lived their best life while alive and together.
What Happened To Bill & Frank In The Last Of Us Game
In The Last of Us game, Bill and Frank's storyline differs significantly. Although the game hints at their relationship, it concludes their narrative on a tragic note. After finding Ellie and Joel in one of his traps and rescuing them from the infected, Bill from the original game recalls Frank as "somebody" he "cared for." Soon after, Bill and Joel discover Frank's body hanging from the ceiling with bite marks on his arm, suggesting that he killed himself after getting infected. A note from Frank later reveals that his relationship with Bill had turned bitter over time, which prompted him to leave.
Frank meets a tragic fate in The Last of Us game, while Bill only turns more coldhearted towards the grim world around him. Contrasting this, Bill and Frank in the show turn their desolate neighborhood into a peaceful, loving space and refuse to leave each other's side even towards the end. By intentionally showing only the swirling curtains in Bill and Frank's room, The Last of Us episode 3's closing scene flips Bill and Frank's game story into something far more hopeful, romantic, and optimistic, which effectively subverts the "bury your gays" trope.
