As episode 3 of The Final of Us (TLOU) present mixes up its construction, I’m going to do the identical by first speaking by recreation occasions first, after which do the episode recap.
SPOILERS for episode 3 of the present and recreation chapter Invoice’s City (to the tip of Excessive Faculty Escape).
Invoice + Frank = ?
Episode 3 is the biggest departure (up to now) from recreation occasions. Each the sport and the episode concentrate on human isolation. Earlier than we head to Invoice’s City, Joel and Ellie have an enormous Statehouse shoot-out with FEDRA brokers. This part really feel designed to show us 1) tips on how to use a rifle, and a pair of) people are the enemy (uh oh). It feels uncomfortably war-like. All I’ll say is, FEDRA shot first. The crew of two escape right into a submerged subway station. Recreation Ellie doesn’t must put on a WW2 gasoline masks, as she’s resistant to contaminated fungal spores. However everybody else should. As Ellie can’t swim, Joel finds a floating palate to assist get throughout the water. We discover a observe mentioning a Frank travelling from the Baltimore QZ to the Boston Qz. Ellie and Joel then have a key dialog. Joel calls for Ellie doesn’t inform anybody about her immunity and do as he says. Ellie solemnly replies, “What you say, goes.”
Joel calls Invoice a “fella that owes me some favours.” as they enter a city referred to as Lincoln by the woods. Recreation Joel and Ellie appear…completely happy? There’s a stunning second the place Ellie sees actual fireflies for the primary time, “sorry, I misplaced myself for a sec.” The bond between proto-father and daughter additional cements.
We arrive on the built-up red-bricked Invoice’s City (not the present’s white picket fence model) stuffed with Contaminated. Whereas looting Ellie stupidly tries to show herself to whistle. Can’t she see these Clickers! Right here the in-game method of showing plot by studying paperwork is used to nice impact. Like, Recreation-Invoice writes notes to himself about Contaminated-murder-related chores. In a café, Ellie’s eyes mild up at a (fictional) arcade recreation referred to as The Turning (Mortal Kombat within the present) and Ellie’s unhappy that no person’s enjoying all of the LPs in a document retailer.
They talk about Invoice’s booby-trapped streets, Ellie asking if he’s “a bit paranoid?” with Joel replying “Invoice ain’t precisely probably the most steady of people.” Then poetic justice sees Joel hanging the wrong way up, warding off Contaminated whereas caught in one in every of Invoice’s traps, till the person himself (W. Earl Brown) all flack jacket, greasy hair and shoot-to-kill angle turns as much as despatch the Contaminated with precision accuracy. You realize when two associates from completely different teams meet and don’t get alongside? That’s an understatement compared to Ellie and Invoice’s introduction. Invoice tries to handcuff Ellie to a radiator and she or he responds by bludgeoning then fat-shames him. Joel brokers peace and asks Invoice for a automotive. They make a deal, he’ll repair a automotive in the event that they first cross city to get him some gear. Invoice says we will loot his dwelling (oh, we should always ask permission?) and there’s a noteworthy Chessboard, dusty and set mid-game…
NPCs are your good friend
A fast segue. I’ve struggled with how nasty the present portrays everybody, when the sport feels kinder. Invoice may be gruff and paranoid, however like most in-game characters, he’s additionally beneficiant and useful. As a result of Non-Playable Characters are tasked with reminding gamers to tool-up or gather well being, and I’m keen on useful individuals, Invoice feels extra likeable. On TV, character introductions are sometimes far much less refined. I fell for game-Invoice when he tells Joel “regular individuals scare me.”
Again en route, it turns into clear that Invoice talks to himself so much. Ellie, feeling threatened(?) turns into particularly merciless, continues joking about Invoice’s weight and sanity (a lot for in-game NPCs being nicer). Invoice eludes to Tess and Joel’s relationship, telling Joel: “I had somebody I cared about as soon as. A associate…and that shit is nice for one factor, getting you killed.” After capturing lots of Contaminated, they make it to a storage solely to seek out the automotive battery has been taken. They then conceal out in a faculty health club, solely to then should combat a hideous factor referred to as a Bloater (can’t wait to see that within the present) earlier than lastly having a second to breathe in a close-by home. And that’s when Invoice finds Frank’s hanging physique, coated in bites.
“He’s the one man who would put on a shirt like that.” Joel finds a heartbreaking observe, exhibiting that Frank was taking the automotive to get away from Invoice. As soon as the automotive will get push-started, there’s extra Contaminated to get rid of. Joel tries to console Invoice “about your buddy again there.” Invoice doesn’t need to discuss so off they drive. Ellie has discovered some new studying materials, a homosexual porn magazine because the participant places collectively all of the items, Ellie passes Joel a tape (appears like Bob Dylan) they usually head off to Pittsburgh. So lengthy Invoice, keep paranoid.
The Ballad of Invoice and Frank
Now for the episode recap. The episode begins simply after the occasions of episode 2, Joel’s hand nonetheless not healed from murder-punching a guard. Ellie tells Joel to not blame her for what isn’t her fault (Tess’s demise). Joel is extra apprehensive about individuals than Contaminated. Ellie asks about his face scar. Joel says somebody shot at him and missed and he shot again (I can’t assist pondering this somebody was Tommy). They arrive at a petroleum station the place Joel has stashed some goodies. Ellie finds some tampons (yay) then finds a trapped Contaminated within the Basement (ooh) who she cuts open (eurgh) earlier than knifing (okaaaay). Ellie rejoices on the arcade machine and the pair are getting alongside. On seeing airplane wreckage Ellie asks concerning the outbreak. Joel reveals the dreaded flour concept. On Thursday night individuals consuming merchandise felt unhealthy, by Friday they had been bizarre. By Monday they had been Contaminated. Ellie replies “Makes extra sense than monkeys” NO IT DOESN’T says me and the celebrities of the movie Outbreak, they usually then discover a mass grave. Seems that when there was no extra room within the QZ, FEDRA killed the leftovers: “Lifeless individuals can’t be contaminated.” Chilly.
This segues right into a Flashback. It’s September thirtieth 2003 and we meet present Invoice (Nick Offerman). He a first-class Prepper with a full arsenal and an array of gasoline masks. Invoice’s additionally a brilliant spark, ready for the DEFRA brokers to complete rounding up the stragglers (chilling) earlier than channelling his personal electrical energy from the grid, in a nod to recreation puzzles. Invoice is completely completely happy alone together with his steak dinners and high-quality wines… or is he?
We minimize to 2007 when Invoice finds a person trapped in a gap. That is Frank, (Murray Bartlett) who says that the Baltimore QZ has “gone.” After all, Invoice has an Contaminated detector, and with reluctance, he grants Frank entry to his city, a bathe and a home-cooked meal. Each males play just a little Linda Ronstadt quantity on Invoice’s piano, Frank’s jaunty and Invoice’s melodic variations capturing their variations. Frank’s gaydar is spot on (guess it was the wine pairings?), they usually head straight to mattress.
It’s Invoice’s first time, and it goes very properly as a result of we minimize to years later. Now it’s Invoice and Frank’s city. Frank, mirroring Tess’s assertion to Joel in episode 2, signifies {that a} relationship with Invoice has been riddled with compromise, “do I ask for issues, ever?” earlier than delivering an iconic summation: “Taking note of issues is how we present love.” Invoice has room in his life for one particular person, however Frank wants extra, that’s why he’s been speaking to somebody on the CB radio. Minimize once more to a spiffy lunch with Tess and Joel (trying good). Joel ranges with the clearly uncomfortable Invoice. Invoice’s fences aren’t going to carry eternally (sure, we perceive symbolism). Tess and Frank resolve the radio decade codes (as utilized in episode 1).
We minimize to 2013. Frank reveals Invoice that seeds he purchased from Tess have fruited and Nick Offerman wins an Emmy by consuming a strawberry. They converse truthfully, Invoice saying “I used to be by no means afraid earlier than you confirmed up.” And he’s proper to be afraid, when a gaggle of hooded figures attempt to overrun Invoice’s city. Invoice’s a crack shot with a rifle however he additionally takes a bullet which Frank should take away. Invoice has discovered that everybody want associates. He’s deliberate for his demise and tells Frank to name Joel for assist.
We minimize once more to 2023. Invoice is just not solely alive, however he’s additionally the one pushing an ageing Frank in a wheelchair. Frank, an honest painter, sees his newest efforts denigrate into the squiggly strains of cognitive degeneration and comes to a decision. He desires to have an ideal closing day. They’ll eat toast (good), select fits from the city boutique (good), get married (yay), have a fantastic dinner (yum), after which Invoice will crush Frank’s numerous drugs in his wine, Frank will down it then float away in Invoice’s arms (wait, what?). Earlier than Max Richter’s haunting On the Nature of Daylight can fade on the market’s a lump in my throat. However Invoice doesn’t need to dwell on his received anymore. He tells Frank that he’s “glad” and that Frank was his “goal.” They each drink the contaminated wine and Invoice takes Frank to their mattress for the final time. That was intense.
We minimize (AGAIN) again to Joel and Ellie. Joel makes use of a gate code to enter Invoice’s City (one thing that occurs so much in TLOU2). Present Ellie can be an inquisitive reader, discovering a letter meant for Joel, which he asks her to learn aloud. Invoice writes that he was completely happy when everybody died. However he discovered happiness having one particular person to guard. Joel ought to use his arsenal and so forth to do the identical…with Tess. Awkward! And likewise heavy-handed exposition however we’re all too choked as much as care. (Enjoyable reality, the tip of the letter is briefly proven on display the place Invoice makes ideas on meals and wine pairings, a stunning contact). Joel has a second alone. Joel provides the sport speech to Ellie about doing what he says. Ellie asks him to take a bathe as a result of he stinks and whereas he does that, Ellie actually finds Chekhov’s gun. They drive off in Invoice’s chevy, Joel touchingly fastening Ellie’s seatbelt first. Present Ellie has by no means seen a automotive earlier than, calling it a spaceship (that’s one other nod to TLOU2). They play a Linda Ronstadt tape and head off towards Tommy. And we see them depart by Invoice and Frank’s open bed room window.
So right here we’ve two very alternative ways of telling the identical story: Invoice was a person who had associates. RIP.
