re: 'The Last of Us' Episode 3 Gamers Thread: Spoilers!! Complaints, Part 2 talk allowed

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Since the "next week preview" shows them crashing the truck, it seems anyone could have skipped this one completely and just moved right on to next week without missing any portion of the story at all.

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You could've skipped Bill in the game!

Bill doesn't move the story in the game along. In the game, they need a car battery, they go to Lincoln, they get a truck. In the show, they need a car battery, they go to Lincoln, they get a truck.

Bill is an extraordinary character that doesn't contribute to the ending of the show, but that's not the purpose.

All of that is true. So, let's explore what the purpose was of us meeting Bill. What were we supposed to get from it? Why did the show retcon the game? What is the ultimate takeaway from the game versus the show as it relates to our journey of discovery with Joel & Ellie?

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I think the reality is that the show had to diverge like this at some point to tell stories about relatively unimportant characters

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Could have accomplished this with Ish.

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I agree and think it’d be an interesting story to expand on. They still might.

That said, an episode about Ish would likely add even less to the main storyline than Bill/Frank.

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Bill isn’t the same Bill as he was in the game, but still would like to see them interact also no Ellie’s reaction to Bill’s porno mags is a shame

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that was one of the best scenes in the entire game. Yeah I hope they do a good job allowing the audience to bond with Ellie and show the bond between Ellie/Joel growing because Bill's town was definitely a useful device to kickstart that relationship

Bad episode all the way around.

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Bad episode all the way around.

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This is even dumber than the people calling it the best ever. It was a good episode, but nothing earth-shattering.

For me, it was very emotional. Watching my dad have to suffer from cancer to the very end was gut-wrenching, so their conversation and decision hit me hard.

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Haven't watch this episode yet. Can I just skip it and not miss anything? Sounds like it.

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I haven’t finished it but I think at a minimum the first 10 minutes with Ellie and Joel were important.

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The banter between Ellie and Bill could have helped contrast with the devastating reality of the world they live in and maybe even help endear Ellie to us a little. She still is basically resting bitch face on the show. A little humorous banter would have gone a long way.

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Honestly, Ellie is like a Hollywood personification of my 13-year old daughter, so I already feel an attachment to her (I did not play the games).

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I haven’t finished it but I think at a minimum the first 10 minutes with Ellie and Joel were important.

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It absolutely is. That little bit kind of reframes their relationship, which is then reinforced with the letter.

To move off the relationship part, which was stupid and time-wasting at least, there were other problems.

1. Why hide the rifle in the gas station? Joel says he is hiding it because there isn't a lot of ammo for it out there. But isn't he going to the place to meet the one guy that either might have plenty of ammo for it or might trade for the rifle? I get he may not want the extra weight, but why take the risk that you wouldn't need it? (I am just going to assume this is a case of Checkov's gun and that it will appear as needed later)
2. Are we to understand that Bill is the one "survivalist" who keeps all his stuff in the largest house in a small town? He doesn't have a remote hideaway?
3. This small town, which seems to consist of only a few houses, as the town limits seem to abruptly end a block in either direction of Bill's home, somehow seems to be the home of dozens of people?
4. This tiny town had both a wine shop, furniture store and a clothing boutique, all now possibly located within Bill's stockade?
5. Evidently all someone has to do to keep gas running to your home is to crash the gate at the gas distribution center and turn a valve?
6. Bill has run his generator continually for 20 years? Where is all the fuel coming from? Any fuel that is 20 years old has long since gone bad. Joel and Tess aren't carrying that much fuel to him for trade.