The Ballad of Bill & Frank

When I tell you that I did not expect the show about a mutant mushroom zombie apocalypse to include some of the most sensitive and heartfelt queer storytelling currently on television, I am so not lying. But, here we are, all struggling to emotionally recover from the Ballad of Bill & Frank/Episode 3 of aforementioned mutant mushroom zombie apocalypse show. Wow, is “The Last of Us” good. Like, it’s very good. Scary, funny, touching, scary a lot more. It is, at least for this horror wimp, incredibly tense to watch. But also, in the weirdest way possible, it’s been sort of life affirming.

Humans, we find a way. It’s not always a good way or a moral way or a logical way. But we find a way to survive. And, in the case of Bill and Frank, find love in a hopeless place. (Again, it’s hard to think of a more hopeless place than a mutant mushroom zombie apocalypse, especially when the remaining societal structure is an extremely fascist state/Nazis).

The performances, from leads Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey to supporting cast like Anna Torv and Melanie Lynskey and of course Bill/Nick Offerman and Frank/Murray Bartlett, are all phenomenal. And, while the first few episodes were pretty scary because mutant mushroom zombie people are scary, I think the last two episodes have settled into a more hard-scrabble but also reflective post-apocalyptic tone.

And that Bill and Frank standalone episode (for real, you don’t even really need to watch the show to enjoy it), well, if you didn’t cry at least a little you may already be a mutant mushroom zombie. Creating fully realized characters in the span of one hour-long show is no small feat, but to make us care so deeply for them and their relationship in that same short timeframe — well, that’s almost magic. I think it helped that Offerman and Bartlett played to type here (rugged individualist Ron from Parks & Rec and urbane gay Dom/Armond from Looking/White Lotus, respectfully). But the chemistry and the connection and the tenderness. Well, that’s just talent.

In many ways, Episode 3 especially, reminded me of the wonderful “Station Eleven.” It was my favorite television series last year, where the almost pastoral approach to the post-apocalyptic world was a refreshing departure from all the shooting and fighting. Also, if you haven’t yet watched “Station Eleven” is also on HBO Max. So if you can watch the mutant mushroom zombie apocalypse show, you can also watch the one about the bad flu that took out the world and left bands of wandering artists in the countryside instead.

Best yet about TLOU, we already know that as the show continues we should be in for a lot more queerness. Even though I’m not a gamer, even I know that Ellie is gay and has a girlfriend in the video game’s sequel. Since “The Last of Us” has been a massive hit and HBO Max has already renewed it for a second season, more gay days should be ahead.

So now, the only question is, who should play Dina?