Did anyone else feel underwhelmed or disappointed with the episode “Long, Long Time.”

I was really disappointed with the episode “Long, Long Time” from The Last of Us. Going into it, I was genuinely excited because of all the critical acclaim it had received, but by the end, I felt like it stood out for all the wrong reasons. While I appreciate the show’s willingness to slow down and focus on character-driven storytelling, the execution felt contrived and at odds with the harsh, unforgiving world that The Last of Us is built upon.

Bill is introduced as a deeply disciplined, hyper-cautious survivalist—someone who has successfully outmaneuvered military forces, avoided capture, and built an isolated fortress out of pure skepticism and meticulous planning. This is a man who trusts no one and prepares for every conceivable threat. Yet, within the span of a single afternoon, he allows a complete stranger into his sanctuary, shares a vulnerable dinner with him, and opens himself up emotionally and physically. It felt rushed and out of character, undermining the foundations of who Bill was established to be.

To be clear, I have no issue with Bill being gay or with his relationship with Frank. In fact, a love story in the bleak world of The Last of Us could have been incredibly powerful. The problem lies in how the relationship was developed. If the writers had taken more time to show Bill slowly lowering his walls, building trust with Frank over weeks, months, or even years, their relationship would have felt more believable and earned. Instead, the pacing reduced what could have been a profound emotional arc into something that felt forced.

Additionally, the episode’s depiction of their life together felt strangely idyllic and out of place in the brutal, survivalist world of The Last of Us. Aside from a brief encounter with raiders, their lives were portrayed as almost fairy-tale-like, complete with gourmet meals, wine pairings, and moments of quiet domestic bliss. While moments of peace and love can certainly exist in this universe, they should still feel tethered to the ever-present danger and scarcity that defines the world.

The issue isn’t that “Long, Long Time” tells a love story—it’s that the story doesn’t feel authentic to the world it’s set in. If Bill and Frank’s relationship had been given more time to develop organically and if their existence had been more believably intertwined with the harsh realities of survival, this episode could have been one of the most impactful in the series. Instead, it felt disconnected, and ultimately, like a missed opportunity.