{"id":602841,"date":"2023-01-30T07:49:21","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T13:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sellorbuyhomefast.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/the-last-of-us-showrunners-explain-that-major-episode-3-story-shift\/"},"modified":"2023-01-30T07:49:21","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T13:49:21","slug":"the-last-of-us-showrunners-explain-that-major-episode-3-story-shift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/the-last-of-us-showrunners-explain-that-major-episode-3-story-shift\/","title":{"rendered":"The Last of Us showrunners explain that major episode 3 story shift"},"content":{"rendered":"<article aria-label=\"article\" data-id=\"7h4TBsF3ExThvFhTgpnT2B\">\n<header>\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\" aria-label=\"Return to Home\">Home<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\" aria-label=\"Return to News\">News<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/entertainment\" aria-label=\"Return to Entertainment\">Entertainment<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<\/header>\n<section>\n<div itemprop=\"image\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n<div>\n<picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" alt=\"Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett in The Last of Us\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\"   data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hnsuVWjvyiVsLuDkcArjyN.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hnsuVWjvyiVsLuDkcArjyN.jpg\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" alt=\"Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett in The Last of Us\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\"   data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hnsuVWjvyiVsLuDkcArjyN.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hnsuVWjvyiVsLuDkcArjyN.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hnsuVWjvyiVsLuDkcArjyN-320-80.jpg\" alt=\"Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett in The Last of Us\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\"   data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hnsuVWjvyiVsLuDkcArjyN.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hnsuVWjvyiVsLuDkcArjyN.jpg\"><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p><meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hnsuVWjvyiVsLuDkcArjyN.jpg\"><br \/>\n<meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"600\"><br \/>\n<meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"338\"><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\">\n<span itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: HBO)<\/span><br \/>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p><strong>WARNING: This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>HBO\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/reviews\/the-last-of-us\">The Last of Us<\/a> has earned rave reviews for its impressive loyalty to developer Naughty Dog\u2019s era-defining PlayStation title, but the series\u2019 third episode marked the first major deviation from Joel and Ellie\u2019s in-game story.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Long Long Time\u2019 puts the spotlight on Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), two lonely survivors who come together in the aftermath of the global Cordyceps outbreak. Both characters feature briefly in the original <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/reviews\/the-last-of-us-part-1-review\">The Last of Us game<\/a>, but HBO\u2019s small screen adaptation dedicates an entire hour to delving deeper into their decades-long relationship.<\/p>\n<p>In an interview with TechRadar ahead of the series&#8217; release, co-showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin explained the thinking behind their decision to go off-piste with The Last of Us episode 3 \u2013 which the pair have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/magazine\/2023\/01\/02\/can-the-last-of-us-break-the-curse-of-bad-video-game-adaptations\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/magazine\/2023\/01\/02\/can-the-last-of-us-break-the-curse-of-bad-video-game-adaptations\" rel=\"noopener\">previously admitted<\/a><span> (opens in new tab)<\/span> will inevitably leave some fans \u201cupset\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt came out of an interest I had in portraying Bill slightly differently, because the Bill section of the game was very much built around gameplay,&#8221; Mazin tells us. &#8220;What fascinated me about Bill was that he was safe, that he had created this interesting little safe harbor in the world. Then my next question was, well, what happens to you if you&#8217;re safe in this world? What next? Do you just stay there alone? What do you need? Why do you keep going? And I knew about the Frank storyline in the game, which, to me, sort of echoed the worst possible outcome for Joel.<\/p>\n<figure data-bordeaux-image-check>\n<div>\n<p><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" alt=\"Nick Offerman in The Last of Us\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/techradar\/media\/img\/missing-image.svg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW.jpg\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" alt=\"Nick Offerman in The Last of Us\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/techradar\/media\/img\/missing-image.svg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-320-80.jpg 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-1200-80.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW.jpg\" alt=\"Nick Offerman in The Last of Us\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/techradar\/media\/img\/missing-image.svg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-320-80.jpg 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW-1200-80.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/jBqFGMMeho2wJQTYbsnSYW.jpg\" ><\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\"><span>Nick Offerman plays lonely survivalist Bill in The Last of Us <\/span><span itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: HBO)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cBut I thought there was an opportunity [with episode 3] to go in a different direction and explore the passage of time between the outbreak and where we are now, and also create a relationship that worked,\u201d Mazin continues. \u201cA relationship that, in its duality, helped define some themes that we&#8217;ll see over and over again [in the show] \u2013 two very different kinds of love. Somebody that loves outwards, and nurtures and protects and creates. And somebody that loves by protection through violence and preservation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo I remember saying to Nick [Offerman] and Murray [Bartlett] that this relationship is the basis of everything. Everything is reflected in this [relationship]. And even though there is a bit of a blubbering that occurs, in their own way, they win. They get the happy ending.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure>\n<blockquote>\n<p>I think the change [in episode 3] became very indicative of what we prioritized in this show.<\/p><figcaption><cite>Neil Druckmann<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<p>When adapting The Last of Us for the screen, Druckmann \u2013 who penned the game\u2019s original story \u2013 likewise felt it was important to leave certain gameplay-heavy moments on the cutting room floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the change [in episode 3] became very indicative of what we prioritized in this show,\u201d he says. \u201cIn my mind, a lesser adaptation would have looked at the Bill sequence and said, \u2018Oh, there&#8217;s this epic, iconic moment where Joel steps into a snare trap and is upside down and Ellie has to get him out of the ditch. And then Bill shows up and Bill saves you and that&#8217;s how you bond with him through this long action sequence.\u2019 You&#8217;re relying on each other and then, through in-game dialogue and a bunch of different things, we reveal a hint at this backstory and this relationship.<\/p>\n<figure data-bordeaux-image-check>\n<div>\n<p><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" alt=\"Bill in The Last of Us\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/techradar\/media\/img\/missing-image.svg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe.jpg\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" alt=\"Bill in The Last of Us\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/techradar\/media\/img\/missing-image.svg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-320-80.jpg 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-1200-80.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe.jpg\" alt=\"Bill in The Last of Us\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/techradar\/media\/img\/missing-image.svg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-320-80.jpg 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe-1200-80.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6wRFLeDneRrfvVKbHAd8Xe.jpg\" ><\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\"><span>Bill appears briefly in the original The Last of Us game <\/span><span itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Naughty Dog)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cBut some of the brilliance of Craig is to say: that&#8217;s not as important. That\u2019s what would have been an important thing in the past, when you&#8217;re adapting video games and looking at superficial aspects and thinking, \u2018Oh, players want to see that gameplay moment.\u2019 That&#8217;s not what they want. They want the core of the heart of this experience. So when Craig said, \u2018Let&#8217;s focus on Bill and Frank instead of the set-piece, and do stuff that we couldn&#8217;t do in the game, like jump around in time, and really show how people have survived over this 20-year gap\u2019 \u2013 that\u2019s a great counter-example of everything else we see [on Joel and Ellie\u2019s journey]. That story is so beautiful and so moving.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd ultimately,\u201d Druckmann concludes, \u201cwhen Joel and Ellie come back to that story \u2013 yes, it&#8217;s different from what&#8217;s in the game, but it helps elevate [the experience] in a way that I think is really strong for this medium. We couldn&#8217;t have told this story in the game. And likewise, I think the show would have been less if we tried to tell the story [of Bill and Frank] in the game over here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>The Last of Us is now streaming on HBO Max in the US and Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" data-reactroot id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent\">\n<section>\n<p>Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals!<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div data-reactroot id=\"slice-container-authorBio\">\n<p>Axel is a London-based staff writer at TechRadar, reporting on everything from the newest movies to latest Apple developments as part of the site&#8217;s daily news output. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned a gold standard NCTJ qualification as part of the company\u2019s inaugural digital training scheme.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\/the-last-of-us-showrunners-explain-that-major-episode-3-story-shift\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Alejandro Paris<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News Entertainment (Image credit: HBO) WARNING: This article contains spoilers for The Last of UsHBO\u2019s The Last of Us has earned rave reviews for its impressive loyalty to developer Naughty Dog\u2019s era-defining PlayStation title, but the series\u2019 third episode marked the first major deviation from Joel and Ellie\u2019s in-game story.\u00a0\u2018Long Long Time\u2019 puts the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":602842,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[182,2996,46],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-602841","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-major","8":"category-showrunners","9":"category-technology"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/602841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=602841"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/602841\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/602842"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=602841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=602841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=602841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}