Few characters survive for long in the brutal world of The Last of Us, but the first game's grumpy survivor Bill could very well still be alive. Naughty Dog's post-apocalyptic adventure introduces Joel and Ellie to a colorful cast of fellow survivors, including the villainous David and the ill-fated duo of Sam and Henry. The paranoid survivalist Bill is one of the more memorable of the Last of Us cast, and his paranoid nature could lead to a future reappearance.
After fully committing to their post-apocalyptic journey from Boston to Salt Lake City, one of the earliest Last of Us story moments sees Joel and Ellie make a pit stop in Bill's town of Lincoln, Massachusetts. The expert smuggler and survivalist is initially hostile toward the endlessly sarcastic Ellie, but he helps the duo to repay a debt owed to Joel. Bill slowly opens up throughout the segment in Lincoln, revealing that isolation has taken a heavy toll on him since his separation from former partner and suggested lover Frank. Joel and Ellie eventually leave him behind in Lincoln, but Bill could still be alive in The Last of Us' timeline.
Bill's Skills Make Him A Likely Last Of Us Survivor
Bill is depicted as having full control of his post-apocalyptic town, making it likely that the complex Last of Us character would survive long after the game's events. Nearly every other survivor that Joel and Ellie encounter on their cross-country journey, including Tess, Sam, Henry and David, are all seen dying on-screen. Bill is noticeably left alive in The Last of Us when he parts ways with the protagonist duo, and there's little reason to expect that he would die any time soon. Bill has access to a massive stockpile of supplies and weapons in Lincoln, and has the entire town boobytrapped to help avoid with the Infected, making Bill's continued survival very likely.
Bill Could Return In A Future Last Of Us Game
Considering the likelihood of Bill's survival in The Last of Us, it's possible that Bill will return as a character in The Last of Us Part 3's story or in the franchise's multiplayer installment. The series' second entry ends with Ellie departing her now empty farm for parts unknown, making Bill's town a possible and logical destination. Ellie's emotional baggage might lead her to avoid returning to Jackson, and she knows that Lincoln is a fortified location thanks to Bill's expertise. A solo trip from the Wyoming farm back to Massachusetts would be very dangerous, but the veteran survivor might be willing to make the voyage if it means reuniting with one of Joel's old friends.
The world of The Last of Us makes survival difficult for even the hardiest characters, but Bill seemed particularly well-equipped to live long after the first game's events. He's portrayed as having total control of Lincoln, with ample supplies and clever traps to make life in the post-apocalypse easily manageable. Compared to other Last of Us characters, this makes Bill's possible return in The Last of Us Part 3 seem particularly likely given his connection to Ellie. The paranoid character is slowly revealed to have hidden emotional depths, making him a memorable Last of Us character who may still be alive in the future.
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