Warning! This article contains spoilers for both The Last of Us episode 2 and the original game.The Last of Us episode 2 saw big hints for episode 3 through the mention of Bill and Frank. Bill and Frank received mentions in The Last of Us episode 1 also, with the ending of said episode hinting at big things to come for the duo. However, The Last of Us episode 2's ending saw even bigger hints at Frank and Bill's involvement in the show going forward, something that will undoubtedly be showcased in The Last of Us episode 3.
The ending of The Last of Us episode 2 saw Tess sacrificing herself to buy Joel and Ellie time after the former was bitten. Tess told Joel to seek out Bill and Frank, with The episode 1's radio song hinting at potential danger ahead when Joel and Ellie reach the two. With that being said, here is everything about Bill and Frank's game stories and show hints explained.
Who Are Bill & Frank In The Last Of Us?
The Last of Us episode 1 set up Bill and Frank through Joel and Tess' smuggling work. Ellie finds a radio in Joel's apartment, accompanied by a catalog of number-one hits, with a code revealing that a song from the 60s means nothing new, the 70s means new products, and the 80s means danger. This sets up Bill and Frank's work, with the two likely providing useful objects and products for Joel and Tess should their smuggling work take them outside of the Boston quarantine zone. This code is their means of ing Joel and Tess, with The Last of Us episode 1's ending signaling trouble on the horizon.
How Bill & Frank Are Different In The Last Of Us Show
One thing that has been confirmed for Bill and Frank by the creators of HBO's The Last of Us is that their story will be slightly different for the show. In the game, upon Joel and Ellie reaching Bill's town, the latter is alone. While Frank is mentioned, the character is only physically seen once as a corpse, having been dead for a while after attempting to leave Bill and the town. The relationship between the two is hinted at, but never fully explored.
In HBO's The Last of Us, however, co-creator Neil Druckmann has revealed that their story will be different in one significant way. In an interview with the video game website Last of Us game mystery of whether Bill and Frank were romantically involved. While the evidence is there in the game to suggest they were, HBO's The Last of Us will expand on the story and, according to Druckmann's interview, jump around the timeline to explore the love Frank and Bill have for each other.
Why Joel & Ellie Are Going To Bill & Frank For Help
One of the main questions left with the audience at the end of The Last of Us episode 2 is specifically why Ellie and Joel are going to Frank and Bill's. At the end of the episode, Tess asks Joel to take Ellie to the duo so that they can continue the mission set out by Marlene and the Fireflies. In The Last of Us episode 1, Marlene asked Joel and Tess to take Ellie to the Fireflies so that they can synthesize a cure for Cordyceps due to Ellie's immunity in The Last of Us.
However, The Last of Us episode 2 ends on a somber note with the Fireflies at the State House being dead from infection, Tess revealing her own bite, and her sacrifice to give Joel and Ellie time to escape the infected horde. Tess then tells Joel to take Ellie to Bill and Frank so that they can take on the mission of delivering Ellie to the Fireflies. This is likely due to Bill and Frank's life outside of the Boston QZ.
Due to the lack of military oppression shown in the QZ by the likes of FEDRA, Frank and Bill likely have a lot more freedom in of what they can acquire. From cars and weapons to other helpful items like medical supplies, Bill and Frank likely have full control over their own supply so that they can take Ellie to The wall-message culprits: the Fireflies. This is arguably the main reason why Tess suggested Joel take Ellie to Bill and Frank, with The Last of Us episode 2 ending setting up this meeting for episode 3.
New episodes of The Last of Us release every Sunday on HBO.