The Last of Us: “Long, Long Time”

October 2025

The Last of Us: “Long Long Time” (Aired January 29, 2023)

lIn the beforetimes, there was a thing called Disabled Twitter. And it was glorious, and full of joy and full of rage and full of creativity and wisdom and interdependence and survival. In 2023, early into the so-called aftertimes, Disabled Twitter caught my eye. Disabled activists and artists were discussing the (what I knew would be award-winning, sigh) episode of The Last of Us, entitled “Long, Long Time.” The Last of Us is an American post-apocalyptic drama television series on HBO. Based on the video game franchise of the same name, the series is set decades after the collapse of society caused by a mass fungal infection that transforms its hosts into zombie-like creatures.

This particular episode features excellent performances by Bill (played by Nick Offerman) and Frank, played by (Murray Bartlett).Let me be clear, I have NO issue with the acting in this episode. The writing on the other hand?

Here’s the episode summary from Wikipedia: Twenty years earlier, in Lincoln, Bill monitors the evacuation from an underground bunker after the outbreak. He ransacks abandoned businesses for supplies and materials to build a generator, electric fence, and traps. Four years later, he encounters Frank who bargains for a hot meal, shower, and fresh clothes. They play "Long Long Time" on the piano. Frank deduces Bill has never had a romantic partner. He kisses Bill and they sleep together. Three years later, Frank invites Tess and Joel to establish a smuggling operation. Joel convinces the misanthropic Bill to accept Frank's plan by pointing out deficiencies in the town's defenses they can help fix. Later, raiders attempt to infiltrate the town, injuring Bill before being repelled by his defenses.

Ten years later, Bill and Frank are elderly. Frank has a degenerative disease which leaves him with limited mobility. He asks Bill to help him die. Bill takes Frank to dress in new suits and they marry in their living room. After dinner, Bill places a lethal dose of sleeping tablets in Frank's wine and reveals he spiked his own drink as well, admitting he has no desire to live without Frank. They retire to their room. Several weeks later, Joel and Ellie reach Lincoln. Ellie finds a letter from Bill addressed to Joel, leaving him his truck, weapons, and any supplies he needs. More stuff happens, but I’ll stop right there.

Unfortunately, the decision for Frank (and Bill) to die in the face of a disabling condition is all too common in mainstream media. It’s what disabled film maker, writer and critic Dom Evans calls the “Better off Dead,” shortcut and it is incredibly harmful to folks with disabilities. My work as an access consultant is all about harm reduction so let me go ahead fix this for you:

Frank has a degenerative disease which leaves his with limited mobility. Re-invigorated by his younger self’s ability to make a life out of nothing, Bill gets to work re-designing the house he shares with Frank to meet Frank;s changing access needs. A Montage shows Bill taking apart things he built just for himself and re-purposing them for a life of interdependence. Bill makes a chair lift, modified ultensil holders, and re-designs the bathrooms to be access-centered. As time goes on, Bill makes AAC devices to help Frank communicate. One moment of the montage shows Frank telling a joke using the ACC and both of them laughing their asses off. When Joel and Ellie return, they find Bill and Frank ALIVE. Bill still gives Joel his truck and weapons—not because he’s dead, but because his life with Frank no longer needs these inaccessible things.