The Last of Us actor Nick Offerman defended Episode 3's self-contained LGBTQ+ story.

Offerman came to the defense of the show after a Twitter user criticized Episode 3 in a now-deleted tweet. Since the account no longer exists, it is not known what the exact tweet was, but it is clear the user was attacking the show for focusing on a same-sex couple in its widely praised third episode. Offerman responded to the tweet, writing, "Buddy, your brand of ignorance and hate is exactly why we make stories like this."

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While Episode 3, titled "Long Long Time," is mostly adored by fans and critics alike, certain people have review-bombed the episode because of the romance between Bill (Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett). The episode has received more five-star reviews on IMDB than the other three episodes of the series, but currently sits at a 7.9 rating, the lowest of the season so far. This is due to people flooding the site with one-star ratings due to the portrayal of a gay couple. In comparison, Episode 1 and 2 both have a 9.2 rating, and Episode 4 has a score of 8.5.

HBO's The Last of Us Expanded on Bill and Frank's Relationship

So far, The Last of Us Episode 3 has strayed from the source material the most. While it was hinted that Bill and Frank were in a relationship in the video game, it was never overtly stated. Showrunner Craig Mazin stated that he made the decision to explore Bill and Frank's relationship further because he thought audiences would need a slight breather from Joel and Ellie's mission. Since the episode tracks Bill and Frank's relationship over several years, it also gave Mazin a chance to show audiences how the world changed from Outbreak Day to the current time period of the show.

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Additionally, Mazin claimed that he believes Episode 3's emotional climax will change how audiences view the rest of the HBO show. "The idea was to show these two people functioning in a relationship, two very different people who have different concepts of how to love," he said. "And in their relationship and their two different ways of loving, both outward and inward, we create a kind of thematic codex for the whole show. Every relationship we see from that point forward, you can feel like a Bill and Frank kind of lurking inside everybody."

Season 1 of The Last of Us is currently airing on HBO, with new episodes every Sunday.

Source: Twitter