This is a remarkable episode of the show. Anyone who's seen it knows it. Even without watching much more of the series, this is a great one to enjoy. Here are our thoughts on this one.

First, if you have any problem with all the forms that love can take, this has been the wrong show for you since the start. “The Last of Us” has a number of canonically queer characters (even in the first game). This is showing something that can easily be lost in the world: Love. It's pure chance these two met, let alone were right for each other. But this led to a very wonderful episode.

For once, I need to talk more about the characters themselves in particulars. Bill was a “Prepper” (Doomsday Prepper/Survivalist) in the old world. He had plans in case of an apocalypse or Nuclear War and had learned everything he could about how to live in a less modern world. However, he also prepared to make a compound to be self-sufficient if nuclear bombardment hadn't occurred. We see him get to work as soon as the town has been cleared by FEDRA. He was clearing land, gathering what little he needed to make his compound well protected, and getting the fuel he'd need. Likely having a good gas station or two within easy reach of the town. More importantly, he kept a car work very well. He knew how to survive in the world and enjoy himself in simple ways. The compound that Bill made of his former town is telling. He took advantage of the fencing that FEDRA put up and reinforced it, making it harder for anyone else to get in there. He had enough ready that it wasn't hard for him to create a safe space.

Frank is just someone who survived through everything that happened. He is a terrible liar, but gives everything he can to whatever project is in front of him. He loves music as much as Bill and understands life is more about living than just surviving. He also understands the value of connections and having something of a network. As good as Bill is, there are somethings he just can't do. Medicine production among them, fabricating a number of chemicals and metals (but he might know where to find them)

Frank and Bill meet after Frank falls into a Pit Trap that Bill had laid. We had seen Bill watches all the traps he can carefully, with alarms for all of them to watch what's happening. This helps explain why he'd go and investigate the pit quickly. This leads to them meeting, Bill being very cautious about Frank and (especially for the apocalypse) being very generous. He ultimately invites him in and the two has a dinner of rabbit and wine. Frank compliments Bill on the fantastic choices of meat and wine, does an okay job of playing piano, playing “Long, Ling Time” by Linda Ronstadt. And this leads the two to the start their relationship.

It's through the networking that Joel and Tess come into their lives. Tess greatly appreciates having the time and space that Bill and Frank get to enjoy. When they go inside to just chat, Bill and Joel establish some sort of respect for each other. Joel proves his worth to Bill by helping him with the wiring around the area to keep it in better shape. It also explains the code that Joel had back in episode 1, this gives us the origins. That Frank and Tess set up a code so they could communicate without people particularly listening in to understand.

Throughout the episode, we see them take care of each other. Bill helps Frank with restoration projects, helping keep their house and some parts of the town in better shape. But Frank does a lot for Bill as well. He trades a gun to grow a small plot of strawberries the couple get to enjoy in time. We see them helping each other, giving each other more good days than bad ones. Even in the end, the pair kept everything together very well. When Frank made up his mind, Bill listened. On top of that, he did something that could be see an “incredibly romantic” for their world.

More than anything, being able to see a couple just living a somewhat normal life through this whole zombie pandemic was heartening. The one assault on their compound we see, it's Frank that keeps the more combative Bill alive. Throughout the whole thing, Bill is telling Frank that he should reach out to Joel for help while Frank is tending to the bullet wound he took. They take excellent care of each other. More than anything, we see love throughout it.

The episode does end with Joel and Ellie making their way into the compound to get some help from the couple. Getting inside the house, Joel's met with silence he wasn't expecting. But he finds all the supplies he needs (and can take them with Bill's blessing too). There was one thing that Bill left for Joel in the note (and the obvious car), which is that he reminds Joel to protect Tess, and by extension Ellie. Bill came to see that he was there to protect Frank, someone who brought a lot of light into his otherwise dark and dreary world. It's also at the end of the episode that the song that brought together Bill and Frank comes back, “Long, Ling Time” by Linda Ronstadt. This song starts to bring the pair together a little. Much like it did for Bill and Frank.

There is a lot I'm leaving out that I would love to ramble about but it sums up to me gushing about the various ways the pair are affectionate to each other. The pair do so very much together and we get to see them over the years. This was a powerful episode. A very unlikely couple came together and found each other. I love the implications at the end of the episode that the two of them are now holding each other throughout eternity.