The Last of Us Season 2 Will Not Feature a “Special Episode” Like Bill and Frank’s Love Story, Says Showrunner Craig Mazin

Video game adaptations are fickle. Done right, you have an unparalleled story-telling experience. However, if it goes wrong, there is a whole legion of fans left disappointed with the way their favorite game’s interpretation. With The Last of Us, the bar was already pretty high. To almost no one’s surprise, the show delivered. Its depiction of Bill’s story brought fans to tears. For fans who hope to see a revival of Bill and Frank’s plotline, there may be some disappointment.

Co-creator and executive producer of the show Craig Mazin closed the door on Bill and Frank coming back in a future season while speaking of where the show will go from the end of season 1.

The Last of Us avoids bringing back Bill’s story in future seasons

The 2013 title Last of Us brought a slew of memorable moments from the game. Ellie’s harrowing encounter with the cannibalistic David, Tess’ death, and even Joel stealing Ellie away from the medical procedure. These moments were filled with emotions. When it came to the TV adaptation, no emotion was left behind, most evidently with Bill and Frank.

Speaking to Deadline in an interview, co-creator Craig Mazin revealed there are no plans to bring back Bill and Frank. Producers of the show feel while the episode did receive incredible reviews, bringing it back just for fanservice or to attract viewers would not do justice to the entire plotline. They do not want to milk it. Instead, they plan to create other impactful moments such as this one in the next season.

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“What you won’t see is, for instance, another very special episode with Bill and Frank, we aren’t going to milk it. When we do something that we think is beautiful, we let it be as it is and find other beautiful things to do.”

When we met Bill and Frank. In the game, Bill’s Town is a small segment where Joel and Ellie get a car and re-supply. However, the writers took a different spin on the entire plot point. Instead of meeting Bill, the show gave us a flashback. It told a beautiful story of a paranoid survivalist, Bill, meeting another survivor Frank. As time goes by, the two fall in love. While enjoying a period of blissful years, Frank succumbs to terminal illness, with Bill choosing not to be left behind.

The entire episode brought tears to the eyes of viewers, as they could not bear to see the sadness of Bill, left without his partner. It became one of the most crucial points of the show, and what was more shocking is that Joel and Ellie played a very small part in it!

When will the second season come?

After the show’s success and renewal for a second season, fans keep wondering when will the second season arrive. While the current expectation is a delayed date in 2025 due to the writers’ strike, the show looks increasingly likely to miss its original release date. Fans may be pleased to know the first episode for season 2 is already written, leaving some consolation for patient viewers.

With season 2 comes the need for casting choices. New characters join the show from the second season, such as Abby, who had a pivotal role in the second game. It certainly looks like a long wait before the series comes back. Only time will tell what the writers cook up this time.

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