It’s no secret that the LGBTQ+ community is often overlooked or misrepresented in the media. But The Last of Us proved that it’s possible to do LGBTQ+ representation right! In this article, we’ll explore how this video game set a new standard for LGBTQ+ representation and how its approach can be used to make media more inclusive. And we’ll take a look at how HBO’s brand new adaptation of The Last of Us is winning hearts with its gay representation of the characters Bill and Frank from episode 3.
The Last of Us: What Made It Different
The Last of Us was unique because it was one of the few games to feature LGBTQ+ representation without fear of reprisal. Joel, the main character, is tasked with taking 14-year-old Ellie across the post-apocalyptic countryside ravaged by fungal-infected undead. Ellie, we later discover, is gay, and in the follow up game, The Last of Us Part 2, she shares a lot of screen time with Dina. The games portrayed LGBTQ+ storylines in a positive light. This kind of representation was revolutionary and showed that video games could provide an inclusive environment for players.
The game has a mature and balanced approach to LGBTQ+ issues, and it aimed to provide an understanding and awareness of queer life and its struggles. The Last of Us parts 1 and 2 showed that video games could be used to challenge the status quo and provide a space for people who may not have felt welcome in mainstream media.
Overall, The Last of Us proved that LGBTQ+ representation can be done right and that video games can be used to challenge the status quo, provide a space for marginalized voices, and create a more inclusive environment for all players. The game was an important milestone for LGBTQ+ representation and it is an example of how other media outlets can make a difference and help create a more inclusive world.
Bill and Frank’s Story: A Refreshing Take on LGBTQ+ Representation
Major spoiler alert!
Bill and Frank weren’t huge characters in the video game. When we meet Bill, Joel and Ellie are low on supplies and in desperate need of direction. Tey have to get around Bill’s traps before they see him and when they alert a number of nearby infected, Bill arrives in the nick of time. He mentions Frank, his “partner”, and we shortly discover Frank’s body, bitten by the infected and hanging from a rope. Bill suggests he hung himself after he was bitten.
The HBO show took these side-characters and turned them into one of the most beautiful representations of gay love on TV in recent years.
Diverging from the main Joel-and-Ellie storyline for almost the entire third episode of the new HBO show, we follow Bill as he lives alone in a small town following the outbreak of infection across the globe. Over the ensuing years, Bill amasses a wondrous array of arms, erects a fence around the area, and raids nearby regions for supplies. Until one day, Frank falls victim to one of Bill’s traps, a hole in the ground. When Bill lets him into his private sanctum to give him a meal, they grow closer almost immediately.
And then we follow their relationship (arguments and all) over the course of the next sixteen years before Joel and Ellie show up.
When Frank is at the end of his life, he asks Bill to crush up his pills into a glass of wine so that he can go now that he’s ready, but Bill doesn’t want to be alone. He takes some of the tainted wine and they go to bed. Forever.
HBO’s The Last of Us dedicates one and a half hours to show the world who a gay couple live in a post-apocalyptic world. And they did it beautifully. The rest of the world’s media should take note!
The episode wasn’t just there to fill a quota or show a token gesture. Bill and Frank were written with depth and complexity, revealing nuances in their relationship and providing a refreshing take on LGBTQ+ representation.
It succeeded in capturing the essence of the characters and creating a genuine, heart-warming moment between them. The show goes even further than the game by expanding the scope of their relationship and showcasing the tenderness of their bond. In short, it’s a refreshing take on LGBTQ+ representation and a far cry from the usual stereotypes or token gestures that are often seen in media.
The Last of Us and its HBO adaptation have set a new standard for LGBTQ+ representation. It proves that it’s possible to make media more inclusive and to create authentic relationships between gay characters. Not only is Bill and Frank’s story inspiring and heartening, but it’s also proof of how much progress can be made when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation and representation in general.
The Last of Us Adaptation’s Positive Reception of LGBTQ+ Representation
The Last of Us HBO adaptation has seen overwhelmingly positive reception for its representation. The series follows the story of Joel and Ellie and their journey for a cure for the fungus infection that has decimated humanity, while in Part 2 of the game it also exploring Ellie’s romantic relationship with another female character, Dina. This is an exciting step forward in terms of representation and a clear message that The Last of Us is an inclusive and accepting story.
The representation of Bill and Frank serves to normalize same-sex relationships and to show that love is something that transcends boundaries.
Overall, The Last of Us adaptation has garnered positive reviews for its positive and respectful portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters and relationships. This is an important step forward in terms of LGBTQ+ representation and sets a new standard for how media can be more inclusive.
