Reviews

In the game, interacting with Bill was extremely important for both Joel and Ellie; it's where the psychological "lines in the sand" are drawn.

Joel, whom Bill respects as a peer in the Black Market, ultimately finds Bill too rigid and closed off from the World, to be able to respect, or relate, to him anymore. Particularly after Bill insults Tess (unknowingly to Bill, now post mortem) twice.

Bill, who wants Joel's respect, tries to force a wedge in between Joel and Ellie (to Joel's benefit, he believes). He finds to his chagrin that Joel isn't as crystalized against the World as he previously thought, and that Joel is far more perceptive than Bill's comfortable with (upon finding Frank's hanging corpse). Joel's grace upon finding Bill is gay, resolves Bill into wholeheartedly helping Ellie and Joel retrieve a working car, and giving one last gift: a gas pump. For someone who takes pride in being a Survivor as much as Bill, and guarding his resources, it's a 180degree change in character. Despite this, one of Bill's parting words are "You...ain't gonna make it." Ominous. When we leave, we wonder if he's right. We wonder if we're going to actually make it, or if he will; now that his contacts for the Black Market of the Boston QZ are gone. What will he do now? What does he have to live for? It's a question that's intentionally left open ended, and we're never given an answer for. It's quite possible that by giving Joel and Ellie the only working car in town, Bill's condemned himself to Death. Eventually, all resources will be used and he'll have to move at risk of being overwhelmed by Infected. Yet it's such a human "thing" to give someone a precious resource over a shared moment of empathy, and unspoken understanding.

And Ellie, the wise cracking teenager who's in process of asserting her boundaries and policing others unfair behavior, pushed back against Bill's cynicism. This is where her relationship with Joel starts to warm; Joel finds her pithy comebacks and petty arguments with Bill amusing, despite himself. He sticks up for her, repeatedly, despite Bill being the better ally to keep a good relationship with. Ellie, in contrast, has no choice but to stick with Joel; so Joel choosing Bill's alliance over Ellie's emotions would be more beneficial to him. So why doesn't he? Joel instead strengthens his resolve to deliver Ellie to the Firefly's (in earnest) for Tess; as per her last wish. Ellie, for her part, genuinely tries to connect with Joel, and make him laugh (ie: the gay Porno Mag). She steals comic books (of Bill's) and a cassette tape (of Bill's...) for him. It's a cute bonding moment that's sorely needed between these two.

A very short, simple game sequence, but *extremely* powerful. Joel, as formidable as he his, is simply not as extremist a Survivor as Bill is. Joel, to his chagrin, leans more in the middle to Bill's extremism; And both he and Bill realize it. Whether it's a weakness or a strength, is purposefully left open ended.

All missed...in favor of an irrelevant (albeit pretty) love story. It seems to me, this is more The Last of Us in name only, with the emotional tone and psychological nuances of the game being forfeited entirely. This is not my Last of Us.