Nick Offerman’s Character in ‘The Last of Us’ Explained: Who Is Bill?
Parks and Recreation’s actor landed a side character’s role in The Last of Us’ season 1, though his storyline turned out to be way more significant than in the original video game. Here’s where you could see Nick Offerman in the HBO series.
Even though The Last of Us’ TV adaptation has been facing waves of backlash for differences from the video game ever since the first season arrived on Max back in 2023, the show certainly did a good job expanding some of the supporting characters’ arcs.
In The Last of Us’ ongoing second season this might be the case for Joe Pantoliano’s Eugene whose death in episode 6 somehow becomes a turning point in Ellie and Joel’s relationship. Meanwhile, season 1 dedicated an entire episode to the story of another side character portrayed by Parks and Recreation and Fargo’s actor Nick Offerman.
Nick Offerman Portrayed Harsh Survivor Bill in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 1
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In both the video game and the series, Bill is one of few Cordyceps infection survivors in Lincoln, Massachusetts, whose long-standing distrust for the government and its actions proved itself useful with all the provisions that Bill had stored in case an apocalypse breaks out.
When the virus spread across the globe, Bill quickly adapted to new circumstances, building numerous barricades around his house to protect himself from the infected and enjoying his bachelor life with no people around for quite a long time until Frank showed up one day.
With both soon starting to develop feelings for each other, Bill and Frank decide to live together, but what happens next eventually splits into two completely different stories in the game and the show.
“The Last of Us” game hinted at the couple’s complicated relationship which at some point made the two distance themselves from each other and stay out of touch until Frank died.
Meanwhile, HBO’s The Last of Us made it clear that Bill and Frank’s romance was blossoming for way longer than in the game, which also made the story’s ending way more disheartening than it initially was.
Why Bill and Frank’s Story Changed So Much in the Show, Explained by ‘The Last of Us’ Creators
Even though the characters’ flawed relationships did look just a little more realistic in the game, the show’s co-creator Craig Mazin wanted things to be more positive, especially since Bill and Frank’s life in the post-apocalyptic world was far from easy.
“I think in a show like this, where the world around our characters is constantly pressuring them … there is the tendency for endings to be tragic and violent and abrupt and too soon. And I thought it was important to show how a relationship could endure, and then conclude in a natural way. Because death is a perfectly natural thing to do”, he revealed in an interview with Los Angeles Times back in 2023, referring to the episode 3’s breaking point when Bill and Frank make a decision to die together.
“The whole thing is about hope and humanity being able to construct hope and believe hope. The reason we believe in anything is because we think it’s going to help us. Faith, or otherwise, it’s something that you construct around you to go, ‘Yeah, see, it’s worth it.’ For that to be a gay love story, an LGBTQ love story, was just the icing on the cake”, the episode’s director Peter Hoar added.
