For those who loved Black Mirror’s “San Junipero,” you’ll need to give a thought to “Lengthy, Lengthy Time,” the third episode of The Final of Us on HBO Max, starring Parks and Recreation’s Nick Offerman in a visitor function as Invoice.
No, “San Junipero” doesn’t have something to do with zombies, and “Lengthy, Lengthy Time” doesn’t have something to do with importing your character to an infinite Nineteen Eighties membership scene. They share a much more area of interest class: self-contained episodes that pivot from the general thrust of their respective TV collection to current a sci-fi-tinged queer love story.
Again in 2016, everybody I knew was watching “San Junipero,” speaking about how they hadn’t watched “San Junipero” but, or telling me I ought to watch “San Junipero,” the fourth episode of the third season of Black Mirror. It’s not that I knew loads of Black Mirror followers; it’s simply that I do know loads of queer people who get pleasure from style TV. Ultimately, I watched “San Junipero.” It was beautiful! I’ve by no means seen one other episode of Black Mirror.
“San Junipero” is broadly thought of the most effective episodes of tv to come back out in 2016, and continues to be appreciated for being principally the one episode of Black Mirror the place know-how is an effective factor that’s good, as a substitute of a Twilight Zone horror. However for a lot of, “San Junipero” is most fondly remembered as a result of a romance-centered style story is uncommon sufficient to see on TV, not to mention one the place a homosexual couple will get to trip off into the sundown collectively.
Did you get pleasure from what “San Junipero” did for bisexual and lesbian sci-fi followers? Would you wish to see The Final of Us do it for (white) homosexual males?
Nicely, then, can I curiosity you a 60-ish-minute quick movie the place Nick Offerman performs a closeted survivalist in a zombie apocalypse who learns the irreplaceable worth of attachment from one other man’s tenderness, as you comply with their relationship from its starting by means of to a peaceable finish in outdated age?
[Ed. note: The rest of this piece contains broad spoilers for “Long, Long Time.”]
Additionally Joel and Ellie are there too, I assume, however no matter. They bookend the episode, showing solely at first and finish, leaving the remaining for director Peter Hoar and author Craig Mazin to spend increasing on Invoice and Frank. And broaden they do. Invoice’s sport look is minor, and Frank died earlier than the participant even finds out he existed. What gamers know is that their relationship ended badly. One can infer that they have been lovers, however there’s no direct affirmation of it. The Frank (performed by The White Lotus’ Murray Bartlett) and Invoice of The Final of Us TV present are a near-complete retread.
Offerman frankly stuns within the function as a self-sufficient prepper who freezes like a deer when introduced with the freely provided intimacy he had by no means dared to permit himself to want. Invoice and Frank kiss, and fuck, and argue; they cook dinner, and make artwork, and shock one another with loving presents; they discover a lot battle however better pleasure in constructing out a pocket of paradise within the wasteland.
If the episode has a failure level, it’s that these guys are virtually literal Log Cabin Republicans (though the log cabin is a contemporary colonial within the suburbs of Boston). Or, and I’m placing on my finest Surfer Dude accent right here, “Getting yours after which actively resisting making a group to share with others regardless that you completely have the sources to take action? Not (queer) radical, dude. Not (queer) radical in any respect.”
However that’s a failure level of all of The Final of Us, sport and present, in that no matter race or creed, it molds its characters in line with a lionization of the largely legendary thought of the non-public, isolationist homestead defended righteously towards chaos.
Offerman’s and Bartlett’s performances are what make the episode transcend The Final of Us’ restricted concepts of ultimate society, turning “Lengthy, Lengthy Time” into the perfect episode of the present’s first season. Time — and additional seasons, as they arrive — will inform if it seems to be the perfect episode of the present, interval.
However within the meantime, no pun supposed, it may be loved in isolation from the remainder of The Final of Us. For those who can watch the satisfying factor everyone’s speaking about with out signing up for hours of notoriously dour tv on both facet of it, properly, that’s a simple promote. Stand-alone standing propelled the unfold of “San Junipero” throughout the face of queer discourse, and it could simply stroll “Lengthy, Lengthy Time” into the queer sci-fi corridor of fame as properly.
