Warning! This article contains major spoilers for both The Last of Us episode 3 and the original game.The Last of Us episode 3 ends with Joel and Ellie finding Bill's suicide letter, something that perfectly foreshadows Joel's season 1 ending. The majority of The Last of Us episode 3 centers on Bill and his journey with Frank. In the most significant departure from the original game's story thus far, Bill and Frank's relationship is shown from its circumstantial inception to its tragically romantic ending.
This ending again provides a big difference from the game, with Frank opting to end his life on his own terms after spending one last perfect day with Bill. After discovering his immense love for Frank, Bill decides to go with him in the amazing The Last of Us episode 3 as Frank is now his sole purpose in life. This leads Joel to find Bill's letter, which perfectly encapsulates the journey Joel will go on throughout the remainder of The Last of Us season 1.
Bill’s Protection Of Frank Mirrors Joel’s Of Ellie
Bill's letter initially states that he hated the world and was glad when it fell apart, similar to Joel's outlook on the world after Sarah's death. However, Bill says that Frank changed his mind and the latter became his to protect, which is what Bill did until his last breath. Bill then states that this is what men like he and Joel are on the planet to do: protect their loved ones. While Bill is initially talking about Tess, as her Last of Us death came after his, his advice can also be applied to the future of Joel and Ellie's journey.
Eventually, as shown in sequences that will undoubtedly be adapted from the game, Joel will come to care for Ellie as his own daughter and do whatever it takes to protect her. From the duo's eventual encounter with David's group of cannibals to the events of The Last of Us Part II which will be adapted in season 2 of HBO's show, Joel protects Ellie many times. This mirrors Bill's relationship with Frank, with Bill's words likely sticking with Joel who can apply them to his new companion rather than Tess.
Bill’s Emotional Journey Foreshadows Joel’s Last Of Us Arc
Another aspect of Bill's letter that foreshadows the entire arc Joel will go on throughout The Last of Us is the former's emotional journey. Through Bill and Frank's relationship, which The Last of Us perfectly sets up through their beautiful piano scene, Bill learned to love the world. Despite aligning with Joel's worldview before this, that being cold, lonely, and distant exemplified by living alone in Lincoln, Frank changes him to become more open, loving and caring. This is also seen with Joel throughout The Last of Us.
The Last of Us episode 1's opening showed Joel as a humorous, easygoing, caring father to Sarah. After the 20-year time jump though, Joel is shown as broken, traumatized, and distant largely stemming from the tragic death of Sarah and the dark state of the world. Over the course of the remaining episodes of The Last of Us though, Joel will be shown to open up to Ellie and revert to the kind, protective, funny father figure he was to Sarah. This is shown in The Last of Us game, and will undoubtedly be adapted by HBO after the foreshadowing that Bill's own discovery of love allowed for.
Bill Highlighting Joel’s Loss Of Sarah & Tess Makes His Ending Better
Another thing that both further sets up Joel's ending and makes it more justifiable is Bill's highlighting of Tess. As mentioned, Bill states that Joel needs to do whatever he can to protect Tess, not knowing about the very recent death she suffered at the Boston State House. This visibly upsets Joel, as it reminds him of his inability to protect her from the horrors of this world. In reminding Joel of this, it is highly likely that the harrowing, repressed memories Joel has of Sarah's death come to the forefront of his mind.
This means that, from here on out, Joel will be stewing over his failure to protect both Tess and Sarah from death in The Last of Us due to Bill's words. This makes his eventual saving of Ellie make much more sense. Joel will use the feelings of loss and grief that both Sarah and Tess made him feel to propel him to save Ellie. Not only does this foreshadow this event, but it makes his murder of the Fireflies almost justifiable at least in terms of Joel's motivation, as it is a perfect culmination of his emotional journey.
Bill’s Threat Sets Up Joel’s Dark Last Of Us Future
Finally, one direct quote from Bill's letter sets up Joel's dark deeds at the end of The Last of Us episode 1 while also tying into the premiere. In the letter, Bill states that Joel and Bill are on this planet to protect the people they love and god help anyone who gets in their way. The latter, threatening part of this statement links to the game's final section in which Joel's decision to save Ellie is shown. Rather than simply take Ellie and escape the Fireflies, Joel goes on a murderous rampage killing everyone in the building to ensure they will never try to retake Ellie.
This is directly set up by Bill's words, with Joel eventually proving Bill correct. Joel will kill anyone he has to in order to protect Ellie, including the Fireflies who are simply trying to save mankind from the Cordyceps infection. This also links to Joel's actions when Ellie is taken by David's crew. Joel is shown torturing men from the group - which will include The Last of Us' Troy Baker - in order to find Ellie's location before going to retrieve her again killing anyone in his way. While this is more justified due to the evil nature of David's group, it still links to Bill's words.
Lastly, these words from Bill also tie into The Last of Us episode 1 through Marlene. In that episode, Marlene states that she knows what Joel is capable of. This proves how effective and ruthless Joel can be, which Marlene will eventually witness firsthand. At the end of the game, Marlene corners Joel escaping with Ellie. Joel then executes Marlene in cold blood, which both links to what Marlene said about Joel in the very first episode and Bill's threat to anyone who stands in his way in The Last of Us episode 3's ending.
New episodes of The Last of Us release every Sunday on HBO.