The third episode of The Last of US - HBO's new zombie apocalypse TV series based on a video game - is being hailed as one of the best TV episodes of all time. Airing in the UK on Sky Atlantic and streaming on Now, it told the beautiful love story of two survivors - Nick Offerman as Bill and Murray Bartlett as Frank.
The series, based on the multi-award-winning PlayStation videogame, is set in a world ravaged by a fungal cordyceps parasite that turns the infected into violent monsters. It features Pedro Pascal as Joel who finds himself responsible for the care of 14-year-old Ellie, played by Bella Ramsay.
However, episode three focused on two other minor characters - and told their heartbreaking story in full. Viewers were introduced to 'prepper' Bill in 2003, just a few days after the outbreak. Four years later, he meets Frank - and then the episode shows them fall in love and live out their lives, for the next two decades, in post-apocalyptic Massachusetts.
A bravura piece of story-telling, it managed to make viewers fall in love with two minor characters in an hour of spellbinding television. TV critics were blown away, with the Guardian hailing it as "absolutely magical television" and the "single best episode of TV that will be broadcast all year".
And viewers have gone one step further, heralding it as one of the greatest television episodes of all time. @silvainbuche tweeted: "If you are not watching Last of US (HBO) hunt it down it is fantastic.
"Episode 3 is, in my mind, one of the best, if not the best, TV show ever made. Allowed itself to go on a total tangent and brought so much heart."
@baggieal wrote: "I’ve avoided Twitter all day as didn’t want Last Of Us spoilers. Heard it was a stupidly amazing episode even though it was the first to differ from the game but my god that was something else.
"That was one of the best episodes of tv I’ve ever watched. Simply hauntingly beautiful.
"The story it told was just 'chefs kiss'. And next weeks episode looks like it’s one of my favourite parts of the original game. I know im biased due to being a big LOU fan, but this show is smashing every expectation I had for it so far. Simply perfect."
Harvey Dench tweeted: "Could be the best hour of tv I’ve ever watched Last Of Us. Nick Offerman is absolutely amazing as bill."
@katiebabs tweeted: "Eps 3 Last Of Us is one of the best episodes of any show HBO has produced. Loneliness, pain, suffering, love on top of love, and above all beautiful consuming soulmate love."
@DMOfDiceAndThem said: "This week's Last Of Us episode is one of the best pieces of television I've ever seen."
@CaffeinatedinAZ wrote: "Last of US episode 3 is one of the best episodes of television I've ever seen. Unexpected, beautifully written and acted. Just all the possible stars.
Tom Inman tweeted: "That has absolutely floored me. One of the best episodes of television I’ve ever seen."
@CameronEvans27 commented: "That was one of the best eps of TV EVER. "
- Have you watched The Last Of Us? Let us know what you think of it in our comments section.
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