The Last Of Us Episode 3 Review - 8 Ups & 0 Downs

5. Love Through Actions, Not Words

My favourite detail of the bunch -- one that deserved its own entry, even -- is how Bill alters the way he angles Frank's plate while serving dinner.

In their first scene as strangers, Frank actually corrects Bill’s angle to one he prefers. In their final dinner, Bill gets it right. All of these touches remind me of a quote from Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H Mart and, if you’ll let me, I’m gonna get a bit soppy. The quote goes like this:

“That was how my mother loved you, not through white lies and constant verbal affirmation, but in subtle observations of what brought you joy, pocketed away to make you feel comforted and cared for without even realizing it.”

That quote sums up the importance and significance of all these details. They ultimately make the relationship feel real, and convey love more potently than a grand TV speech ever could. Big ups for this kind of storytelling