“And I Think I’m Gonna Love You for a Long, Long Time”: Bill, Frank, and Fan Reaction to HBO’s The Last of Us

This article critically examines fan reaction to queer representation in the third episode of HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us, which focuses on the relationship of two minor game characters, Bill and Frank. In doing so it shifts the genre from action-centered gameplay to romance. Based on discourse analysis of Reddit posts, I contend that pleasures and displeasures are tied up with but cannot be reduced to progressive and reactionary politics. The fandom is best described as liberal-progressive, with the majority of participants praising the episode and criticizing homophobic responses. The minority who did not like the episode did not engage in toxic behavior, focusing instead on a lack of canonical fidelity, primarily in relation to the romantic storyline. Both enthusiasts and detractors mobilized a discourse of quality to devalue or shore up the romance and in doing so erased the specificity of gay sexuality and experience.