The Last of Us Ending Song
The Last of Us Ending Song

The Last of Us Ending Song: Who Are Bill & Frank on the Other End of the Radio?

The Last of Us Ending Song: Many viewers were riveted by the ominous ending music when The Last of Us’ highly anticipated first episode debuted on television. The HBO Max series is a grim, post-apocalyptic tale that takes place 20 years after the collapse of contemporary civilization and was adapted from the video game of the same name.

Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Tess (Anna Torv), two smugglers, are followed as they set out on a mission to convey some unique cargo, a 14-year-old girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey). The last song in the first episode, more than just a depressing collection of tunes, alludes to the challenging journey that Joel, Ellie, and Tess will soon undertake.

The Last of Us Ending Song

Never Let Me Down Again by Depeche Mode plays over the first episode’s closing titles. The song debuted in 1987 and is the opening tune on the album Music For The Masses.

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The camera turns to a shot of Joel’s apartment, where the song is playing on the radio, as Tess, Joel, and Ellie almost escape the quarantine zone in Boston. The music then resumes as the credits start to roll.

The Meaning Behind the Ending Song

Ellie was previously seen looking around Joel’s apartment in the first episode. The Billboard Book Of Number One Hits is a book she discovers that exists. The book has a slip of paper with codes written on it that is more than simply a sentimental item.

The Last of Us Ending Song
The Last of Us Ending Song

The letters “B/F” are placed above the numbers 60, 70, and 8 in the code. When Ellie realizes the note contains more than just scribbles, she presses Joel for information on Bill and Frank as well as the significance of the code.

Fans of the video game will not be surprised to learn that the note depicts the smuggler’s code used by characters like Joel and Tess to communicate and gather information. The smugglers can comprehend the message every time music from a particular era is broadcast on the radio.

A separate musical era, from the 1960s through the 1980s, is represented by each number. The number 60 denotes the absence of stock, the number 70 symbolizes the availability of new stock, and a large red X characterizes the definition of 8. It is safe to believe that this cannot indicate anything positive and is most likely a warning of danger.

There is no doubt that the smugglers, along with Bill and Fran, are about to encounter difficulty given that the closing song in the first episode of The Last Of Us is from the 1980s.

Why Never Let Me Down Again Is Bad for Joel

In the scene immediately following Joel’s awakening, Ellie gets him into disclosing what an 80s song signifies, setting up why the music is terrible news for Joel. Joel learns from Ellie that the radio is on while he sleeps. Ellie responds with “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” a song by Wham! Released in 1984 when he asked what music was playing.

Ellie surmises that an 80s song on the radio indicates Bill and Frank, on the other end, have run into some trouble as Joel responds poorly to this. The “Never Let Me Down Again” performance is poor. The song was released in 1987. Therefore Frank and Bill, portrayed by Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman respectively, are in peril.

Joel and Tess mention going to Bill and Frank to stock up on supplies for their search for Tommy just before Ellie learns about the radio or its code. He will probably run into the same danger that Joel and Tess were trying to warn the Fireflies about as they intend to go to Bill and Frank’s after giving Ellie to them.

Who Are Bill & Frank on the Other End of the Radio?

The identity of Bill and Frank is so raised. They are Tess and Joel’s business partners, as shown in The Last of Us episode 1. It is enough to infer that they are also smugglers of some sort from Joel’s desire to go to the pair’s residence in search of supplies and the code informing Joel whether Frank and Bill – who can correct a mistake in the game’s LGBTQ portrayal – have new collections.

According to the game, Bill and Frank, who resides in a town outside of Boston, frequently trade automobiles, weapons, or ammo with Joel and Tess in exchange for anything they have to offer. Joel and Ellie visit the town in the game, but only Bill is present. After being bitten by the infected, Frank hanged himself before Joel, Ellie, and Bill discovered his body.

Other than this, Frank does not appear in the game; however, HBO’s The Last of Us aims to change this. The Last of Us teaser features a shot of Frank, and the first episode makes it evident that Joel believes Bill and Frank are still together. The two will play a significant role in upcoming episodes of The Last of Us, as hinted at by their caution regarding Joel, Tess, and Ellie’s outdoor expedition.

Final Words

The episode ended with one long dolly shot, showing a radio in Joel and Tess’ empty apartment in the Boston Quarantine Zone (QZ) playing Depeche Mode’s 1987’s track “Never Let Me Down Again” from the English group’s album Music for the Masses. Check out our Leedaily.com for more information about what’s on this week.

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At Leedaily.com, Benjamin Johnson writes content as a senior writer. Along with the most recent news, he covers many different topics. He is the ideal candidate for our entertainment category because he enjoys watching television shows a lot and sometimes also write the latest news.