The Last of Us Director on Why He Decided Not to Show Bill & Frank's Bodies

Emmy-nominated director Peter Hoar opened up about directing the epic episode.

The Last of Us was one of the best shows of the past year, and the episode “Long, Long Time” was among its best episodes. Now, out director Peter Hoar is opening up about what went into directing it.

In “Long, Long Time,” Emmy nominees Nick Offerman (Bill) and Murray Bartlett (Frank) guest starred as two survivors of the zombie apocalypse who meet each other and slowly fall in love. It was praised as one of the best TV episodes in years and a groundbreaking gay romance.

Hoar, who has now been nominated for an Emmy for his direction on the episode, talked to Deadline about the love story between the two main characters, and the decision to not show their dead bodies.

“I didn’t certainly set out to tell a story that would make the world cry uncontrollably,” he told Deadline about the episode. “But I did.”

He even said that at times, he tried to give notes to the actors to cry less, but the story demanded otherwise.

“I said, maybe this is the scene where we don’t cry,” he said of a note he gave Bartlett in one scene between his character and Bill. “It was impossible because Bill was so passionate and in the moment saying to his love Frank, that he was his purpose. And Murray was like, ‘I can’t do it. Look at him, I can’t do it. He’s just so beautiful and human. I just can’t hold it in.’”

Hoar, who has now been nominated for an Emmy for his direction on the episode, talked to Deadline about the love story between the two main characters, and the decision to not show their dead bodies.

“I didn’t certainly set out to tell a story that would make the world cry uncontrollably,” he told Deadline about the episode. “But I did.”

He even said that at times, he tried to give notes to the actors to cry less, but the story demanded otherwise.

“I said, maybe this is the scene where we don’t cry,” he said of a note he gave Bartlett in one scene between his character and Bill. “It was impossible because Bill was so passionate and in the moment saying to his love Frank, that he was his purpose. And Murray was like, ‘I can’t do it. Look at him, I can’t do it. He’s just so beautiful and human. I just can’t hold it in.’”