The Last of Us season 1 was full of great moments, and while season 2 will have a hard time topping Bill and Frank’s episode, the show’s new villain could offer the perfect replacement. When The Last of Us season 1 arrived on HBO, it exceeded many expectations by delivering a faithful, live-action adaptation of one of the most popular video games ever made. Recreating the tense atmosphere and breathtaking visuals alongside Joel and Ellie’s iconic story was no easy task, but the series managed this and more, as episode 3 stunned viewers with Bill and Frank’s heartbreaking story.

Although Bill was alive in the first game, Frank was already dead, making their origin story in HBO’s adaptation a huge surprise. The Last of Us season 1 made a bold decision to tweak the couple’s story, but this resulted in one of the show’s best episodes. This romantic plot provided audiences with a break from the main action and allowed Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman to steal the show. While The Last of Us season 2 may struggle to copy Bill and Frank’s episode, the show’s latest casting gives them a possible alternative.

Isaac Dixon Gives The Last Of Us Season 2 The Perfect Replacement To The Bill & Frank Episode

Isaac’s Backstory Can Provide The Last Of Us With New Content Like Bill & Frank’s Episode Did

The confirmation of Jeffrey Wright returning as Isaac in The Last of Us season 2 gives the show its perfect replacement to Bill and Frank’s episode. Wright voiced Isaac in The Last of Us Part II and despite all the new additions to the cast, Wright will reprise his video game role for season 2. Although Isaac’s character and story couldn’t be more different from Bill and Frank, Wright returning to play The Last of Us’ villain provides the perfect opportunity for the show to repeat season 1’s magic, as the show can explore Isaac’s backstory in a solo episode.

Just like Bill and Frank’s episode, Isaac’s story can showcase things that were never in the game and add extra details to the character, creating a truly original episode in the process. The show will still have to consider Isaac’s role in the show and the game in order to avoid completely rewriting him, but the series can still make some tweaks, as it did with Bill and Frank in season 1. The Last of Us season 2 will likely change some game aspects anyway, and giving audiences more time to explore Isaac’s story would pleasantly surprise fans with brand-new content.

The Last Of Us Season 2 Can Explore Isaac Dixon’s Origins After Jeffrey Wright’s Casting

Jeffrey Wright Is More Than Capable Of Carrying An Entire Episode

Jeffrey Wright’s casting means The Last of Us season 2 has a great opportunity to explore Isaac Dixon’s origin story in detail. Isaac is one of The Last of Us Part II‘s main antagonists and leads the Washington Liberation Front, but the game doesn’t provide too much information on his backstory. The game does explain enough to make him an interesting villain, especially if the player finds some of the notes about him, but his role could have been bigger. Given he is a massive part of Abby’s story, Isaac’s screen time does feel limited, but HBO could change this.

Isaac’s season 2 role will likely be bigger with Wright joining the series, meaning he may get the opportunity to have his own episode. Having an Oscar nominee onboard means The Last of Us season 2 has to utilize Wright and allowing him to have a solo story exploring Isaac’s origins would be perfect for the show’s overall narrative. There are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to Isaac’s background and the WLF’s history, meaning a dedicated episode would fill in these gaps, provide new content, and give Wright the screen time he deserves.

This would also make Abby’s confrontation with Isaac feel more meaningful since the audience would be even more familiar with him. It may also explain some of his motivations and twisted personality traits while elevating his overall involvement in the story. Despite being a great character, Isaac felt underutilized in The Last of Us Part II, especially since someone as talented as Wright voiced him. Therefore, dedicating an episode to his backstory would be a huge moment for season 2, and it would once again provide the series with something different from the games.

Why Bill & Frank’s Episode Worked So Well

Bill & Frank’s Episode Provided The Last Of Us With A Story Not Seen In The Games

Bill and Frank’s episode had many qualities that made it work, but one of its biggest strengths was that it was completely new. While long-term Last of Us fans had seen almost everything that HBO’s series had to offer, Bill and Frank’s story was written specifically for the show. Considering the first game focused on Joel and Ellie’s story, it didn’t have time to explore Bill and Frank’s relationship which made episode 3’s plot a breath of fresh air. Even hardcore fans had no idea what to expect, making Bill and Frank’s Last of Us deaths so much more impactful.

While Bill seemingly survived in the game series, he died alongside Frank in the TV show, which was a gut-wrenching yet poetic twist. It made their relationship feel far more important than the games were able to, yet it avoided significantly altering the main story. Episode 3 worked so well because it was a genuine surprise and focused on the sort of romantic storyline that was absent from the first game, and by giving HBO’s The Last of Us an original narrative that still fits the franchise, Bill and Frank’s episode made it a must-see show.

Isaac’s Origin Story Can Replace The Bill & Frank Episode Despite Their Huge Differences

Isaac Can Give The Last Of Us Season 2 Another Original Episode

Although Issac’s story may be far more sinister, it could still replace Bill and Frank’s story since it serves a similar purpose. Isaac’s ruthless leadership of the WLF couldn’t be any more different from Bill and Frank’s love story, but they can both provide HBO with something different from the game. Bill and Frank’s episode proved to be extremely popular despite the dynamic never being shown in the game and Isaac’s origins can offer season 2 the same thing as it would once again give the show some original content and focus on an underdeveloped part of its source material.

Isaac’s story could break up the action like Bill and Frank did in season 1, while rewarding long-term fans with another original episode. Considering The Last of Us Part II‘s story may be split into two seasons, having an additional episode to help fill the release schedule would be beneficial and Wright deserves the spotlight. Recreating the magic of Bill and Frank’s outing will be a huge challenge for The Last of Us season 2, but with Isaac having plenty of untapped potential, a solo episode would be the show’s best alternative.