The TVLine Performers of the Week: Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman
THE PERFORMERS | Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman
THE SHOW | HBO’s The Last of Us
THE EPISODE | “Long, Long Time” (Jan. 29, 2023)
THE PERFORMANCES | It’s been almost a week since HBO’s post-apocalyptic drama ruined us with some strawberries and a Linda Ronstadt tune. In what was (so far) the show’s biggest digression from the video game on which it’s based, Offerman’s Bill and Bartlett’s Frank — both tangential characters in the game — took center stage and, via a pair of stunningly beautiful performances, broke our hearts.
Let’s first consider Offerman, whose turn as the gruff-yet-sensitive survivalist was a revelation. Seven seasons of Parks and Recreation taught us that the man certainly knows his way around a punchline. But we were unprepared for how well he’d convey Bill’s insecurity as a gay man who’d never been in a relationship until one literally fell into his path. That interlude that started at the piano, as Frank’s kindness and affection quickly dismantled Bill’s defenses, was stunning thanks to the vulnerability Offerman conveyed through his taciturn character’s tentative gestures: his impulse to stand as the pair kissed, his tentative stroking of Frank’s shoulder when they were later in bed.
Meanwhile Bartlett’s easy openness provided a magnificent counterpoint as Frank and Bill navigated their 16-year relationship. The culmination, of course, came as the characters sat in the parlor and Frank laid out his perfect last day. Bartlett’s eyes were wet but his voice was steady: This, his every gesture communicated, was a man who knew what he wanted and was determined — happy, even — to leave the world on his own terms. As Bill struggled mightily, Offerman looking like he was in physical pain from the onslaught of grief, Bartlett’s gentle reassurances and undemanding tone steered the scene to its eventual outcome: a place of true love and partnership.
Offerman and Bartlett, hand-in-hand with The Last of Us’ creative team, produced one of the finest episodes of television ever made. What a privilege that we all got to share in it.
HONORABLE MENTION | As Criminal Minds: Evolution set the stage for next week’s finale, we saw Rossi in positions of great strength… and heartbreaking weakness. And it all added up to a great showcase for Joe Mantegna. The cold open, which flashed back to Krystall’s funeral (where a bereft Dave was unable to watch his wife’s coffin enter the ground), was the first sign that we were getting something special. Then as the hunt for Sicarius continued, Mantegna gave us Rossi at his finest, using every trick in his books to coax Elias Voit’s wife to see the dark truth about his work trips. And when Sicarius himself appeared at Rossi’s desk? The game was truly on. Alas, Dave’s age would later betray him, when he walked into a trap set by Elias and wound up imprisoned in a bunker, leaving the BAU to hear his plaintive wails on a livestream.
HONORABLE MENTION | Poker Face‘s scheming seniors Joyce and Irene might be in a retirement home, but they can still pack a punch. Esteemed TV veterans Judith Light and S. Epatha Merkerson — who have a trophy room full of acting awards between them — made a killer duo this week as Joyce and Irene, a pair of rebellious former hippies who quickly befriend Charlie by sharing their weed stash. Light and Merkerson had a vigorous, defiant energy together as the longtime pals gleefully made mischief, and they chilled our blood, too, when we learned they were very capable of murdering anyone who stood in the way of their revolution. They even mixed it up with Charlie in a hilariously brutal fistfight after Charlie discovered their crimes. Poker Face is a terrific showcase for one-off guest stars, and Light and Merkerson proved they still have more than a few tricks left up their sleeves.
Which performance(s) knocked your socks off this week? Tell us in Comments!
Get Emmys polished for both Offerman and Bartlett! That episode was some of the best TV ever! Superb acting and writing! Worth a second and perhaps a third viewing!
Yeah, the only snag is that ultimately they can’t both win the award.
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But here on TVLine, they can, and totally deserve it.
No… just no. That episode is the definition of bad film making for soooooo many reasons. And gay romance isn’t one of them.
Wow, you must be a blast at parties. Keep your hate-mongering off this site.
Thankful for every second The Last of Us spent on showcasing the tender, loving and emotional relationship between Bill and Frank. I’ve never been anywhere near a video game nor will I watch other episodes of this series. Reviews and word of mouth enticed me to watch Episode 3 and I’ll be forever grateful that I experienced such beauty and devotion portrayed onscreen. Bartlett was stellar per the norm but Nick Offerman was an absolute revelation! Thus, their performances are now enshrined in TV history and most deservedly so.
You ONLY say this because it way a gay romance. If this was a straight romance played out in the EXACT same way, you wouldn’t have batted an eye
Homophobe much? If you are hung up on the sexual orientation of the characters, maybe try to watch it without hyper focusing. Everyone else did. An exquisite episode with MANY themes
LOL, two posts in 3 minutes bemoaning the same-sex storyline. I guess we’ve identified TV Line’s gay panic candidate.
I would like to nominate Jim Parsons and Ben Aldridge (with a nod to Sally Field) for their outstanding performances in Spoiler Alert. I was immersed in Michael Ausiello’s {how do you pronounce that?} personal story from start to finish. They did well in their roles of this so beautiful a story. And thank you, Michael, for letting us in to this beautiful relationship!
Awe-see-ello
I think this would be for next week. A touching film. Always a fan of Parsons, but I thought Aldridge shone. ‘The hero’ came through on film
I’m not sure that initially-cinematic releases qualify for these sadly… Hoping I’m wrong, they were both great!
Yes about Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett!! One of the best episodes I have ever seen of a show on TV. I’m just sad we can’t see more of them in The Last Of Us. And come Emmy time, I wish they both could win.
I wish Bartlett and Offerman could win every award. That was an amazing episode of TV.
TLOU ep 3 was so beautiful. It really was. Made me think of my purpose and it is my family, my wife, my fur kids. It’s not trivial. Love is all that matters in this world. That’s it. With love, everything is survivable.
Really enjoying Poker Face, every episode. I’m rewatching the BBQ one. TLOU is also excellent.
Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett were, without doubt, absolute perfection.
*gasp* said nobody. So very well deserved!!
This episode was awards bait and tvline fell for it. Never even happened in the video game.
Ya think? The producer mentioned that
“Never even happened in the video game.”
In most cases, adaptations are “BASED ON” source material, as in the material is used as some degree of a basis, not as means for full duplication without the potential for any degree of liberties to be taken. You’re not new to that concept.
I’ve always been ambivalent about love stories in “Zombie” shows.
This one was just great.
Touching, real.
I doubt I will see something like that anytime soon again.
Isnt that sweet they are holding hands. 😂
Definitely a well-deserved POTW for Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett. The question is: which one will get the Emmy come awards season?
That episode was the epitome of bad film making. An 1+ hour episode that added absolutely nothing to plot. It did nothing, in any way, for the story. It almost might as well been been a completely different series if Joel and Ellie weren’t in it for 7 minutes. Then the one time they do have to fight back outsiders, you’re gonna tell me that this expert survivalist is gonna run in the middle of a street with absolutely no cover to poorly fight off intruders and stupidly get himself shot? This episode was 100% a check box for the people who are behind the show. I couldn’t care less if something I watch has a gay romance. But this was 100% used to say “look! We’re diverse!”. And the spent an hour telling you that while completely abandoning the plot.
Well Joe did get all the weapons, a truck and a boat. So there’s that.
“I couldn’t care less if something I watch has a gay romance. ”
Your assumption based response to Paula Annette , strongly suggests otherwise. It’s ok to admit it.
100% disagree. As someone who hasn’t played the video game (which i shouldn’t have to have done to enjoy a TV show ‘based on’ it) it build the world for me in a really helpful way beyond the main characters. I understand the world as it evolved in the intervening years between the outbreak and current day so much more now, because we broke out of the confines of perspective. (obviously this is in addition to an absolutely beautiful performance). How boring would a show be if all we were allowed to do were to see Joel and Ellie’s journey? In fact, episode 1 wasn’t about that, but I don’t see any protest about that ep?
I called it on last week’s POTW with Anna Torv! Not that we’re at all surprised.