I would watch an entire show about The Last of Us’ grumpy old couple
The sixth episode of HBO’s The Last of Usopens in the dead of winter, with bright white snow offering a change of scenery for the otherwise bleak and drab apocalypse the show depicts. But that’s not all that’s new — we’re introduced to a delightful couple in that snowy setting, who steal the episode with their surly charm.
The couple, played by acting luminaries Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves) and Elaine Miles (Northern Exposure), only show up for about five minutes, but they more than make the most of it. Their chemistry as the couple Marlon and Florence is off the charts, and the ease with which they joke with each other (and Joel and Ellie, unwanted visitors to their snowy cabin) is an absolute delight.
Joel and Ellie have stumbled upon their cabin on their way to Wyoming and are looking for directions to reach Joel’s brother. When Marlon enters the cabin, fresh off a successful rabbit hunt, Florence silently lets him know they’re not alone, giving him a look clearly informed by their years being together. Moments like that and shared chuckles at Ellie’s teenage energy speak more than words, and successfully fill in their years of being together for the viewer.
The jokes keep coming, too, relying on their specific relationship and the ways in which they needle each other to bring a much-needed level of human connection to the show. Upon seeing Joel, Marlon asks Florence why she didn’t shoot him. Continuing to rock in her rocking chair, she deadpans, “The gun’s all the way over there. He didn’t hurt me, by the way.” Marlon says, “Yeah, I got eyes.”
Later, Joel congratulates Marlon on finding a great place to hide out during the apocalypse, but Marlon says they’ve been here since “before you were born, sonny. Get the
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