The third installment of HBO’s adaptation of post-apocalyptic play The last of us took viewers on a chance journey. In what was one of the greatest TV installments ever, creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann and director Peter Hoar transformed the game’s bleak post-apocalyptic world into something grippingly beautiful. Powered by the exceptional duo of Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman, the episode deviated from the game’s storyline and delivered a touching masterclass in love and satisfaction.
Named after a 1970s song by Linda Ronstadt, the episode “Long, Long Time” showed how a paranoid survivalist loner Bill found unexpected love and purpose in the form of Frank, played brilliantly by Murray Bartlett (of The White Lotus fame). One of the many things that stood out was Nick Offerman’s apt role as Bill. Fans of the show and game were delighted to see Offerman play Bill, drawing comparisons to his other iconic character Ron Swanson. The personal philosophies of the two characters and their belief systems reveal much about the American political landscape.
“I’m not Ron Swanson” or Bill
Ron Swanson is a character from the popular sitcom Parks and recreation. He is portrayed as a staunch libertarian who highly values his privacy and independence. Ron is the director of the Parks and Recreation Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, but he harbors a deep disdain for government bureaucracy and actively works to minimize the government’s role in the lives of the townspeople. Ron is a man of few words and his gruff, no-nonsense demeanor often intimidates his colleagues and subordinates. He is an avid outdoorsman, a skilled craftsman with a passion for woodworking, hunting and eating meat.
Despite his tough exterior, Ron has a soft spot for his friends and family, and his devotion to his loved ones is a recurring theme throughout the series. Likewise, Bill is introduced as a hot-tempered individualist, with strong libertarian principles, who builds himself a lasting fortress and navigates the apocalypse just fine, until he meets Frank.
Offerman sets the record straight
Offerman’s personal politics are diametrically opposed to his characters; even the actor came up with a song titled I’m not Ron Swanson. He explained, “It’s a bit complicated because people want to confuse me with Ron Swanson’s politics. He’s a staunch libertarian and I’m interested in everyone having health care or living wages.”
“When I took a closer look at social media, there were angry fans saying, ‘I took my gun to your comedy show and it turns out you’re a total snowflake,'” the vocal Democrat added.
During a recent interview with Jimmy KimmelOfferman discussed his thoughts on how he would fare compared to Ron Swanson and Bill in a real life apocalypse situation.
“I would do well. Bill, I think, would do best, Ron Swanson would do second best. Ron and I both live in the world, you know, and we have relationships, and that makes you soft. While Bill doesn’t have any relationships, so he’s a physicist, he’s an engineer, he’s an inventor.”
Flag of Gadsden and the changing meaning of symbols
Bill and Ron’s personal politics can be linked to the Gadsden flag that was seen in both shows, advocated by Offerman’s two characters. Designed by the politician Christopher Gadsden in 1775, the flag is considered the “most popular symbol of the American Revolution.” It features a rattlesnake coiled up and ready to attack on a yellow background with the words “DON’T TREAD ON ME” written below in all caps. The flag’s origins and use of rattlesnake can be traced back to Benjamin Franklin’s iconic 1754 cartoon “Join, or Die,” which was also featured in Bill’s home. Both designs symbolized unity among the 13 colonies and anti-British sentiment during the American Revolution.
The design of Gadsden’s flag communicates a bold message of vigilance and a willingness to take action against coercion, which has associated it with the values of individualism and freedom. This connection led to its adoption as a symbol for right-wing libertarianism, classical liberalism, and small government in the United States. In the 1970s, the Gadsden flag was used by libertarians, who used it as a symbol for individual rights and limited government. The flag’s prominent yellow color is also strongly associated with libertarianism.
In recent decades, the flag has also been used to express distrust or opposition to the government and authorities. Similar to how the Nazis obscured the Swastika symbol (used for centuries to signify prosperity and good fortune in Hinduism and Buddhism), the Gadsden flag has also been appropriated for right-wing populism or far-right ideology in recent decades; something neither Bill nor Ron advocated. From its intended connotations of patriotism to the more recent anti-government protests, anti-tax movements, pro-gun rallies, white supremacist groups, and the 2021 Capitol riots, the Gadsden flag has been co-opted across the spectrum. The flag has even been used by the US Marine Corps, the US Navy, the US National Soccer team, and a Major League Soccer franchise. An entire argument could be written about the changing symbolism of the Gadsden flag.
But at the root of everything is the dichotomy of morality and beliefs. Offerman’s Bill and Ron Swanson offer a fascinating insight into the intersectionality of American politics. To further that, the sixth installment of The last of us digs not so subtly into the shortcomings of late capitalism and presents communism as a better model for society. When governments lie or withhold information and supplies from the public, it undermines the trust people have in their institutions and can erode democracy, as we see happening in The last of us once the pandemic starts. Bill survives by questioning authority and adapting to changing government operations, while also changing his value system thanks to Frank.
While distrusting the government is not necessarily a general recommendation, a healthy skepticism towards those in power is essential to holding them accountable and ensuring transparency in their actions.