The third episode of HBO’s adaptation of post-apocalyptic gameThe Last of Ustook viewers on a serendipitous journey. In what was one of the best TV episodes ever, creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann and director Peter Hoar took the bleak post-apocalyptic world of the game andturned it into something poignantly beautiful. Powered by the exceptional duo of Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman, the episode departed from the game’s storyline and delivered a moving masterclass in love and fulfillment.
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, brilliantly played by Murray Bartlett (ofThe White Lotusfame). One of the many things that stood out wasNick Offerman’s apt casting as Bill. Fans of the show and the game were delighted to see Offerman play Bill and drew comparisons with his other iconic character Ron Swanson. The personal philosophies of the two characters and their belief systems unpack a lot about the American political landscape.
“I’m Not Ron Swanson” or Bill
Ron Swanson is a character from the popular sitcomParks and Recreation. He is portrayed as a staunch libertarian who deeply 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 role of government 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 meat-eating.
Despite his tough exterior, Ron has a soft spot for his friends and family, andhis devotion to his loved onesis a recurring theme throughout the series. Similarly, Bill is introduced as an irascible individualist, with strong libertarian principles, who builds a sustainable fortress for himself and gets down to navigating the apocalypse just fine, till he meets Frank.
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Offerman Sets the Record Straight
Offerman’s personal politics are quite opposite to his characters; the actor evencame up with a songtitledI’m Not Ron Swanson. He explained, “It’s a little complicated because people want to conflate me with Ron Swanson’s politics. He’s a staunch libertarian, and I’m interested in everybody having healthcare or being paid a living wage.”
“When I used to look at social media more closely, there would be angry fans saying, ‘I brought my shotgun to your comedy show, and it turns out you’re a total snowflake,'” added the vocal Democrat.
During a recent interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Offerman discussed his thoughts on how he would fare compared to Ron Swanson and Bill in a real-life apocalypse situation.
“I would do OK. Bill, I think, would do the best, Ron Swanson would do the second best. Ron and I both live in the world, you know, and we have relationships, and that makes you soft. Whereas Bill doesn’t have relationships, so he’s a physicist, he’s an engineer, he’s an inventor.”
Gadsden Flag and the Changing Meanings of Symbols
The personal politics of Bill and Ron can be tied down to theGadsden flagthat 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 and ready to attack on a yellow background with the words “DON’T TREAD ON ME” written underneath it in all caps. The flag’s origin as well as the usage of rattlesnake can be traced to Benjamin Franklin’s 1754 iconic cartoon ‘Join, or Die’, which was also visible in Bill’s house. Both these designs symbolized the unity among the 13 colonies and the anti-British sentiment during the American Revolution.
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The Gadsden flag’s design communicates a bold message of vigilance and a readiness to take action against coercion, which has associated it with the values of individualism and liberty. This connection has resulted in its adoption as a symbol for right-libertarianism, classical liberalism, and small government in the United States. In the 1970s, the Gadsden flag started being used by libertarians, using it as a symbol representing individual rights and limited government. The flag’s prominent yellow color is also strongly associated with libertarianism.
Over the decades, the flag has also been used to express distrust or defiance towards government and authorities. Similar to how the Nazis misappropriated the Swastika symbol (used to denote prosperity and good luck in Hinduism and Buddhism for centuries), the Gadsden flag has also been, in recent decades, appropriated for right-wing populism or far-right ideology; something that wasn’t advocated by either Bill or Ron. From the intended connotations of patriotism to the more recent anti-government protests, anti-tax movement, pro-gun rallies, white supremacist groups, and the 2021 Capitol riots, the Gadsden flag has been co-opted by the entire spectrum. The flag has even been used by the US Marine Corps, the US Navy, the US men’s national soccer team and a Major League Soccer franchise. An entire discourse can be written on the changing symbolism of the Gadsden flag.
But at the root of everything lies 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 episode ofThe Last of Ustakes a not-so-subtle dig at the failings of late-stage capitalism, posing communism as a better model for society. When governments lie or withhold information and necessities from the public, it undermines the trust people have in their institutions and can erode democracy as we see happening inThe Last of Usas soon as the pandemic starts setting in. Bill survives by questioning authority and adapting to changing government operations, while also changing his value system because of Frank.
While distrusting the government is not necessarily a blanket recommendation, a healthy skepticism towards those in power is essential to hold them accountable and ensure transparency in their actions.
