The latest episode of The Last of Us has a near-perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes

Critics are praising the third episode of The Last of Us for giving us a soft, sad, beautiful and memorable side story to a zombie apocalypse narrative.

'Long Long Time' takes a little detour from the video game's narrative to explore two characters and their incredible romance.

While it starts out a little frosty between Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), they form a bond that lasts for two decades and we get to go on a ride with them.

The episode finishes with a devastating yet touching conclusion for the two lovebirds and people were absolutely bawling their eyes out.

The episode has been so well received that, as of writing, it's currently rated at 96 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.

The review website's critical consensus says Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett give beautiful performances and allows us to see another side to The Last of Us universe.

Alan Sepinwill from Rolling Stone said about the episode: "This is the most convincing argument yet that The Last of Us is a show about humans first, and gory creatures a very, very distant second. And this was a wonderfully powerful, achingly human story."

Slate's Victoria Rovio added: "Although the episode is a masterpiece in its own right, what makes it brilliant as an adaptation is how it plays into the context of the larger show."

Critics said it managed to provide a small reprieve from the terrifying clickers and fungal infection spreading across the United States.

'Long Long Time' also got a huge shoutout from Mike Flanagan, who is most notable for Midnight Mass, Haunting of Hill House, Fall of the House of Usher, and Doctor Sleep.

He wrote on Twitter: "Tonight’s episode of #TheLastOfUsHBO is one of the best episodes of television I’ve ever seen."

Nick Offerman says he got emotional seeing that final scene in the episode and believes it was done perfectly.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor said: "It says to me that these two scrappy humans found each other, found love and cultivated their garden in all these different ways.

"They they did just enough so that they provided some hope for humanity without evening knowing it.

"He couldn’t have known about Ellie, but together they achieved a victory that’s going to allow us to get to episode four."

Murray Bartlett added: "It’s incredibly romantic, but it never veers into a sugary over-the-top romance.

"That final moment allows you to remember all the things you’ve seen of this relationship, rather than confining it to a final image of these people.

"It’s a testament to the beautiful writing and crafting of this show that it gives space for this which makes it even more powerful."