HBO has celebrated the success of The Last of Us Season 2, announcing that the series has attracted over 90 million viewers worldwide since the conclusion of Season 1. This "influx" of new viewers highlights the show's growing global popularity.
In the U.S., the Season 2 finale drew 3.7 million viewers across various platforms. The premiere episode of Season 2, on the other hand, attracted 5.3 million viewers, indicating a slight decline in viewership from the start to the end of the season. However, Warner Bros. remains optimistic, expecting the finale's audience to grow "significantly" due to lower viewing levels during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
It's worth noting that the Season 1 finale set a benchmark with 8.2 million viewers, a figure that the Season 2 finale has yet to surpass.
Despite this, Season 2 boasts a higher average viewership per episode than its predecessor. Currently, Season 2 averages nearly 37 million viewers worldwide per episode, a number that Warner Bros. reports is "growing." For comparison, Season 1 ended with 32 million U.S. cross-platform viewers 90 days after its premiere.
IGN's review of the Season 2 finale gave it a 6/10, stating, "The Season 2 finale of The Last of Us reaches its agonizing cliffhanger ending at a breakneck speed, disorienting as much as it thrills." Additionally, IGN has provided an in-depth analysis in The Last of Us Season 2 Ending Explained, exploring how the finale sets up Season 3.
The Last of Us premiered in January 2023 to widespread acclaim, often cited as the best video game adaptation to date. Season 1 was a critical and awards darling, securing eight Emmy awards out of 24 nominations.
Every IGN The Last of Us Review
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In a recent interview with Collider, showrunner Craig Mazin discussed the future of the series, indicating that a fourth season is likely necessary to fully adapt the story from the two Naughty Dog-developed video games. Mazin explained that wrapping up the narrative in Season 3 would make it "take forever," suggesting that Season 3 might be longer than Season 2. He concluded, "Hopefully, we’ll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth. That’s the most likely outcome."
