Just when it seemed that HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 was already struggling with audience reception, another issue has emerged, making things worse for the Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey starrer.
Despite critical acclaim, Season 2 has faced a highly polarised reaction from viewers. A large section of the audience believes the show has taken substantial deviations from its source material—Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II video game—and hasn’t remained faithful to it. Another point of contention is the growing criticism directed at Bella Ramsey, with many arguing she doesn’t resemble the video game’s version of Ellie.
As a result, these factors have severely impacted viewership for the Season 2 finale.
The finale of The Last of Us Season 2 drew significantly fewer viewers than that of Season 1. Only 3.7 million tuned in across all platforms, a 55% drop from Season 1’s finale, which garnered 8.2 million. This decline is notable, especially considering that the Season 2 premiere had a higher initial viewership of 5.3 million.
HBO attributes the lower finale numbers to the holiday weekend and anticipates future growth. The network also highlights the franchise’s broader success, citing 90 million total viewers since Season 1 concluded and nearly 37 million global viewers per episode for Season 2. The show has already been renewed for a third season.
Still, the viewership drop can’t be entirely dismissed without considering the issues mentioned earlier in this article.
Another major factor contributing to the decline was the controversial decision to kill off protagonist Joel (played by Pedro Pascal) in Episode 2, shifting the focus to Ellie (Bella Ramsey).
While this plot development mirrors the original video game and reinforces its themes of grief and revenge, it has been difficult for some viewers, particularly those unfamiliar with the game, who had grown attached to Joel’s character. Season 3 is expected to introduce another major shift, with Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby taking on a central role.
Co-showrunner Craig Mazin has already revealed plans for a fourth season to properly conclude The Last of Us. However, it will be a while before Season 4 arrives, making it crucial for the creators and HBO to maintain strong viewership and excitement for the series in the meantime. Stay tuned for more updates.