Viewership of HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 Finale plunges over 50% amid fan backlash, slow pacing, and missing characters. Can season 3 save it?
The surprising change in how well HBO’s The Last of Us is doing is that the Season 2 finale got a lot fewer viewers than the dramatic finish of the first season. A thorough report by TheWrap states that only 3.7 million people watched the Season 2 finale on its first night across all platforms. That’s significantly different from the 8.2 million people who watched the Season 1 finale in March 2023, representing a drop of more than 50%.
A lot of people were excited about The Last of Us Season 2, which was previously praised as one of HBO’s best versions. This news has caused a stir in the entertainment world. People said that Season 1 was the best because it had the best mix of staying true to the source material and telling a story like a movie. It became one of HBO’s most-watched shows of the decade. Naturally, there were huge hopes for Season 2.
However, before concluding, it’s essential to consider the broader perspective. In the United States, the Season 2 finale played during a long holiday weekend, which has been shown to lower viewership for cable and streaming shows in the past. HBO has acknowledged this and stated that they are confident the episode’s total audience will increase significantly over the next few days as people watch it later and catch up on episodes on HBO’s digital platform, Max.
HBO also said that Season 2 as a whole is doing very well in general, even though the finale didn’t do as well on its opening night. The network reports that each episode of Season 2 has averaged nearly 37 million viewers worldwide, encompassing both live viewers and those who watched later. This number would be higher than the average number of viewers for each show in Season 1, which was about 32 million across all platforms, according to HBO’s previous reports.
Although these are good long-tail numbers, the sharp drop in the live crowd for the finale does raise concerns about the show’s current creative direction and the level of audience engagement. The first season closely followed the story of the 2013 video game, but Season 2 is based on The Last of Us Part II, the controversial follow-up released in 2020 by Naughty Dog. In the second game, there were tough story choices, a controversial dual-protagonist structure, and significant changes in tone and pace, all of which HBO attempted to adapt in its way.
Fans and reviewers have had different thoughts on it. Many longtime fans of the video game franchise are concerned that the show’s depictions of key characters and changes to the plot differ significantly from the games. People have a lot of problems with Ellie’s character, which some think doesn’t have as much depth and emotional stability as it did in the second game.
Some people think that HBO is planning to extend the Part II story into at least two full seasons, rather than ending it in one, because important characters like Abby Anderson have been absent or have been introduced later than expected.
Neil Druckmann, who is also a showrunner and co-creator of the original game, has stayed true to their vision. Earlier this year, he stated that The Last of Us Part II would be adapted in a “multi-season” format to ensure sufficient emotional buildup and story depth. According to Druckmann, the story of the movie, even though it caused some disagreement, was never meant to be safe. Instead, it was intended to surprise people and defy their expectations. This is something that the show is also trying to do.
It’s also important to note that Season 2’s production schedule was less stable. HBO had to move back shooting schedules because of the 2023 WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike and the SAG-AFTRA strike.
This may have affected the momentum of promotions and audience retention leading up to the season finale and compared to the weekly watercooler chats about the first season’s standout episodes, such as “Long, Long Time” and the penultimate hospital confrontation, the buzz and natural conversation about the second season seemed less viral and culturally dominant.
The small number of shows is another factor that may deter people’s interest. There were nine episodes in Season 1, but only seven in Season 2. The shows were paced more slowly, which some viewers found less intense or emotionally gripping. Several fan forums and reviewers talked about how the season’s pacing was off and how there didn’t seem to be any satisfying endings.
HBO has already approved a third season, despite mixed comments and a drop in viewership. Filming is set to begin in late 2025. This part will probably be about the second half of The Last of Us Part II. It’s possible that Abby will be introduced and her story arc will be explored in more depth. This could either reinvigorate people’s interest in the show or further divide the fans.
Still, with an average of 37 million watchers per episode and a dedicated creative team in charge, The Last of Us is still one of HBO’s most popular shows. It keeps breaking new ground as one of the few great TV shows based on video games, and even though its second season had some problems, it looks like its legacy is far from over.
The way ahead is very important. Season 3 is likely to cover the most controversial and emotional parts of the game’s story, so everyone will be watching HBO to see how they handle the tough decisions and character growth that are coming. The story of Ellie and maybe even Abby is far from over, even if the show gets more live watchers or keeps relying on digital streaming. If people keep following it, that’s the question.
