The Last of Us Season 2 Finale Had 3.7 Million Viewers in the U.S., a Figure HBO Insists 'Will Grow Significantly Due to Low Viewing Levels Over the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend'

HBO has celebrated the success of The Last of Us Season 2, announcing that an "influx" of viewers has propelled the series' global audience past 90 million since the conclusion of Season 1.

In the United States, the Season 2 finale attracted 3.7 million viewers across various platforms. Comparatively, the premiere episode of Season 2 drew in 5.3 million viewers, indicating a decline in viewership from the season's start to its end. However, Warner Bros. remains optimistic, anticipating a "significant" increase in the finale's audience due to the lower viewership during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

It's important to note that the Season 1 finale achieved a record-breaking 8.2 million viewers, a benchmark that the Season 2 finale has yet to surpass.

On a positive note, Season 2 boasts a higher average viewership per episode than Season 1, currently averaging nearly 37 million viewers worldwide per episode. Warner Bros. has reported that this figure 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 The Last of Us Season 2 finale gave it a score of 6/10. Our review stated, "The Season 2 finale of The Last of Us reaches its agonizing cliffhanger ending at a breakneck speed, disorienting as much as it thrills."

For those seeking deeper insights, IGN has published The Last of Us Season 2 Ending Explained, exploring how the finale sets the stage for 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 garnered eight Emmy awards from its 24 nominations.

Every IGN The Last of Us Review

View 17 ImagesLast week, showrunner Craig Mazin suggested that a fourth season is likely necessary to fully tell The Last of Us story from the two Naughty Dog-developed video games. Speaking to Collider, Mazin explained that wrapping up the narrative in Season 3 would be too lengthy, stating, "Season 3 itself 'would take forever.'" He added that while there's a "decent chance" Season 3 will be longer than Season 2, "there’s no way to complete this narrative in a third season."

He continued: "Hopefully, we’ll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth. That’s the most likely outcome."

What would you have scored the whole of *The Last of Us* Season 2 out of 10? --------------------------------------------------------------------------

1098765 or lower

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