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The production for The Last of Us Season 2 has concluded, and it appears that its audience numbers significantly decreased in comparison to the first season. From the start, the second season of The Last of Us faced a challenging path due to various factors. While the game The Last of Us Part 2 received widespread praise from critics and won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2020, it also stirred up controversy among vocal critics who disagreed with some aspects of its storyline. Given the unique narrative structure of Last of Us Part 2, adapting it was always going to be a challenging task. Based on the reviews, online reactions, and viewership numbers, it seems that the second season of the HBO series may not have met expectations as much as Season 1 did.

MAJOR SPOILERS follow for The Last of Us Season 2

Despite some people strongly criticizing The Last of Us Part 2 for diverse reasons, I stand as one who appreciates it immensely. To me, The Last of Us Part 2 ranks among the greatest games ever crafted, offering intense, captivating gameplay and a poignant narrative that grips you from the get-go and continues to hold on long after the end credits have finished rolling. The Last of Us Part 2 left me emotionally drained and remains one of my cherished titles from the past five years. Following HBO’s successful adaptation of the initial Last of Us game, I had high hopes for Season 2 given both Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann’s exceptional work on the source material, and my personal fondness for the original storyline. Overall, I believe The Last of Us Season 2 was well-executed with many remarkable scenes; however, it doesn’t come as a surprise that viewership is decreasing.

According to HBO’s announcement, the Season 2 finale of “The Last of Us” was viewed by 3.7 million people. In comparison, the Season 1 finale attracted 8.2 million viewers, indicating a significant decrease in viewership between seasons. The premiere of Season 2 was watched by 5.3 million people initially, suggesting that the show lost a substantial portion of its audience from the start of the season to the finale. HBO attributes this drop to Memorial Day weekend and expects the viewership for the finale to rise in the following days and weeks. However, it appears uncertain whether Season 2 will regain the popularity achieved by the first season, and I believe there are several plausible explanations for this decline.

Addressing the Ellie in the Room

There’s been a lot of unfortunate online discussion about Bella Ramsey’s role as Ellie in the series, with some questioning if she was the right choice for the part. Personally, I believe Ramsey delivers a strong performance, but in Season 2, the quality of the script seemed to fall short. The script made subtle and not-so-subtle changes that impacted Ellie’s characterization negatively, resulting in a less engaging story compared to the video game.

In contrast to the video game “The Last of Us Part 2,” which portrays Ellie as relentlessly ruthless in her pursuit of vengeance following Joel’s death, the TV adaptation presents a much less gruesome account of events. For instance, when Dina reveals her pregnancy, Ellie in the show responds with a lighthearted “I’m gonna be a dad,” whereas in the game, Ellie bluntly calls Dina a burden. In the video game, Ellie intentionally stabs Mel in the throat during an aquarium sequence, while in the show, Ellie unintentionally kills Mel when she shoots Owen. In the TV show, Ellie expresses remorse, tries to console Mel, and even contemplates saving her baby. On the other hand, Ellie in the game exhibits little regret for the destruction she wreaks during her pursuit of Abby, initially showing little apology for the carnage she causes.

In the realm of this captivating narrative, there are additional instances that resonate deeply with me. In the game, my character, Ellie, takes the life of her faithful WLF canine companion, Alice, and addresses her as a “foolish pup,” an act that doesn’t transpire in the series. Contrastingly, Ellie expresses remorse to Abby for slaying her companions during the climactic scene in the theater in Season 2 finale, a moment that doesn’t echo in the video game version of Ellie. The video game portrayed a far bleaker image of Ellie, a depiction that I found the series seemed reluctant to explore.

It’s possible that showing Ellie just as she is in the game might have deterred less serious viewers. There could be some truth to this idea. However, the alterations made to the original content have undeniably angered the gaming community, which could discourage them from watching the series. As for those casual viewers who aren’t familiar with the games, it’s more understandable why they might not be tuning into Season 2 at the same rate as Season 1.

Killing Joel May Have Driven Away Casual Viewers

Killing off a key character in a TV series can be a major gamble. While such a move might temporarily boost ratings, it could also push away long-term viewers. For instance, The Last of Us Season 2 needed Joel’s death for the storyline, but it’s plausible that some fans might lose interest after his character and Pedro Pascal were taken off the show, potentially causing them to stop watching the season entirely.

Based on my personal experiences, I know several individuals who ceased viewing Season 2 of “The Last of Us” following Joel’s demise. My grandfather, for instance, abandoned the series entirely after receiving a spoiler alert about Joel’s death on his phone. He felt there was no reason to continue watching if Joel wasn’t going to be present in the show. Similarly, my mom, who was a fan of the first season, hasn’t watched a single episode since Joel’s passing. While this is anecdotal information, it’s not hard to imagine that other casual viewers might have quit watching for the same reason.

Last of Us Season 1 and Season 2 Episode Ratings

Season 1

  1. When You’re Lost in the Darkness – 0.588
  2. Infected – 0.633
  3. Long, Long Time – 0.747
  4. Please Hold to My Hand – 0.991
  5. Endure and Survive – 0.382
  6. Kin – 0.841
  7. Left Behind – 1.083
  8. When We Are in Need – 1.039
  9. Look for the Light – 1.040

Season 2

  1. Future Days – 0.938
  2. Through the Valley – 0.643
  3. The Path – 0.768
  4. Day One – 0.774
  5. Feel Her Love – 0.652
  6. The Price – 0.701
  7. Convergence – 0.680

The demise of Joel in “The Last of Us Part 2” sparked intense debate among gamers, and it’s understandable that viewers might also share this sentiment. However, one reason for lower viewership in Season 2 compared to Season 1 could be due to the extended period between seasons.

There Was Too Much Time Between Seasons

In January 2023 through March 2023, the first season of The Last of Us was broadcast, consisting of nine episodes. Two years later, from April 2025 to May 2025, the second season aired, offering only seven episodes. This extended wait for the next installment meant fewer episodes for viewers to enjoy. While it’s common for game releases in a series to have significant delays, such long breaks in television can cause audiences to seek out other shows and potentially lose interest.

Currently, filming for Season 3 of “The Last of Us” hasn’t begun, and we don’t know when it will air on HBO. It’s speculated that it might be released in 2026, but it’s not certain. A more plausible timeline suggests fans may have to wait until 2027 for the next chapter. What makes this delay particularly frustrating is that Season 2 concludes with a cliffhanger – Abby shoots at Ellie, the screen goes dark, and then we flashback to Seattle – Day One from Abby’s perspective, just as in “The Last of Us Part 2” video game.

Last of Us Part 2’s Unique Narrative Could Be the Show’s Downfall

Another problem with The Last of Us Season 2 is its innovative gameplay structure. In The Last of Us Part 2, the action primarily follows Ellie’s viewpoint, but later compels players to re-experience events from Abby’s perspective. This daring creative decision has divided the fanbase, and I suspect many viewers of The Last of Us series might be disappointed in Season 3 due to this approach.

It’s hinted that the storyline of The Last of Us Part 2 might span across four seasons. If this is true, Season 3 could focus on Abby’s story as depicted in the game, ending with the theater scene from the finale of Season 2, and then Season 4 would wrap things up. However, viewers of The Last of Us may find it challenging to endure an entire season about a character who has been antagonistic and killed beloved characters. Many might be frustrated by the lack of resolution for the cliffhanger at the end of Season 2, while others may not be inclined to empathize with Abby’s perspective, especially since the show has been hesitant to portray Ellie’s less favorable characteristics.

In my opinion, The Last of Us Season 2 could have done a better job at weaving Ellie and Abby’s stories together more seamlessly. Instead of the current structure, it might have been beneficial to follow a chronological approach where each episode focuses on both characters and their groups simultaneously. This way, viewers wouldn’t feel compelled to watch an entire season about a character they may not be fond of or don’t know well just for the sake of returning in Season 3.

I fully expect that the downward trend in viewership for “The Last of Us” may persist from Season 2 into Season 3, making for an intriguing spectacle regardless of the outcome.

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2025-05-29 22:47