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 triumph of *The Last of Us* Season 2, reporting an "influx" of viewers that has boosted the show's global audience to over 90 million since the conclusion of Season 1. In the United States, the Season 2 finale attracted 3.7 million cross-platform viewers, while the premiere episode garnered 5.3 million. Despite a decline from the season opener to the closer, Warner Bros. anticipates a "significant" increase in the Season 2 finale's viewership, attributing the lower numbers to the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Notably, the Season 1 finale achieved a record-breaking 8.2 million viewers, setting a high bar for the Season 2 finale to surpass.

On a positive note, Season 2 boasts a higher average viewership per episode than its predecessor. With nearly 37 million global viewers per episode, Warner Bros. has noted that this figure is "growing." In comparison, Season 1 concluded with 32 million U.S. cross-platform viewers at 90 days post-premiere.

IGN's review of the Season 2 finale of *The Last of Us* awarded it a 6/10, describing it as, "The Season 2 finale of *The Last of Us* reaches its agonizing cliffhanger ending at a breakneck speed, disorientating as much as it thrills." Additionally, IGN has provided an in-depth analysis titled *The Last of Us Season 2 Ending Explained*, which explores how the finale sets up Season 3.

*The Last of Us* premiered in January 2023 to widespread acclaim and was hailed by some as the best video game adaptation to date. Season 1 garnered eight Emmy awards from 24 nominations.

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Last week, showrunner Craig Mazin emphasized the necessity of a fourth season to fully tell *The Last of Us* story based on the two Naughty Dog-developed video games. In a conversation with *Collider*, Mazin explained that concluding the narrative within Season 3 would be too lengthy, suggesting that Season 3 might be longer than Season 2 but still insufficient. He stated, "Hopefully, we’ll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth. That’s the most likely outcome."