HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 came in with a lot of hype but ended up losing some steam, with viewership taking a hit compared to its blockbuster first season. According to The Hollywood Reporter on June 13, 2025, the season finale on May 25 pulled in 3.7 million viewers across platforms, down 30% from the season’s premiere, which scored 5.3 million—a solid 10% bump over Season 1’s debut. Globally, Season 2 averaged 37 million viewers per episode, beating Season 1’s 32 million, but the drop in live viewers and some loud fan backlash have folks wondering what went wrong.
The season, which ran from April 13 to May 25, 2025, tackled the story of The Last of Us Part II, a video game that’s got a reputation for splitting fans down the middle. A lot of the grumbling came from big plot moments, like the death of Joel (played by Pedro Pascal), which hit hard and didn’t sit well with everyone. Fans on social media weren’t shy about their feelings, calling out the show for rushing key scenes or missing the emotional depth of the game’s complex characters.
Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, who also helped create the game, stood by their choices. They doubled down on a particularly divisive scene in the finale, with Mazin saying they wanted to keep the show’s raw, brutal vibe true to the game. Druckmann admitted one scene felt a bit “misplaced” but defended the overall vision. Still, the explanations didn’t quite cool off the fanbase, with some feeling the show leaned too hard into clear-cut emotions instead of the game’s messy moral gray areas.
Part of the ratings slip might just be bad timing—the finale aired over Memorial Day weekend, when people are often out and about, not glued to their screens. That could explain the 3.7 million finale number. Plus, the season’s heavy emotional weight and losing a fan-favorite like Joel turned some viewers off, with social media buzzing about specific scenes that felt like dealbreakers.
That said, the show’s still a heavyweight. Those 37 million viewers per episode worldwide show it’s got a loyal crowd, especially on streaming platforms. The Hollywood Reporter noted the season racked up over 90 million total viewers, with the finale alone holding strong at 3.7 million. So, while live numbers took a hit, people are still binging.
The fan reaction’s got shades of Game of Thrones’ final seasons, where viewers felt let down by rushed endings or straying from what made the story click. The Last of Us Season 2 caught similar heat for a finale that some found too abrupt. Looking ahead, Mazin and Druckmann are already talking up Season 3, which will focus on Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby and shift to a calmer “water season” vibe after Season 2’s fiery intensity. They’re hoping to pivot and win back fans, but it might be a while—Season 3 could be as far off as 2027.
In today’s crowded TV world, keeping viewers hooked is tough, and The Last of Us isn’t immune to that. The big choices, like Joel’s exit, might haunt the show moving forward, but HBO’s clearly all-in, and the global numbers prove it’s still got pull. With standout performances like Isabela Merced’s Dina, there’s plenty to keep fans coming back. Mazin and Druckmann have a tightrope to walk, balancing the game’s story with what viewers want. If they can pull it off, Season 3 could bring the show back to its Season 1 glory.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter