"The Last of Us Season 2 Finale Reaches 3.7 Million U.S. Viewers, HBO Expects Growth"

HBO has celebrated the success of The Last of Us Season 2, noting a significant "influx" of viewers that has boosted the series' global audience to over 90 million since the conclusion of Season 1. In the U.S., the Season 2 finale drew 3.7 million cross-platform viewers, while the premiere episode attracted 5.3 million. Despite this decline from the premiere to the finale, Warner Bros. anticipates a "significant" increase in viewership for the Season 2 finale, attributing the initial low numbers to the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Notably, 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 its predecessor, with nearly 37 million viewers worldwide per episode. Warner Bros. reports this figure as "growing." Comparatively, Season 1 ended with 32 million U.S. cross-platform viewers 90 days after its premiere.

IGN's review of the Season 2 finale gave it a 6/10, describing it as "reaching its agonizing cliffhanger ending at a breakneck speed, disorienting as much as it thrills." Additionally, IGN has published an analysis titled The Last of Us Season 2 Ending Explained, which explores how the finale sets up Season 3.

Originally premiering in January 2023, The Last of Us received widespread acclaim and was considered by some as the best video game adaptation to date. Season 1 garnered eight Emmy awards from 24 nominations.

Showrunner Craig Mazin recently indicated that a fourth season is likely necessary to fully adapt the narrative from the two Naughty Dog-developed video games. Speaking to Collider, Mazin explained that concluding the story in Season 3 would extend its duration significantly. He suggested that while Season 3 might be longer than Season 2, a fourth season would be the most probable way to complete the narrative. "Hopefully, we’ll earn our keep enough to come back and finish it in a fourth. That’s the most likely outcome," he added.

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

• 10
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