Decline in Viewership for The Last of Us Season 2 Finale Compared to Season 1

Viewership Decline in The Last of Us Season 2 Finale

The season finale of The Last of Us on HBO witnessed a notable decline in viewership, drawing in only 3.7 million viewers in the U. S.This figure marks a significant 55% drop compared to the debut season, which captivated over 8.2 million viewers, even competing against the Oscars ceremony. It is important to note, however, that HBO has indicated these numbers are subject to change, as the series boasts over 90 million global viewers, with Season 2 averaging nearly 37 million viewers per episode worldwide (via The Wrap).

Character Developments Impacting Viewership

Fans have speculated that the decrease in viewership could be linked to significant character deaths, particularly one that gamers familiar with The Last of Us Part II might predict. Nonetheless, HBO has confirmed that the series will continue, having already greenlit a third season that will explore the character of Abby more deeply.

Insights from Creators

During a press conference following the finale of Season 2, series co-creator Craig Mazin emphasized the complexity of the story. He stated,

“There is another side to this story that we have yet to really delve into. And there’s no question that Abby is the hero of her story. Where we go next, all I can say is it will always be centering on somebody, whether it’s Ellie and Dina or whether it’s Abby. But really, if you want to boil it down, everything is under the cloud or sunlight of Joel — what Joel did to Abby and what Joel did for Ellie — and that will never change.”

Franchise Developments

In addition to the upcoming season, there are exciting updates in the video game segment of the franchise. Recently, The Last of Us Part II Remastered for PC received an upgrade introducing support for NVIDIA DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation. Furthermore, series creator Neil Druckmann hinted that while a much-anticipated third installment could happen, it will only materialize if a compelling narrative can be crafted by him and the Naughty Dog team.

Source&Images