The Last of Us returned to HBO on Sunday night with a promising performance for the Season 2 premiere. The episode managed 5.3 million same-day U.S. cross-platform viewers, which outpaces the Season 1 premiere by about 10%, HBO says. When it debuted, the premiere episode brought in a same-day audience of 4.7 million, which at the time was the largest debut after House of the Dragon since Boardwalk Empire launched in 2010.
For context, the Season 1 premiere eventually went on to amass nearly 32 million viewers, the largest audience for an HBO and Max debut season ever. It seems as though audiences were catching up on Season 1 last week, as viewership for the season surged 150% over the week prior.
Based on Naughty Dog’s award-winning video game, The Last of Us takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
Season 2 picks up five years after the events of the first season. Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind. In addition to Pascal and Ramsey, returning cast includes Gabriel Luna and Rutina Wesley. Joining Season 2 are Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle, Spencer Lord, Danny Ramirez, Jeffrey Wright, and Catherine O’Hara, who guest stars.
The Last of Us is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and is also executive produced by Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells; with writer/co-executive producer Halley Gross.
Few video game adaptations have managed to break the curse, but The Last of Us did just that when its first season premiered in 2023. Rather than falling into the usual pitfalls of shallow storytelling and clumsy pacing, HBO’s adaptation captured the hearts of critics, general viewers, and fans alike. The first season garnered 24 Emmy nominations and won eight awards, including Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Nick Offerman.
Now, the post-apocalyptic series is back for its highly anticipated second season, with Kaitlyn Dever joining the cast as Abby. The show premiered this morning, and the seven-episode season sees Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey reprising their roles as Joel and Ellie, adapting at least a portion of The Last of Us Part II.
In the UK, The Last of Us Season 2 debuted on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 2 AM. The episode was broadcast simultaneously on Sky Atlantic and Now, in line with its HBO release. For those who missed the late-night premiere, it’s available to stream now on catch-up, with a prime-time repeat scheduled for 9 PM on Sky Atlantic.
The Last of Us Season 2 follows the events of the second game in the franchise, but it won’t cover all of it. In fact, the TV adaptation of The Last of Us: Part II will stretch out over multiple seasons – which makes sense given the game’s scope. Craig Mazin stated, “We don’t think that we’re going to be able to tell the story even within two seasons [2 and 3] because we’re taking our time and going down interesting pathways which we did a little bit in season 1 too.”
He further added, “We feel like it’s almost assuredly going to be the case that — as long as people keep watching and we can keep making more television — season 3 will be significantly larger. And indeed, the story may require season 4.”
The official synopsis for The Last of Us Season 2 states: "After five years of peace following the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind."
While we won’t go into detail (no game spoilers here), some fans speculate that Season 2 will end at the theatre, with Ellie coming face to face with Abby. In the full-length trailer for The Last of Us Season 2, viewers get a proper look at some major new characters in action. Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby is seen fighting off infected and standing among the Washington Liberation Front. Isabela Merced’s Dina – Ellie’s love interest – is introduced; Young Mazino’s Jesse appears in some scenes, and Jeffrey Wright’s Isaac is shown leading the WLF. Catherine O’Hara also makes a brief appearance, but her role remains a mystery, though she’s likely a new character made for the show.
The Last of Us Season 2 has seven episodes in total. That’s slightly shorter than the length of Season 1. The first episode of The Last of Us, titled Future Days, was broadcast on Monday, April 14, 2025, in the UK. That title is significant for anyone who’s played the game, but we won’t give any spoilers.
The episode synopsis reads: "After five years of peace, Joel and Ellie's collective past catches up with them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind." Here’s the full release schedule for The Last of Us in the UK:
- The Last of Us episode 1: Future Days – Monday, April 14, 2025, 2 AM/9 PM BST
- The Last of Us episode 2: Eye for an Eye – Monday, April 21, 2025, 2 AM/9 PM BST
- The Last of Us episode 3: Something's Got a Hold on Me – Monday, April 28, 2025, 2 AM/9 PM BST
- The Last of Us episode 4: Secrets – Monday, May 5, 2025, 2 AM/9 PM BST
- The Last of Us episode 5: Wolves – Monday, May 12, 2025, 2 AM/9 PM BST
- The Last of Us episode 6: Scars – Monday, May 19, 2025, 2 AM/9 PM BST
- The Last of Us episode 7: Every Last One of Them – Monday, May 26, 2025, 2 AM/9 PM BST
Looking for more recommendations? Here’s how you can watch Season Three of The White Lotus in the UK.
