LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� 鈥淭he Last of Us鈥� fans set another rating record for the season one finale of the apocalyptic, mushroom-infected zombie video game adaptation. Despite Sunday night, HBO said the season finale drew in 8.2 million viewers.
Viewership for 鈥淭he Last of Us鈥� has consistently grown throughout the season. The series has not only with high expectations but also critics and people who aren't familiar with the game.
The series premiere drew 4.7 million viewers in the U.S., based on Nielsen and HBO data, making for HBO鈥檚 second-largest debut, behind 鈥淗ouse of the Dragon.鈥� Outside of the U.S., 鈥淭he Last of Us鈥� is now the most-watched show in the history of HBO Max in both Europe and Latin America, HBO said.
As viewers watch episodes on the streaming platforms days after the episodes air, the numbers for the series will continue to increase. The series is now averaging 30.4 million viewers across its first six episodes, with the first episode approaching 40 million viewers in the U.S., HBO said.
HBO did concede to the ratings behemoth that is the Super Bowl, dropping the fifth episode of 鈥淭he Last of Us鈥� on HBO Max and HBO On Demand early last month on the Friday before the big game on Feb. 12. But the ratings for episode five were still strong, with 11.6 million viewers from Friday through Sunday.
The series finale ended with Joel making some difficult and controversial decisions that left viewers wondering what was next for protagonists Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal). While not much has been officially announced about the second season, fans of the video game know about 鈥淭he Last of Us Part II鈥� and are eagerly anticipating how the game will be adapted for season two.
Karena Phan, The Associated Press
