HBOis home to some great movies and shows. Originally founded in 1972, HBO became the first premium service cable channel. Since then, the provider has branched out by adding the streaming service Max. Some of themost popular HBO showsinclude classics likeThe SopranosandSex and the City. Newer hits likeThe White LotusandEuphoriacan also be found on the soon-to-be retitled HBO Max. However, many would consider its most popular series to beGame of Thrones, despite the much-maligned final season.
With so many options available to watch on streaming and cable, competition is higher than it’s ever been to find viewership. This has advantages and disadvantages as the television landscape continues to change. While there is a glut of material to choose from, many shows don’t get the chance to find their footing or their audience before being cancelled. Famously,Seinfeldbarely made it past season 1before going on to be one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. However, some streaming shows are a hit right out of the gate, and that is certainly true for one HBO show.
The Last Of Us Is Maintaining Its Incredible Popularity
The Last of Usis still one of the most popular shows in America. The post-apocalyptic series debuted in 2023 and was based on the video game of the same name. It follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they try to survive hordes of infected and other survivors, and try to find a home. Season 1 has an impressive96% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoeswith an 86% Popcornmeter. Season 2 saw a slight dip with critics going down to 92% and a 37% audience score.
According toIMDb,The Last of Usis the fourth most popular show in the United States. As of writing, it has been 26 days since the season 2 finale aired. Currently ranked aboveThe Last of UsareDept. Q, Ginny & Georgia,andMobLand. The remainder of the top 10 most popular shows as of June 20 areTires, Stick, Andor, The Better Sister, FUBAR,andThe Survivors.
Our Take On The Last Of Us Remaining Popular
The Next Season Will Go In A Different Direction
The Last of Usseason 2 did see an overall growth in viewershipcompared to season 1. Each season 2 episodeaveraged 37 million viewers across all platforms, in contrast to season 1, which averaged 32 million. Season 2 arguably had the biggest moment of the series when Joel was killed by Abby, a controversial moment translated from the gameThe Last of Us Part II.
Following a cliffhanger ending,The Last of Usseason 3will take the series in a different direction and tell events from Abby’s point of view. As the show is not afraid to make bold choices, it will be interesting to see how the popularity ofThe Last of Uscontinues into what will likely be a drastically different season.
The Last Of Us
Cast
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic drama series set two decades after a global catastrophe. It follows Joel, a seasoned survivor, who is tasked with escorting Ellie, a teenage girl, across a desolated United States, transforming into a harrowing journey of survival and companionship.
