The Last Of Us Season 2 Reviews: Why Fans Are Split on HBO’s Bold Sequel

The Last Of Us Season 2 reviews have sparked intense debate since the season finale aired on May 25, 2025, with HBO’s adaptation of the beloved video game continuing to divide viewers. While some praise its emotional depth and stunning visuals, others criticize its pacing, narrative choices, and divergence from The Last of Us Part II.

The season’s polarizing reception echoes the game’s own contentious history, leaving fans torn between admiration and frustration. In this article, we dive into the reasons behind the split reactions, exploring viewership trends, critic scores, and audience feedback to uncover what’s driving the divide.

Why Did Viewership Drop for the Season 2 Finale?

The season finale of The Last of Us Season 2 drew 3.7 million U.S. viewers across HBO and Max, a 55% drop from the 8.2 million who tuned into the Season 1 finale. HBO attributes this to the Memorial Day weekend, expecting numbers to grow with catch-up viewing. However, the season premiere’s 5.3 million viewers also indicate a decline in appointment viewing compared to Season 1’s consistent growth.

Despite the drop, Season 2 averages nearly 37 million global viewers per episode, surpassing Season 1’s 32 million over 90 days. This suggests sustained interest, but the finale’s lower numbers hint at viewer dissatisfaction or fatigue with the season’s controversial choices.

What Are Critics Saying About Season 2?

Critics have largely embraced The Last of Us Season 2, with a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 89/100 on Metacritic. Outlets like Collider and Empire gave perfect 10/10 scores, praising the adaptation’s fidelity and performances, particularly Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Kaitlyn Dever as Abby. However, some reviews, like IGN’s 7/10, note that the season feels incomplete, covering only half of The Last of Us Part II’s story.

TIME’s review called it “inferior” to Season 1, citing a lack of thematic depth and an abrupt finale. This mixed critical reception highlights a tension: while the craftsmanship is undeniable, the season’s structure and pacing have left some wanting more.

Why Are Fans Review-Bombing the Season?

Audience reactions to The Last of Us Season 2 have been far less kind, with Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score plummeting to 38% and Metacritic’s user rating at 3.6/10.

This mirrors the review-bombing of The Last of Us Part II in 2020, driven by backlash to key narrative decisions, including Joel’s early death in Episode 2. Fans unfamiliar with the game found the scene shocking, with viewership dropping 31.5% from the premiere’s 938,000 linear viewers to 643,000 for Episode 2.

Online, fans criticize Bella Ramsey’s portrayal of a five-years-older Ellie, with some calling for a recast. Others argue the show softens the game’s raw violence, diluting its emotional impact.

Social media posts on X reflect this divide, with users like @NaughtyNDC

 slamming the adaptation for over-explaining and losing the game’s core.

How Do Adaptation Changes Fuel the Divide?

Season 2’s divergence from the game has been a lightning rod for criticism. While Season 1 was lauded for its fidelity, Season 2 takes liberties, such as softening violent moments like Ellie’s killing of Mel and Owen, which IGN called a “tragic mishap” rather than a deliberate act.

Additions like the Battle of Jackson and a flashback with Joel’s father were praised by some but seen as filler by others. Critics like @DiscussingFilm on X argue the show removes nuance to avoid upsetting new viewers, while fans of the game feel it fails to capture the intentional disconnect between player and protagonist.

These changes have left the season feeling like “bad television” to some, as Aftermath’s review bluntly stated.

Is the Season 2 Finale a Cliffhanger or a Cop-Out?

The finale, titled “Convergence,” ends on a cliffhanger, with Ellie and Abby’s confrontation leaving their fates ambiguous. NPR’s Eric Deggans criticized its pacing, calling it a “season-long bit of table setting” that feels like “half of one” season.

IGN’s 6/10 review noted the rushed pacing and lack of resolution, leaving viewers disoriented. Fans on X, like @tylerllewtaing, expressed frustration with the finale’s lack of closure, while others speculate it sets up an Abby-centric Season 3.

The cliffhanger has fueled debate about whether it’s a bold risk or a ploy to stretch the story, with showrunner Craig Mazin hinting at a necessary fourth season to complete the narrative.

What’s Next for The Last of Us?

The Last Of Us Season 2 reviews reveal a season that’s both a technical triumph and a narrative gamble. Despite viewership dips and review-bombing, HBO’s greenlight for Season 3 and potential Season 4 signal confidence in the series’ future. The divided reactions underscore the challenge of adapting a polarizing game, with fans split over whether the show honors or undermines its source.

As we await Season 3, the debate over Season 2’s choices will likely continue. Will HBO address fan concerns, or double down on its vision? Only time will tell, but one thing’s clear: The Last of Us remains a cultural lightning rod, captivating and frustrating in equal measure.