The Last of Us breaks audience record on the premiere of the 2nd season, but the audience is divided with the first episode

The Last of Us is back — and with impressive numbers. The second season of the series based on the acclaimed game from Naughty Dog premiered last Sunday, April 13th, in the United States, and despite facing criticism from the public, it has already set a new record: 5.3 million views on the premiere day, a growth of approximately 10% compared to the first season premiere, which reached 4.7 million. The data was disclosed by the Deadline portal and confirms that the interest in the post-apocalyptic universe remains high.

The series, broadcasted by HBO and available on the streaming service Max, had already become a phenomenon with its first season. With an average of almost 32 million viewers per episode in the US, The Last of Us achieved the title of the most-watched series in the history of the HBO Max platform in regions such as Europe and Latin America.

In the new phase, the story advances five years after the events of the first season. Now, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) live in the community of Jackson, Wyoming, seeking peace in a still devastated world. The premiere marks the introduction of Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever. And it is precisely here that the divisions among fans begin.

Despite the support from the series creators, who praised Dever's ability to "convey the character's emotional intensity," part of the gaming community criticized the choice, mainly due to physical differences compared to the original version from the games. Nevertheless, the cast received heavyweight reinforcements: Isabela Merced as Dina and Young Mazino in the role of Jesse promise to further expand the series universe.

On the other hand, the success in viewership did not reflect in the same way in the hearts of fans. At Rotten Tomatoes, while the specialized critics offered a warm reception with 96% approval on the Tomatometer, the audience was much harsher: 63% approval, indicating some disappointment regarding the pace and narrative focus of the inaugural episode.

Among the praises are the intense performances and the dense atmosphere, but many viewers reported a "lack of emotional impact" compared to the premiere of the previous season, and a concern about the direction the narrative may take, especially with the controversial storyline involving the character Abby — a sensitive subject since the release of The Last of Us Part II on the PlayStation 4 in 2020.

It is worth mentioning that Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, creators of the television adaptation, had previously signaled that the second season would be more "psychological and emotional", focusing less on action and more on the consequences of the events experienced by the characters. The season is being released on a weekly basis, with new episodes airing on Sundays.

For those who had doubts after the first episode, perhaps it is best to keep following along. After all, if there's one thing The Last of Us has already proven is that it knows how to surprise — for better or for worse. And if the beginning caused a stir, the rest of the season still has many cards up its sleeve.