Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Last of Us season 2, episode 7.HBO has released its viewership data for the finale of Joel's (Pedro Pascal) death early in the season proved as controversial to TV audiences as it was to gamers, and Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) decision in the finale was brutal, to say the least. It wasn't clear how those unpopular choices would affect The Last of Us season 2's viewership, until now.

Warner Brothers Discovery confirmed in a press release that The Last of Us season 2's finale drew in 3.7 million viewers. According to Variety, the finale of The Last of Us season 1 drew in 8.2 million viewers. Warner Bros. has speculated that the season 2 finale's viewership was artificially lower due to the Memorial Day holiday weekend. For now, however, The Last of Us season 2's finale experienced a 55% decrease in viewership compared to season 1. That being said, The Last of Us season 2 as a whole has experienced increased viewership, with 37 million viewers per episode.

What The Last Of Us Season 2's Viewership Numbers Mean For The Last Of Us Season 3

The Last Of Us Season 2's Viewership Trend Is A Mixed Bag

It's hard to say one way or another what The Last of Us season 2's viewership trends mean for the HBO show. On the one hand, a 55% decrease in viewership between the season 2 and season 1 finales is never a good thing. The Last of Us season 2's more controversial decisions clearly had a negative impact on viewership, even with whatever incalculable effect the Memorial Day weekend had on audience ratings. Whether it was Joel's death, Ellie's shocking rage, or something else entirely, it seems many fans of The Last of Us didn't feel that season 2 resonated enough with them to see it through to the end.

On the other hand, The Last of Us season 2 did have higher viewership in total than the first season, which is a very good sign. The first two episodes of The Last of Us season 2 were wildly popular and came before Joel's death, but they also couldn't for the entire season's rise in popularity by themselves. HBO did something right with The Last of Us season 2, and it may be able to keep it going in season 3. The show may have created more sympathy for and interest in Abby's story, which would help The Last of Us season 3 tremendously.

Our Take On The Last Of Us Season 2 Finale's Viewership

The Last Of Us Season 2 Finale's Viewership Isn't Totally Surprising, But I Am Hopeful That It Will Be Better Received Than The Games

I played The Last of Us Part II when it came out, so I knew firsthand what kind of backlash to expect going into The Last of Us season 2. Joel's death, Abby's story, and Ellie's ultimate decision were almost guaranteed to be controversial. The Last of Us season 2's finale viewership, therefore, isn't terribly surprising, but I'm still holding out hope. Season 2's overall viewership is a great sign that audiences are willing to see this excellent story through to the end, and I think HBO is capable of delivering a satisfying conclusion to The Last of Us.