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‘The Last of Us’ Episode 4 Hits New Series High Viewership Despite Grammys Competition

A series high of 7.5 million viewers tuned into Episode 4 of 'The Last of Us' on Sunday, despite that the episode was released during the Grammys.

variety.com

Episode 4 of "The Last of Us" set yet another series high. 7.5 million viewers tuned into Sunday night's episode, up 17% from the 6.4 million that tuned into Episode 3.

That the show's audience is still growing at this point is an especially impressive feat, as Episode 4 aired on HBO and released on HBO Max during the telecast of the 65th Grammys, which brought in 12.4 million viewers, its highest audience since 2020. Still, a major contingent of viewers chose to watch "The Last of Us" instead, or chose to stream the new episode after the three-hour-long awards show.

Additionally of note is that "The Last of Us" is on more rapidly inclining trajectory than "House of the Dragon," which is HBO's most recent comparable series in terms of viewership. Though "House of the Dragon" premiered with almost 10 million viewers and "The Last of Us" has yet to reach that point, it's notable that the cable viewership of "House of the Dragon" dropped significantly by its third episode before steadying out for the rest of its run. (Total viewership including streaming was not available for Episodes 3-9 of "House of the Dragon.")

The fifth episode of "The Last of Us" will also run into some major competition — the Super Bowl, typically the most-viewed telecast of the year — though HBO has mitigated that problem with a new release strategy. The network announced on Sunday that Episode 5 will release on HBO Max two days before the linear airing, allowing viewers the full weekend to watch the episode before the big game.

Given the early streaming debut and the overall success of the series so far, it seems that "The Last of Us" may still be able to outdo itself next week. Last year, "Euphoria" aired the sixth episode of its second season in competition with the Super Bowl — without adjusting its streaming calendar — and still achieved a series high, and "The Last of Us" has outpaced "Euphoria's" audience by millions.

 

[kyliethicc]

 

[DForce]

A lot of outrage last week and the show increased in viewers going up against the Grammy's?




People said the franchise was dead, but we're seeing a lot of positive results thus far from the games and the TV show.

 

[Cyber_hunter026]

 

[Jack Videogames]

Came for the zombies, stayed for the old men snogging

 

[elcapitano]

Sadly next episode is all but guaranteed to decrease as it's streaming only on Friday and then being Aired on Sunday.

So it'll split the viewership.

 

[SLB1904]

Came for the zombies, stayed for the old men snogging

Honestly I was happy bill got his happy ending.

Having saying that. Episode 4 is too short. I want more. I'm glad next episode is friday

 

[Tomi]

This is crazy, Naughty Gods

 

[R6Rider]

Honestly I was happy bill got his happy ending.

Having saying that. Episode 4 is too short. I want more. I'm glad next episode is friday

Yeah 4 felt super short, but it was paced really well.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Shame this episode was shit but I can see why more tuned in after that incredible episode 3. I hope they pull it back for the remainder of the season.

 

[R6Rider]

Shame this episode was shit

 

[DenchDeckard]

Even my Mrs who's really enjoyed the first three episodes turned to me and just said, that wasn't great, what was that...is that how it is in the game....?

...I just said no it isn't, the two characters they introduced are good and it should improve I hope lol.

 

[Hobbygaming]

Shame this episode was shit but I can see why more tuned in after that incredible episode 3. I hope they pull it back for the remainder of the season.

Say another word

 

[DenchDeckard]

Say another word

I love the show was just a bad episode.

 

[tmlDan]

I love the show was just a bad episode.

I wouldn't say it was bad, just the worst ep of the season lol

Which has a pretty high bar tbh

 

[RafterXL]

I'm excited to see it but I can't do the weekly episode shit anymore. I'll watch the entire season when it's finished.

 

[Hobbygaming]

I love the show was just a bad episode.

It was a very good episode

Though I do wonder if some of the references in the shows, the special moments are lost on those who aren't big TLOU fans

 

[Nankatsu]

Back on track, that's what matters. Good episode.

 

[ANIMAL1975]

Came for the zombies, stayed for the old men snogging

 

[Mikey Jr.]

Sadly next episode is all but guaranteed to decrease as it's streaming only on Friday and then being Aired on Sunday.

So it'll split the viewership.

At the end of the day, this is a MASSIVE SUCCESS.

Whatever weird number at the end of the day doesn't really matter. Even if it goes down now. It's still doing huge numbers and everyone involved I'm sure is extremely happy.

 

[NecrosaroIII]

Damn, it's putting up network numbers.

 

[Pelta88]

Seeing this thing snowball is weird. Especially when you've known about this incredible ip for over a decade.

 

[NomenNescio]

DrUckmann's billing must be sky high.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Druckmann keeps defeating his haters and in record fashion...

They must be so angry right now. Tried to destroy the show after a single episode, comes back stronger...

 

[Raonak]

All the episodes have been fantastic so far. Only problem with the last one was that it was too short.

I really liked how they replicated the car crash sequence almost to a tee. felt like I was playing the game

 

[Woggleman]

But I thought viewership would be down after episode 3.

This show is huge in a way even I never expected. Coworkers who never played a video game are talking about it.

 

[Woggleman]

Double post by accident

 

[Twilight Princess]

is uckman the james cameron of the video gaming world?

 

[FunkMiller]

Don't know what's funnier right now... the asshats having a meltdown because Hogwart's Legacy is a huge seller, and reviews very well... or the asshats having a meltdown because The Last Of Us is a massive fucking success by every conceivable metric

 

[Pelta88]

Naughty Dog's billing must be sky high.

Fixed.

 

[GHG]

Even my Mrs who's really enjoyed the first three episodes turned to me and just said, that wasn't great, what was that...is that how it is in the game....?

 

[Woggleman]

Don't know what's funnier right now... the asshats having a meltdown because Hogwart's Legacy is a huge seller, and reviews very well... or the asshats having a meltdown because The Last Of Us is a massive fucking success by every conceivable metric

As much as neither side will admit it they are both cut from the same cloth. They want society to conform to their world view and can't handle it when it doesn't.

 

[AutumnLeaves]

Shame this episode was shit but I can see why more tuned in after that incredible episode 3. I hope they pull it back for the remainder of the season.

Just finished watching...how exactly was it "shit?" Jesus Christ, the hyperbole.

 

[Woggleman]

I don't know if either one would do it but ND and JK Rowling should pose for a picture together just to mess with people.

 

[Deleted member 1159]

Much deserved. Shows the haters of ep3 are full of shit

 

[Gamerguy84]

I really hardly watch any telly shows except for sport. It's wild that people at work started talking about it. Overheard 3 guys at work talking and getting excited about it. They have no idea I'm a gamer and went through the game It's bbased on 3 times.



I need to sit and have a watch of one of the best video games I've played.

 

[Hobbygaming]

Denchdeckard and his wife the whole time the show is running and then calling it bad

 

[Woggleman]

I have a coworker who was surprised that they made a video game that fast when the season isn't even finished. She was shocked when I told her it was based off of a ten year old game and they made a sequel that came out three years ago. TLOU is being exposed to whole new audience.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

It depends on how the views are counted.

 

[iHaunter]

Shame this episode was shit but I can see why more tuned in after that incredible episode 3. I hope they pull it back for the remainder of the season.

What was bad about episode 4?

 

[Kabelly]

but the viewers were gonna drop cuz of they ghey sex )::::

 

[Mibu no ookami]

It depends on how the views are counted.

 

[PerfectDark]

Any decent series with Pedro Pascal will be well received and watched. Best series in along time though is 1923.

 

[Roni]

blatant trolling or post modern relativism? place your bets...

 

[El Pistolero]

Shame this episode was shit but I can see why more tuned in after that incredible episode 3. I hope they pull it back for the remainder of the season.

How in the world was this episode shit, when the acting, the set design, the camera work, the dialogue and the pacing of it all were excellent?

 

[MiguelItUp]

While it's subjective, I don't really understand how anyone could say episode 4 was "shit", lmao. There was a ton of character development.

 

[xiskza]

I like it when selective outrage by mobs on either side get proven wrong

 

[Yoboman]

Don't know what's funnier right now... the asshats having a meltdown because Hogwart's Legacy is a huge seller, and reviews very well... or the asshats having a meltdown because The Last Of Us is a massive fucking success by every conceivable metric

Here I am enjoying the meltdowns of both

 

[balls of snow]

It was only a setup ep too. Ep5 is where the meat is.

 

[DenchDeckard]

You are proper weird, why would someone make that up.

I bet you want the name address, contact details of my Mrs so she can verify it?

Lmao, this guy.