The highly awaited second season of The Last of Us arrives today, bringing back Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie in HBO’s acclaimed post-apocalyptic drama. Season 2 kicks off with a seven-episode run, two fewer than the first season, with new episodes airing weekly until the finale on May 25 .
Fans can catch the premiere episode, titled “Future Days”, tonight at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT on HBO and Max. The title nods to a Pearl Jam song featured in the original game, though the show’s timeline may alter its inclusion . UK viewers can watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW starting Monday, April 14 at 2 AM BST, with a primetime repeat at 9 PM . In Australia, the episode drops Monday at 11 AM AEST on Max or Foxtel .
Release schedule and episode count
Season 2 consists of seven episodes, each releasing weekly on Sundays. Here’s the full schedule:
- Episode 1: “Future Days” – April 13
- Episode 2 – April 20
- Episode 3 – April 27
- Episode 4 – May 4
- Episode 5 – May 11 (shortest episode at 45 minutes)
- Episode 6 – May 18 (one-hour runtime)
- Episode 7 – May 25
UK episode titles, revealed by The Independent, include “Eye for an Eye” (Episode 2) and “Every Last One of Them” (Episode 7) .
What to expect in Season 2
Set five years after Season 1, the story follows Joel and Ellie in Jackson, Wyoming, where their fragile peace shatters as past choices resurface. HBO’s logline teases they’ll face “conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous” than before .
Newcomer Kaitlyn Dever joins as Abby, a pivotal character from The Last of Us Part II seeking vengeance. Other new cast members include Isabela Merced as Ellie’s love interest Dina and Young Mazino as community leader Jesse . Catherine O’Hara also appears in an original role as Joel’s therapist .
Showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin confirmed Season 2 adapts only part of The Last of Us Part II, with the story spanning multiple seasons. HBO has already renewed the series for Season 3 .
“We don’t think we’ll tell the full story even within two seasons,” Mazin told Deadline. “Season 3 will be significantly larger, and the story may require Season 4” .
Returning and new cast members
Key returning actors:
- Pedro Pascal as Joel
- Bella Ramsey as Ellie
- Gabriel Luna as Tommy
- Rutina Wesley as Maria
Notable additions:
- Jeffrey Wright as WLF leader Isaac Dixon (reprising his game role)
- Danny Ramirez, Tati Gabrielle, and Ariela Barer as WLF soldiers
How to watch
All episodes stream on Max in the U.S. and Australia. UK viewers need Sky Atlantic or NOW subscriptions. Season 1 is available on these platforms for newcomers .
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For more updates on The Last of Us, tune in to Vviptimes.
SOURCE: USA Today, The Independent
