Why The Last Of Us Season 2’s Audience Score Plummeted Compared To Season 1

by

Caution! This article discloses SPOILERS for The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 7. Unlike its predecessor, The Last of Us Season 2 received a less favorable audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes due to several factors. The overall narrative of the second season sparked disagreement among viewers, and the controversial ending continued this trend. From Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) demise to Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) debatable decisions, the series didn’t meet the expectations of many viewers who were not familiar with the original games. Consequently, The Last of Us Season 2 garnered a lower audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes compared to its initial season.

The divisive nature of ‘The Last of Us’ isn’t surprising, but there’s a puzzling aspect in its Rotten Tomatoes score: while season 2 received high praise from critics, audiences seem less impressed. The “Critics Consensus” on this show’s second season describes it as an “ambitious expansion that maintains the quality of its predecessor with outstanding performances and realism.” It’s unclear why viewers have reacted negatively after such a highly-appraised first season. Numerous elements could have led to the lower ratings, each playing their part in shaping the overall response.

How The Last Of Us Season 2’s RT Scores Compare To Season 1

The Last Of Us Season 2’s Audience Score Is Nearly 50% Lower Than Season 1’s

In a surprising turn, fans of “The Last of Us” season 2 have given it a significantly lower rating compared to its predecessor on Rotten Tomatoes. While the show maintained a strong 94% approval from critics, viewers’ ratings plummeted to 39%. In contrast, season 1 enjoyed a higher 96% critical acclaim and an audience score of 86%. Even considering the controversial episode 3 of season 1 that depicted a gay couple, which led to review bombing, the difference in viewer scores between seasons is substantial – a drop of 47%. This stark contrast between critic and audience reactions is particularly noteworthy given that there was only a minor 2% drop in scores among critics.

How The Last Of Us Season 2’s Audience Score Has Changed

The Last Of Us Season 2’s Scores Dropped After Joel’s Death & Hit Their Lowest At Episode 6

It’s worth noting that the audience scores for The Last of Us season 2 didn’t skyrocket right from the start; instead, they gradually decreased. The premiere episode garnered a decent 74% score, but the second episode, which showcased Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) brutal demise, saw a significant drop to 55%. By episode 5, the season had already dipped to a 41% audience score, just two points away from its current standing of 39%. The last two episodes didn’t significantly affect the overall season score, even though the controversial cliffhanger ending of The Last of Us season 2 sparked much debate.

It appears that the primary source of unfavorable comments about The Last of Us season 2 is centered around Joel’s demise. This aspect has sparked some debate, given that his shocking and violent death occurred only two episodes into the series, leaving one of its key characters out of the picture. Consequently, it seems that numerous viewers of The Last of Us season 2 found Joel’s absence palpable, and even his flashback scenes failed to improve the show’s overall ratings among audiences. Essentially, Joel’s death had a significant impact on the show’s review scores, and they never fully recovered from it.

The Last Of Us’ Game Changes Have Proved Divisive

Ellie’s Personality & A Few Key Moments Being Different Affected The Last Of Us Season 2

As a dedicated fan, one of the major factors that left a sour taste for many viewers in The Last of Us season 2 was the creative liberties it took compared to The Last of Us Part II. It seems there’s a divide among critics, with some praising the show for staying true to the game and others feeling it strayed too far. To be honest, The Last of Us season 2 did make some questionable choices, and these alterations were a point of contention for fans of the video games. There were certainly plenty of changes in The Last of Us season 2, episode 7 alone, and the broader shifts were met with a lot of debate.

In a notable shift for The Last of Us season 2, Ellie’s portrayal appeared to deviate significantly from the game version. For instance, her “dad” line in episode 4 showcased her lighter, less gruff demeanor on screen compared to the vengeful Ellie in the games. Certain alterations seemed to diminish her bond with Joel, like the porch flashback in episode 6. Overall, it gave the impression that The Last of Us season 2 toned down the morally grey and frequently unsettling narrative found in the games. It’s also possible that some criticism stemmed from viewers who were resistant to a story centered around a lesbian character.

The Last Of Us Season 2 Was Always Going To Be A Hard Sell To Audiences

The Last Of Us’ Story Was Already Divisive To Gamers, & TV Viewers Had The Same Problems With Joel’s Death

It seems that one of the primary reasons why The Last of Us season 2 has sparked such debate among viewers is due to its storyline being inherently controversial. Specifically, The Last of Us Part II starts with the shocking death of a beloved protagonist, Joel, at the hands of Abby in its initial scenes. This sudden turn of events left many fans feeling disconnected as they deeply admired Joel’s character. To complicate matters further, both the show and game chose to explore Abby’s perspective, which understandably created resentment among viewers who found it difficult to sympathize with her role in Joel’s demise.

In essence, the dilemma faced by The Last of Us season 2 was a challenging one: they needed to strike a balance between staying true to the game for fans who loved it, while also making adjustments to attract those who were not initially fond. Unfortunately, this approach seemed to leave both groups unsatisfied, contributing to lower viewership ratings.

What The Last Of Us Season 2’s RT Audience Score Means For Season 3

The Last Of Us’ Rotten Tomatoes Score Likely Won’t Change Much, But Could Make Season 3 More Faithful To The Games

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I must say that the audience ratings for season 2 of “The Last of Us” on Rotten Tomatoes may not significantly influence the direction of season 3. The reason being, season 3 is set to delve deeper into Abby’s storyline rather than continuing Ellie’s narrative as extensively. Consequently, most of the plot for The Last of Us season 3 has already been mapped out, and HBO is unlikely to make drastic changes to elements that have previously been introduced. Abby’s perspective will undoubtedly offer a fresh take on these events, but given the established storyline, a major U-turn in “The Last of Us” seems unlikely, unless they decide to adopt a narrative style similar to “Rashomon.

As a dedicated fan of “The Last of Us,” I can’t help but ponder over the potential implications for season 3. HBO might be sensitive to the criticisms about the show’s deviations from The Last of Us Part II and could work towards a more accurate portrayal in the upcoming season. On the other hand, they might introduce alterations to the game that enhance Abby’s likeability and emotional depth, which could help mitigate some of the harsh feelings about following Joel’s killer throughout an entire season. Time will tell, but it seems that “The Last of Us” season 3 might be open to listening to its audience in the long run.

Read More

2025-05-28 00:08