The apocalypse has arrived—not just on-screen, but in the ratings. HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 has reportedly suffered a massive blow in its cable viewership, with numbers crashing and burning following the controversial death of main character Joel, played by Pedro Pascal. Once hailed as the crown jewel of video game adaptations, the series now finds itself at the center of a growing backlash that could mark a turning point for its future.

According to early Nielsen reports and insider leaks, The Last of Us Season 2 premiere drew strong initial interest—likely riding on the momentum of Season 1’s critical and commercial success. But the excitement was short-lived. After Joel’s unexpected and brutal death in the opening episode, ratings for subsequent episodes took a nosedive.

A senior analyst at a major cable analytics firm described the aftermath plainly: “It’s a blood bath. Viewership among key demographics dropped by over 40% in just two weeks. That’s unprecedented for a show of this scale.”

Social media lit up with rage following Joel’s demise, especially among older viewers who had become deeply attached to the character. “You build this emotional connection, and then they rip it away in the first episode?” one fan tweeted. “No thanks.”

Boomers and Gen X viewers—many of whom discovered the series without ever playing the original game—have reportedly been tuning out in droves. Facebook groups dedicated to the show have seen a surge in exit posts, with users declaring they “won’t waste another minute” on a series that “betrayed its soul.”

The showrunners have defended their creative direction, stating that the series is staying true to the original The Last of Us Part II video game storyline. But critics argue that what works in an interactive medium doesn’t always translate to television.

“It’s one thing to play through Joel’s death. It’s another to watch it powerlessly,” explained media critic Lauren Hicks. “Fans feel robbed. Not just of a character, but of hope.”

Some insiders have also hinted that internal disagreements between the creative team and HBO executives may have preceded the controversial episode. “There was concern,” said one anonymous source, “that killing Joel so early could alienate the very audience that made the show a hit in the first place.”

On Facebook, where many older fans congregate, the reaction has been particularly harsh. Comments like “This isn’t storytelling—it’s character assassination” and “They lost me at Joel” have gone viral. Memes mocking the show’s direction have flooded fan pages, and multiple petitions demanding a rewrite of Season 2 have garnered thousands of signatures in just days.

The platform’s engagement metrics suggest a shift as well. Posts criticizing the show are outperforming promotional content from HBO, with some viral threads reaching over 500,000 users.

Despite the uproar, not everyone has abandoned ship. A portion of the fanbase applauds the bold narrative turn, calling it “brave” and “true to the source.” Younger viewers, particularly Gen Z fans familiar with the game, are more likely to stick around for Ellie’s revenge arc, which is expected to be the emotional backbone of the remaining season.

Still, HBO has a serious challenge ahead. The network will need to rebuild trust with a fractured audience while continuing to deliver high-quality episodes that resonate beyond controversy.

So what happens next? HBO has yet to release an official statement regarding the ratings drop, but insiders suggest that “adjustments” may already be underway for future episodes and marketing strategies. Whether this means more flashbacks with Joel, a narrative pivot, or simply riding out the storm remains to be seen.

One thing is clear: The Last of Us Season 2 is no longer just a show—it’s a battleground for fan expectations, artistic integrity, and the unpredictable power of audience sentiment in the streaming age.