The Last of Us Season 3, Season 2, & Streaming: What We Know

If you’ve been following the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us, you’ve probably heard conflicting updates about season 2, season 3, and which streaming service actually has it. One thing is certain: the series has become one of the most talked-about dramas on television, drawing both game loyalists and newcomers into its brutal post-apocalyptic world.

Number of seasons aired: 1 · Total episodes in Season 1: 9 · Premiere date: January 15, 2023 · IMDb rating: 9.4/10 · Rotten Tomatoes (critics): 96%

Seven key facts about the series, one pattern: the timeline of releases has been tightly linked to the game’s original story.

Is Season 3 of The Last of Us Out Yet?

Current status of Season 3

• HBO officially renewed The Last of Us for a third season on April 9, 2025, before season 2 even premiered (Wikipedia).
• No release date has been announced for season 3. Industry speculation places it no earlier than 2026, given the production timeline (Cosmopolitan).

Will Ellie and Joel appear in Season 3?

• Ellie (Bella Ramsey) is expected to return if the series continues to follow the video game’s narrative (Wikipedia).
• Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) fate in season 3 remains uncertain. The game The Last of Us Part II features a major death early in its story, which would affect his involvement in later seasons (Wikipedia).

The implication: Joel’s absence in season 3 would be a dramatic shift, but one faithful to the source material.

Will There Be a Second Season of The Last of Us?

Season 2 premiere and production

• Yes, season 2 has already aired. It premiered on April 13, 2025 on HBO and Max, and concluded on May 25, 2025 after 7 episodes (Wikipedia).
• The season adapts portions of the 2020 game The Last of Us Part II (The Last of Us Wiki).

What is the significance of Episode 7 in Season 2?

• Episode 7 of season 2, titled “Convergence,” was actually the season finale (The Last of Us Wiki). The season had only 7 episodes, not 9 like season 1.
• New episodes were released weekly on Sundays at 9 PM ET on HBO and Max (Cosmopolitan).

Was Episode 7 the Finale of The Last of Us?

Episode 7 in Season 1 vs. Season 2

• In season 1, episode 7 was not the finale; the finale was episode 9 (“Look for the Light”) (Wikipedia).
• In season 2, episode 7 was the finale (Wikipedia).

How many episodes are in each season?

• Season 1: 9 episodes (Wikipedia).
• Season 2: 7 episodes (Wikipedia).

The pattern: Season 2’s shorter run allowed the story to focus on a narrower portion of the game’s timeline, building to a cliffhanger that sets up season 3.

Is The Last of Us on Netflix or Prime Video?

Where to stream The Last of Us

• The Last of Us is an HBO original series, so in the United States it streams exclusively on Max (formerly HBO Max) (Wikipedia).
• It is not available on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video natively. However, in some international markets, it may be accessible via Amazon Prime Video’s HBO add-on channel (Wikipedia).

For other HBO series updates, check our coverage of House of Dragon Season 3 and Cast of The Gilded Age.

Why Was Joel Killed Off in The Last of Us?

Joel’s death in the video game vs. the TV series

• Joel’s death occurs early in the video game The Last of Us Part II, serving as the inciting incident that drives Ellie’s revenge journey (Wikipedia).
• The TV series is expected to follow the same plot for season 2, meaning Joel’s fate is likely to be carried over (Wikipedia).

Narrative reasons behind Joel’s fate

• Game director Neil Druckmann has stated that Joel’s death was always intended to be the catalyst for Ellie’s story, forcing her to confront the consequences of Joel’s actions in the first game (Wikipedia).
• Killing a beloved protagonist early is a bold narrative choice that raises emotional stakes and challenges the audience’s expectations.

Timeline of Key Events

• June 14, 2020 – The Last of Us Part II video game released
• January 15, 2023 – HBO series Season 1 premieres
• March 12, 2023 – Season 1 finale airs
• January 2023 – HBO renews The Last of Us for Season 2
• April 13, 2025 – Season 2 premieres
• April 9, 2025 – Season 3 officially renewed
• May 25, 2025 – Season 2 finale (Episode 7)

The trade-off: Each season has been tied to a specific game, but the adaptation has taken creative liberties to expand the story. The pacing between seasons has slowed as production scales up.

Clarity Check: What’s Confirmed vs. What’s Still Unclear

Voices from the Show

Ending season 1 where we did allowed the story to breathe and set up the emotional stakes for what comes next.

Craig Mazin, co-creator (interview with Deadline)

We are delighted to confirm that The Last of Us will return for a second season.

HBO press release (via HBO official site)

Joel’s death was always intended as the catalyst for Ellie’s journey into darkness.

Neil Druckmann, game director (interview with Game Informer)

For fans who have followed the series since its premiere, the path forward is clear: the next season will test viewers’ loyalty as the story takes a darker turn, and the big question of whether Joel’s death will play out exactly as in the game remains. The trade-off: we get a faithful adaptation, but at the cost of comfort. For the audience, the choice is to trust the journey or brace for heartbreak.

For viewers wondering about where to watch, the streaming guide for season 2 breaks down every platform and release schedule.

Frequently asked questions