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<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/01/24/5204a08a/hbo_tlou.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="HBO's The Last of Us season 1 episode 2 viewership new record" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p>
<p>Last week, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/gamer-culture/2023/01/17/the-last-of-us-premiere-was-hbos-second-largest-debut-since-2010" target="_blank"><em>The Last of Us'</em> premiere scored HBO's second largest debut</a> for an original series since 2010. And now, Episode 2 of <em>The Last of Us</em>, "Infected," has broken another HBO record.</p>
<p>"Infected" brought in 5.7 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max streams, marking a 22% increase over last week's 4.7-million premiere. That increase is the largest audience increase from a first episode to a second episode for an original drama series on HBO in the network's history, as first reported by <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/the-last-of-us-episode-2-ratings-viewers-1235499252/" target="_blank"><em>Variety</em></a>. HBO calls it the "largest week 2 audience growth for an HBO Original drama series in the history of the network," which speaks further to the wide success of <em>The Last of Us. </em></p>
<p>Weirdly enough, even though HBO is usually quick to capitalize on series success with an announcement of a second or sequel season, it has not yet done that for <i>The Last of Us</i>, although every sign points to a greenlight for a Season 2. </p>
<p>Episode 1 of <em>The Last of Us</em> crossed 10 million viewers after just two days last week and now, <em>Variety </em>reports that it is tracking 18 million, which is nearly four times its premiere night audience. </p>
<p>While waiting for this week's episode, read our interview with game co-creator Neil Druckmann and Joel actor Pedro Pascal about <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/interview/2023/01/06/druckmann-and-pascal-on-how-the-last-of-us-changed-for-tv" target="_blank">how The Last of Us was changed for TV</a>, and then read about how <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/gamer-culture/2023/01/06/there-are-no-plans-for-the-last-of-us-show-to-go-beyond-the-games" target="_blank">there are no plans for <em>The Last of Us</em> show to go beyond the games</a>. </p>
<p><em>[Source: <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/the-last-of-us-episode-2-ratings-viewers-1235499252/" target="_blank">Variety</a>]</em></p>
<p><i>Did you like Episode 2 more than Episode 1? Let us know in the comments below!</i></p>