HBO's Most Divisive Sci-Fi Hit Makes a Surprising Streaming Comeback

1 week ago 10

Published Feb 2, 2026, 12:25 PM EST

Denis is a news writer for Collider. He has covered television for several years, starting with writing scripts for YouTube videos before transitioning to articles. He has reviewed shows across different genres. His favorite types of articles to write are exciting news updates about shows and episodic reviews of the same. He might say he doesn't have a favorite show, but he has watched The Wire, Shameless, The Big Bang Theory, and The Blacklist more than once. Find him on X tweeting about something random that occurred to him about a TV show or the industry.

The Last of Us, HBO's divisive television adaptation of the 2013 video game of the same name, is back on HBO Max's streaming charts over eight months after airing its second season's finale. The hit show has quickly risen through the streamer to occupy the third position on the top ten chart, dethroning currently airing shows like Industry. This surge comes following the unfortunate news about Catherine O'Hara's sudden passing; she guest-starred in the second season. The veteran actress' untimely death has led to a surge across the board of her most popular projects, including The Studio, Schitt's Creek, Orange County, and more.

O'Hara joined The Last of Us in Season 2, playing Gail Lynden, the resident psychotherapist in the Jackson community. Gail has a complicated past with the main protagonist, Joel (Pedro Pascal), who killed her ex-husband Eugene (Joe Pantoliano), and she holds strong negative feelings towards Joel. However, Gail exercises restraint despite the conflict rising from her having to treat Joel. The role was a departure from O'Hara's typical comedic roles. For her performance as Gail, O'Hara earned an Emmy nomination for Guest Actress in a Drama series. She passed away after a brief illness on January 30, 2026.

'The Last of Us' Could Be Ending Soon

Recently, news broke that the sci-fi hit could be ending with its upcoming third season. HBO Max boss, Casey Bloys, said in an interview that it "certainly seems" that The Last of Us could end with Season 3, but deferred the decision to the showrunner, saying the network usually lets them handle that. The second season delivered a massive twist: the show officially changed its protagonist. Following Ellie's (Bella Ramsey) death, the third season focuses on Abby (Kaitlin Dever) and tells her side of the story. The upcoming season will also continue on without game co-creator Neil Druckmann, who departed the series after Season 2.

The Last of Us has been a success for HBO despite the cultural and creative controversies it has attracted. WarnerMedia reports a growth in Season 2's viewership, with each episode attracting nearly 37 million global viewers, up from Season 1's 32 million. The show so far has attracted over 90 million global viewers. The Last of Us Season 3 is set to begin production soon and will take place around the same time as Season 2. Craig Mazin, who co-created the PlayStation game with Druckmann, remains in the creative fold.

Watch all seasons of The Last of Us on HBO Max in the US. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.