Season 1 Overview and Episode Count
Season 1 of The Last of Us is a television adaptation of the 2013 action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The series premiered on HBO and HBO Max, and its first season consists of nine episodes. The showrunners are Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, who also co-created the original game. The series is produced by PlayStation Productions, Sony Pictures Television, and The Mighty Mint, with HBO serving as the primary network and distributor.
The narrative follows Joel, a hardened survivor, and Ellie, a young girl who may hold the key to restoring humanity, as they travel across a post-pandemic United States. The show blends survival, action, and character drama, and it has been praised for its fidelity to the source material while expanding certain storylines for television. According to HBO's official materials and press releases, the first season adapts key events from both the original game and its 2020 sequel, The Last of Us Part II.
Main Cast and Characters
Troy Baker stars as Joel Miller, and Bella Ramsey portrays Ellie. The cast also includes Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Anna Torv as Tess, and Nick Offerman as Bill, with each actor bringing the game's characters to life on screen. The ensemble includes both returning actors from the games and new performers added for the series, with casting choices aimed at matching the physical and emotional tone of the original characters.
Supporting roles include Murray Bartlett as Frank and Lamar Johnson as Henry, whose storylines expand the world beyond Joel and Ellie's journey. The series also features appearances by characters from the game's later events, with casting announcements and promotional materials from HBO confirming multiple actors reprise roles tied to the broader post-apocalyptic setting. Additional details on casting and character arcs are available through the show's official HBO pages and press coverage.
Streaming Platforms and Viewership Data
Season 1 of The Last of Us streams exclusively on HBO Max in the United States and on SkyShowtime in select international markets, with availability tied to HBO's distribution partnerships. The series premiere drew significant viewership, and HBO reported strong audience numbers that placed the show among its top-performing original series in the first weeks after launch. Metrics cited by HBO and industry analysts highlight the series as one of the most-watched HBO Max originals relative to other recent drama premieres.
Global demand data from Luminoso, cited in industry reports, ranked The Last of Us among the most in-demand TV shows in the weeks following its premiere, with engagement metrics compared against other major streaming series. The show's performance has been discussed in Forbes coverage and HBO's own investor communications, which reference audience growth and retention trends. For further details on distribution and platform availability, HBO's official site provides the latest regional streaming information.