The Dystopian Thriller Everyone Pirated In 2023
If there’s one thing that HBO knows how to do it’s create a show with so much buzz and hype surrounding it that those who don’t want to fork over the cash for a subscription will gladly turn to pirating. First, there was Game of Thrones, and now there is The Last of Us, the network’s mega-hit post-apocalyptic series from 2023.
While we don’t have any specific numbers for just how many times the Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey-led show was torrented, we know that it came in first just ahead of other titles including The Mandalorian and Loki.
The Last Of Us Was 2023’s Most Pirated Show
In fact, The Last of Us was the one title standing in Disney’s way of pirating bragging rights as the House of Mouse had four productions just behind it. Along with The Mandalorian and Loki, which hit second and third, respectively, Ahsoka and Secret Invasion were the next on the list.
From A Hit Game To The Small Screen
It’s easy to see how The Last of Us landed itself as the top pirated show of 2024. The project already had eyes on it from the countless gamers who dedicated hours of their time to playing the Naughty Dog series on their PCs and PlayStations. That alone gave the show the bump it needed to build a solid foundation but it quickly picked up more speed after its premiere.
8 Million Viewers Legally Watched Season 1’s Finale
The Last of Us’s grand debut raked in just short of 5 million viewers (and this is legally on HBO) while the finale almost doubled its numbers, with over 8 million viewers tuning in. Those digits alone shed a light on the phenomenon that was The Last of Us and how word spread like wildfire, with more and more audiences tuning in week after week.
Although it’s a stretch, it’s also worth considering that, as The Walking Dead bowed out at the end of 2022 following an 11-season run, folks were ready to sink their teeth into a new zombie series.
Season 2 Is A Long Way Off
As of right now, we know that The Last of Us will be returning for a second season but it’s unclear when that will be. The earliest appears to be in 2025 with HBO leaving it out of its 2024 sizzle reel. Still, Disney shouldn’t get too excited to climb to the top of the pirating charts for this year as Season 2 of House of the Dragon will swoop in over the summer, likely reclaiming its throne.
Where The Show Left Off
The first season of The Last of Us left off on a tearful note as Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) were back on the road after Ellie’s surgery didn’t quite pan out the way they were expecting. The final scene saw Joel lying to Ellie about what happened back at the hospital, with the two trekking back to Jackson, Wyoming to live with Joel’s brother, Tommy (Gabriel Luna).
We can expect the second season to follow closely to the game series so, if you don’t want to have everything spoiled for you, you should stay out of the rumor mill, specifically when it comes to the character who Kaitlyn Dever is in talks for. Stay tuned for more details for The Last of Us Season 2.
Source: Torrent Freak
