Have you started The Last of Us yet? Or do you prefer not to suffer from nightmares on Sunday nights? Well, the story will continue a little earlier when HBO releases Episode Five this Friday, February 10, at 9 p.m. Likely due to this Sunday’s Super Bowl broadcast, the next episode arrives two days early. I guess even clickers are no match for Patrick Mahomes on a busted ankle. Either way, know this: there’s still plenty of time to catch up on the post-apocalyptic series.
The Last of Us is based on the best-selling PlayStation game of the same name, which tasks its players with surviving a brutal, fungus-y pandemic, that may have started in a flour factory. The video game was originally released in 2013 to instant critical acclaim—it even received a memorable (yet very, very dark) sequel, four years later. And so far, HBO has brought heaps of that action and terror to the small screen. Starring The Mandalorian‘s Pedro Pascal and Game of Thrones alum Bella Ramsey, it tells a story about two unlikely travelers who find themselves dependent on each other for survival.
This Sunday saw the debut of the fourth episode, which introduced Melanie Lynskey’s villain, Kathleen. There’s also an ominous rumbling underground, which a teaser image from HBO revealed is a big, scary fungus monster. If that sounds up your alley, look no further. Here’s how you can tune into The Last of Us on HBO.
Want to Know a Little Bit More About The Last of Us?
Take our word for it—The Last of Us is 2023’s first great television series. But if you want to know a little bit more about this particular post-apocalyptic tale, here goes: The Last of Us is set 20 years after modern civilization was destroyed. The cordyceps fungus evolves to infect humans, turning them into zombie-mushroom monsters. The show follows Joel (Pascal), a skilled survivor who’s hired to smuggle Ellie (Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl (and potentially humanity’s only hope!) out of a quarantine zone. Together, they make the brutal trek across the country, to a mysterious destination. We don’t want to spoil too much for you, of course.
When Will the Rest of The Last of Us Hit HBO?
The Last of Us premiered the first of what will be nine episodes on January 15 on HBO and HBO Max. From now until March 13, you can tune in every Sunday at 9 p.m. (save for the exception of this upcoming Friday’s Episode Five) to watch Joel and Ellie’s story unfold. Rest assured—even for diehard fans of the series—there are many, many surprises in store. Strap on your gas masks, folks.
Watch The Last of Us on HBO Max
Associate Staff Writer
Bria McNeal is a Manhattan based journalist who is patiently awaiting B5’s revival. When she’s not writing about all things entertainment, she can be found watching TV or trying to DIY something (likely, at the same time). Her work has appeared in NYLON, Refinery29, InStyle, and her personal newsletter, StirCrazy.