The Last of Us on HBO is one of the most popular TV shows right now, and after premiering its critically acclaimed third episode yesterday (Sunday, January 29), it shows no signs of slowing down.
Don’t worry if you are left behind. Now is the perfect time to hop aboard The Last of Us hype train. This is because HBO has made the entire first episode of The Last of Us free to watch our website (Opens in a new tab). Just to reiterate, you don’t need an HBO account or an HBO Max subscription to watch, The Last of Us episode 1 is streaming free for everyone.
Interested viewers in the uk will be pleased to hear that it has also been uploaded to Sky channel on YouTube (Opens in a new tab). Sky owns the rights to broadcast The Last of Us, and the show also airs weekly on streaming service NOW. Likewise, no Sky or NOW account is required to watch the first episode of The Last of Us for free in the UK
The Last of Us is a huge success
After just three weeks into its nine-episode run, The Last of Us has already become a massive hit for HBO. It debuted to nearly 5 million viewers on its first night, making it the second-biggest TV show on HBO in over a decade. Naturally, HBO has confirmed a second season (Opens in a new tab) Previously.
The Last of Us is adapted from the best-selling video game of the same name and follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), a gruff survivor in the post-apocalyptic United States, as he attempts to smuggle a young girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey) through the country’s ruins. In our The Last of Us review, we gave the show a perfect score and said: “HBO’s The Last of Us isn’t just a front runner for the best video game adaptation ever. It’s also a great series about life in a post-apocalyptic world.”
Across the first batch of episodes, we were deeply impressed by its ability to meticulously adapt the original material while making well-thought-out changes that further flesh out The Last of Us’ world. Whether you’re a gamer or not, this is one HBO show that you absolutely need to watch.
Allowing curious viewers the chance to enjoy an excellent first episode without having to sign up for HBO Max is definitely appreciated. But be warned, by the time the credits roll, you’ll likely have to sign up for an HBO account so you can follow Joel and Ellie’s journey – this is definitely a show that’s got you hooked from the start.
This isn’t the first time HBO has made the pilot episode of a major new show free to watch, either. The network used the same promotional tactic with House of the Dragon last year. HBO clearly views this as a good way to generate more interest in a new series, and it will probably do the same when Succession season 4 begins in March.
