The Last of Us Returns to HBO Max Top 10 After Catherine O'Hara's Death

Collider reports that HBO's The Last of Us has climbed to No. 3 on HBO Max's top ten streaming chart, more than eight months after the second season finale, dethroning currently airing shows like Industry. The outlet says the surge followed news of Catherine O'Hara's sudden passing.

O'Hara guest-starred in Season 2 as Gail Lynden, the Jackson community's psychotherapist, a role that departed from her usual comedic work. Gail has a fraught history with Joel (Pedro Pascal) — Joel killed her ex-husband Eugene (Joe Pantoliano) — yet she restrains herself while treating him.

For the performance, O'Hara earned an Emmy nomination for Guest Actress in a Drama Series; she died after a brief illness on January 30, 2026. Recent reporting also notes that the series may be nearing its end: HBO Max boss Casey Bloys said in an interview it "certainly seems" The Last of Us could finish with Season 3, but he deferred the decision to the showrunner.

Season 2 delivered a major twist by changing protagonists after Ellie (Bella Ramsey) dies; Season 3 will focus on Abby (Kaitlin Dever) and will proceed without game co-creator Neil Druckmann, who left after Season 2, while Craig Mazin remains involved. WarnerMedia reports Season 2 saw growth in viewership, with each episode drawing nearly 37 million global viewers, up from Season 1's 32 million, and the series has attracted over 90 million global viewers so far.

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