The Last of Us episode 2 runtime: How long is episode 2?

The Last of Us returns to HBO and HBO Max with its second episode. How long will viewers be sitting in front of their TV screens this week?

What a week it’s been for HBO’s The Last of Us. The video game adaptation premiered on TV in the US, as well as the HBO Max streaming service in various locations around the world, to immediate success.

High viewing figures came after the positive reviews, with the show becoming HBO’s second-most-watched premiere of the past decade, drawing 4.7 million viewers on-the-night. With the help of HBO Max, that premiere reached over 10 million viewers in just two days.

The Last of Us‘ premiere was a thrilling watch, but it was also a long one. Can viewers expect an adventure that long every week, or was that just a cinematic introduction? If you’re ready for episode 2, here’s how long it is.

How long is The Last of Us episode 2?

The Last of Us episode 2 has a runtime of 55 minutes. That’s in and around the standard runtime of a HBO drama, but the real story here is that it’s significantly shorter than the pilot episode.

It’s not all that surprising that the premiere was so long when you factor in the time spent building the world and how it essentially had to begin again halfway through (after the time-jump). Since the show has an episode count of nine episodes in its first season, it’s possible that the lengthier premiere was doing the heavy lifting to make up for the lack of a tenth-episode.

Whatever the reason, this week’s episode is significantly shorter. Titled “Infected”, it will likely delve into the reveal at the end of the first installment and explore the dynamic between Joel, Tess, and Ellie.

Are you looking forward to The Last of Us episode 2? Let us know in the comments below!