‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Premiere Breaks Streaming Records on Crave

The Season 2 premiere of HBO’s The Last of Us just made a huge launch on Crave on Sunday night.

According to Bell Media, the debut episode saw a 23% jump in streaming numbers compared to the show’s very first episode, making it the third-biggest season premiere ever on the platform—only House of the Dragon Season 2 and Game of Thrones Season 8 had stronger day-one numbers.

Ahead of the new season, interest in the show surged. Viewership for Season 1 jumped by 124% in the week leading up to the premiere, said Bell Media on Monday.

Season 2 picks up five years after the events of Season 1, with Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) facing new tensions—and an even more dangerous world. Returning cast members include Gabriel Luna and Rutina Wesley, while new faces like Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, and Jeffrey Wright join the mix. Catherine O’Hara also makes a guest appearance.

There’s a Canadian connection to The Last of Us. Viewers in Kamloops might spot some local faces, such as resident Jason Hewlett. He told Castanet that himself and several friends were cast as apocalyptic construction workers in the first two episodes, filmed in Kamloops last February.

At the time, the shoot was kept under wraps and referred to as “MegaSword,” but Hewlett said it quickly became obvious it was the hit HBO series. Local extras were hired through a Lower Mainland casting call, bused to set from the airport, and spent long days shooting. Hewlett didn’t have lines but appeared in a scene with Canadian actor Darcy Laurie, and while he didn’t see stars Pedro Pascal or Bella Ramsey, he heard Pascal and Catherine O’Hara were filming nearby.

New episodes of The Last of Us air Sundays at 6pm PT/9pm ET on Crave.