The Last of Us season 2 release schedule: When is episode 3 out?

In only the second episode of this latest instalment, one of the show's lead characters has bitten the dust in a manner almost identical to that of the corresponding video game – and it's destined to prove controversial (again).

"People are going to be upset," said executive producer Craig Mazin (via USA Today). "That's sometimes how good drama goes. This was something that was always meant to happen. So much of the first season was, in a weird way, leading to this moment. And it's upsetting."

Of course, we're talking about the unceremonious and sudden death of Pedro Pascal's Joel, which caused uproar when it occurred in the source material as fans had grown attached to the character.

In this adaptation, there's an added layer of surprise in that Pascal is one of the most popular actors in the world right now, but he was informed of the strictly limited duration of his role before signing up.

Mazin continued: "When I talked to Pedro the first time, I said, 'This is how this will go.'

"I wanted him to know that we're not going to do this for seven seasons with you in that spot. We're going to do a season, and if it goes well and there's a second season, this will happen."

Those who haven't played through the games will have a lot of questions about what this means for the rest of this instalment and the already confirmed third season – hopefully, that will start to come into view next week.

On that note, here's everything you need to know about when you can expect The Last of Us season 2 episode 3 to land, plus the full release schedule for what is sure to be another impactful entry.

When will The Last of Us season 2 episode 3 be released?

The Last of Us season 2 episode 3 will be released on Monday 28th April at 2am BST in the UK.

In the US, that works out to Sunday 27th April at various different times throughout the evening - 9pm EST, 8pm CST, and 6pm EST.

How many episodes are there in The Last of Us season 2?

There are seven episodes of The Last of Us season 2 in total.

Fans will note that this means the second season is shorter than season 1, which boasted nine episodes.

Speaking on their decision to cut the amount of episodes going into the second instalment, co-showrunner Craig Mazin previously told Deadline: "The story material that we got from Part II of the game is way more than the story material that was in the first game, so part of what we had to do from the start was figure out how to tell that story across seasons.

"When you do that, you look for natural breakpoints, and as we laid it out, this season, the natural breakpoint felt like it came after seven episodes."

When do new episodes of The Last of Us come out?

The Last of Us season 2 premiered in the US on Sunday 13th April from 9pm PT/ET on HBO and Max, and then was broadcast simultaneously in the UK at 2am on Monday 14th April on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW.

New episodes are dropping weekly, meaning that fans can expect The Last of Us season 2 episode 3 to be released in the UK on Monday 28th April at 2am, followed by a 9pm repeat on Sky Atlantic.

In the US, the new episode will air on Sunday 27th April.

For more about release times around the globe, you can find out more now.

What is The Last of Us season 2 full release schedule?

The Last of Us season 2 will release one new episode a week, with each airing simultaneously both in the US and the UK.

This means that while US fans will be able to watch new episodes at 9pm, UK fans can also tune in at 2am on Sky Atlantic.

You can find the full release schedule for The Last of Us season 2 below:

• Episode 1 - Future Days - Monday 14th April at 2am BST (out now)
• Episode 2 - Through the Valley - Monday 21st April at 2am BST (out now)
• Episode 3 - Monday 28th April at 2am BST
• Episode 4 - Monday 5th May at 2am BST
• Episode 5 - Monday 12th May at 2am BST
• Episode 6 - Monday 19th May at 2am BST
• Episode 7 - Monday 26th May at 2am BST

Is there a trailer for The Last of Us season 2?

There is! You can watch the trailer for The Last of Us season 2 below.

The Last of Us season 1 is available on Sky Atlantic and NOW with an Entertainment Membership. Season 2 will be released from April.

Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on this week. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.