HBO actually cares about the numbers for The Final of Us, apparently. In gentle of a sure soccer sport that may possible dominate airwaves and streaming time on Sunday—throughout the identical slot of time when The Final of Us normally will get launched—the sequence’ fifth episode will as an alternative premiere on streaming companies on Friday, February 10, at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. It would additionally nonetheless run on the HBO channel on Sunday throughout its common timeslot, however followers received’t be requested to decide on between the apocalyptic horror drama and the buff males working round with a ball.

It is a one-time factor. Based on the press launch, “new episodes of the sequence will proceed to air Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and can be out there to stream on HBO Max, main as much as the season finale on March 12.”

Actually, it’s type of good that HBO is keen to regulate its schedule to accommodate multi-fandom viewers. Going toe-to-toe with one other present is likely to be par for the course, however making an attempt to go level for level (or viewer for viewer) towards America’s greatest sporting occasion most likely isn’t the very best matchup. (Did I embrace sufficient sports activities metaphors in that sentence? One thing one thing, darkish horse, match level, spike it, penalty, you get it.)

The Final of Us stars Pedro Pascal as Joel, a person employed to escort a younger woman, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) throughout the nation. A love wolf and cub story within the mutant-fungi zombie wasteland, the present has been getting heaps of essential acclaim and appears to be adapting the supply materials—a PlayStation online game by Naughty Canine—with admirable veracity and thoughtful changes.

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