Once again positioned against an intense field of competition, HBO’s “The Leftovers” managed gains in adults 18-49 and total viewership this week.

It actually ranked as the highest-rated and most-watched episode of the season.

Sunday’s episode, which was the third second season broadcast, drew a 0.38 adults 18-49 rating with 777,000 viewers.

The numbers best those of last week’s episode (0.25, 552,000) and the previous week’s season premiere (0.33, 713,000).

Welcome, the improvement does not bring the show into “strong” ratings territory. Its viewership remains dramatically below even the worst first season performance.

The more competitive fall scheduling is at least partially to blame for that decline. This week’s episode, for example, faced Sunday Night Football, the MLB playoffs, and “The Walking Dead.”

The first “The Leftovers” season aired in the summer — and with lead-in support from “True Blood.”