Nathan‘s list of 4 Shows to Watch After The Last of Us.
Was nine episodes of Last of Us not enough for you? Check out these four shows that should satisfy that hole left in your heart until Season Two arrives.
The Leftovers
What would happen if 2% of the human population suddenly vanished? This is not a post-apocalyptic show in the traditional sense, as the world is able to move on with 98% of the population still intact. However, this show beautifully explores the grief and questioning of faith that accompanies a tragic event that cannot be explained. Like The Last of Us, this show tackles difficult questions, emotions, and ethical situations while also finding the joy and happiness of living. If you are also a big fan of the strongly episodic structure of The Last of Us, you will enjoy how the The Leftovers is structured, particularly in its second and third seasons. Fair warning: the first season is much more bleak than the rest of the show. This is personally one of my favorite shows of all time.
Station Eleven
Based on the novel by Emily St. John Mandel, this is a stunning adaptation about a group of characters navigating a post-apocalyptic landscape. Like The Last of Us, most of the episodes are self-contained an explore a particular character or theme, all contributing to the larger narrative. Anchored by standout performances by Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, and Miranda Lawler, this is a tragic limited series that also finds time to explore what makes us human despite catastrophe – our ability to love, make meaningful connections, and produce art. This is a relatively short watch, but it’s not best to binge. This is one to definitely savor.
Sweet Tooth
Based on the graphic novel of the same name, this Netflix series (there is currently one season with a second season coming soon) is set in a post-apocalyptic world after a deadly virus kills most of humanity. But there is a catch – around the same time as the virus women started giving birth to half human/half animal babies. The show focus on a young boy, Gus – one of the half humans – whose father has hidden him away in the woods. When his father dies, Gus sets off to finally see the world. In addition to its post-apocalyptic setting, this show also has a similar “older protagonist pseud-adopting an eager youngster” vibe.
Chernobyl
This miniseries explores the terrible events leading up to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. While not post-apocalyptic like the other series on this list, this show has a similar vibe as The Last of Us, exploring how governments can fail the people through their inadequacy and corruption. It is no surprise that Chernobyl and The Last of Us have such similar vibes; both of them were written by Craig Mazin.
