In recent years, post-apocalyptic shows have become a widespread trend on television, offering a unique take on a catastrophic event that has taken over the world. Many shows have garnered critical acclaim for their attention to detail and performances, such as HBO’s The Last of Us, which has generated a lot of buzz even before its release. Another notable example is The Leftovers, which focuses on the aftermath of a mysterious event that causes 2% of the world’s population to disappear without explanation. The show’s attention to detail and performances, particularly from series leads Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon, earned it critical acclaim. Chernobyl, a true story about the 1986 nuclear disaster, also tells the devastating effects of the catastrophe on the people and environment. The show’s head writer, Craig Mazin, is set to serve as head showrunner on The Last of Us, a testament to the show’s success.
Station Eleven takes a different approach by exploring the events leading up to the collapse of civilization rather than the apocalypse itself. The show’s use of a deadly flu pandemic as the cause of the apocalypse feels eerily relevant to our current world. The focus on art and culture in the face of disaster is a unique aspect of the series.
A Still From Station Eleven (Photo: Station Eleven)
Comic book adaptations have also made their mark on the post-apocalyptic genre, with shows like Y The Last Man, Sweet Tooth, and Into the Badlands. The Last Man on Earth stands out by using humor to skewer genre conventions and tell a unique story of survival and community. Snowpiercer is a recent addition to the post-apocalyptic genre, taking place on a train where survivors of a catastrophic event must navigate class divisions and rebellion to survive.
Each of these shows offers a unique take on the post-apocalyptic genre, from the realistic to the fantastical. While the end of the world may seem like a bleak subject matter, many of these shows are both entertaining and thought-provoking. With the success of shows like The Leftovers and Chernobyl, it’s no wonder that audiences are drawn to the post-apocalyptic genre. The upcoming release of The Last of Us is likely to be a big year for the genre.
