Five shows to stream now that ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 is over
Five shows to stream now that ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 is over
Whether you’re into emotional journeys or full-on zombie panic, these five shows deliver.
“The Last of Us” Season 2 just ended, leaving us once again waiting for one of the best shows on TV to return. As far as I’m concerned, “The Last of Us” is the greatest video game adaptation ever made — a stunning series that totally does justice to one of the best modern games out there. It’s brutal, emotional, beautifully acted, and grounded in a world that somehow feels both hopeless and deeply human. But now that this chapter’s closed (for now), it’s time to find something else to scratch that zombie and post-apocalyptic itch. Here are five other shows that absolutely deliver.
The Last of Us
Twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed, Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the United States and depend on each other for survival.
Loved ‘The Last of Us’? Watch: ‘Station Eleven’
If “The Last of Us” pulled you in with its emotional depth and focus on how people survive after everything falls apart, “Station Eleven” is right up your alley. Set in the aftermath of a global flu pandemic that wipes out most of the population, it’s a post-apocalyptic drama that, like “The Last of Us,” explores the messy, fragile ways people try to hold onto love, memory, and purpose. The show jumps across timelines, following a Shakespearean troupe, a lonely cult leader, and scattered survivors all piecing together meaning in a broken world.
But unlike “The Last of Us,” there are no zombies, no shootouts, and no clear-cut villains. “Station Eleven” leans into the emotional and philosophical side of the apocalypse — what do we pass on when the old world is gone? What’s actually worth saving? It’s quiet, poetic, and somehow still hopeful — a slower burn, but just as moving.
Check out ‘The Walking Dead’
For the zombie-lovers of it all, “The Walking Dead” is an obvious next stop. This franchise just keeps going — a testament to how powerful the original concept is and how much world-building it’s done over time. Like “The Last of Us,” it’s set in a post-apocalyptic world where survivors try to hold on to what makes them human while fighting off both the undead and each other. The focus isn’t just on action — it’s on how trauma reshapes people, for better or worse.
What sets “The Walking Dead” apart is its sheer scope. While “The Last of Us” feels intimate and character-driven, “The Walking Dead” sprawls across seasons, spin-offs, and shifting group dynamics. It’s more of a slow grind, with survival as a way of life, not just a mission. And while Joel and Ellie’s journey feels emotionally focused, Rick Grimes and his ever-changing crew face a larger, messier collapse of society. It’s a post-apocalyptic saga with zombies front and center… gory, intense, and still evolving.
The Walking Dead
Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world dominated by flesh-eating zombies. He sets out to find his family and encounters many other survivors along the way.
Don’t miss ‘Sweet Tooth’
If you loved the bond between Joel and Ellie in “The Last of Us,” “Sweet Tooth” delivers a similar emotional core — just with a more whimsical twist. Set in the aftermath of a mysterious virus that wipes out most of humanity, it follows a boy named Gus, a human-deer hybrid, and his unlikely protector as they journey through a crumbling world. It’s definitely post-apocalyptic, but instead of zombies, the danger comes from fear, distrust, and what’s left of society trying to control what it doesn’t understand.
What makes “Sweet Tooth” different is its tone. While “The Last of Us” is gritty and grounded, “Sweet Tooth” blends fairy-tale vibes with real-world stakes. There’s violence and heartbreak, sure, but it’s also more hopeful and visually imaginative. Think lush forests, quirky characters (I mean, the lead is half deer!), and a coming-of-age story wrapped in a survival tale. It’s gentler, but still packs a punch — especially if you’re into stories about unlikely friendships and what it means to protect the future.
Sweet Tooth
On an epic adventure across a postapocalyptic world, a lovable boy who’s part human and part deer searches for family and home with a gruff protector.
Try out ‘Silo’
If “The Last of Us” hooked you with its sense of mystery, dread, and the weight of survival in a ruined world, “Silo” hits a lot of the same notes — just in a totally different setting. It’s post-apocalyptic, but instead of open landscapes and overgrown cities, the last remnants of humanity live in a massive underground silo, completely cut off from the surface. No zombies here, but the paranoia and danger feel just as real. The story starts small, then unspools into a massive conspiracy that questions everything these people have been told about the outside world.
Where “The Last of Us” is raw and emotional, “Silo” leans into slow-burn tension and world-building. The drama is quieter, but the stakes are just as high — especially once engineer-turned-reluctant-hero Juliette (played brilliantly by Rebecca Ferguson) starts digging into the truth. The show’s production design is next-level, creating a world that feels both futuristic and crumbling, orderly and oppressive. If you’re into big questions about control, rebellion, and who gets to decide the truth in a post-collapse world, this one’s a must-watch.
Silo
In a ruined and toxic future, thousands live in a giant silo deep underground. After its sheriff breaks a cardinal rule and residents die mysteriously, engineer Juliette starts to uncover shocking secrets and the truth about the silo.
One more: ‘Black Summer’
Imagine “The Last of Us” but even bleaker and more urgent. “Black Summer” is that kind of energy. Set during the early days of a zombie apocalypse, this show throws you straight into the chaos — no big exposition dumps, just people scrambling to stay alive. It’s fully post-apocalyptic, packed with fast-moving zombies and a sense of panic that never really lets up. The storytelling is spare but effective, often shifting perspectives and dropping you into one high-stakes moment after another.
Unlike “The Last of Us,” which balances character development with big emotional arcs, “Black Summer” is all about the moment-to-moment terror of collapse. It’s not trying to explain the apocalypse — it just drops you into it and dares you to keep up. There are no safe zones, no long-term plans, and very few chances to breathe. If you want something leaner, meaner, and way more stripped down, this one’s for you.
Black Summer
In the dark, early days of a zombie apocalypse, complete strangers band together to find the strength they need to survive and get back to loved ones.
More to watch after finishing ‘The Last of Us’
‘Chernobyl’ | HBO Max
Chernobyl
The true story of one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history: the catastrophic nuclear accident at Chernobyl. A tale of the brave men and women who sacrificed to save Europe from unimaginable disaster.
‘Fallout’ | Prime Video
Fallout
The story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. 200 years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind — and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them.
‘The 100’ | Netflix
The 100
100 years in the future, when the Earth has been abandoned due to radioactivity, the last surviving humans live on an ark orbiting the planet — but the ark won’t last forever. So the repressive regime picks 100 expendable juvenile delinquents to send down to Earth to see if the planet is still habitable.
‘The Leftovers’ | HBO Max
The Leftovers
When 2% of the world’s population abruptly disappears without explanation, the world struggles to understand just what they’re supposed to do about it. This is the story of the people who didn’t make the cut.
‘Tales of the Walking Dead’ | AMC+
Tales of the Walking Dead
An episodic anthology series focused on both new and established characters set in the world of “The Walking Dead.”