It is onerous to consider it has been two years since “The Final of Us” took audiences by storm. As we at /Movie wrote of the thrilling, character-driven achievement in TV, “‘The Final of Us’ is a survival story that cares much less about how we survive than why, nevertheless it nonetheless manages to drag off some grisly motion to match its supply materials … Breathe a sigh of reduction: ‘The Final of Us” could be very, excellent.'”
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Primarily based on the online game franchise by Naughty Canine, the primary season takes place after the world has been overrun with a mutated Cordyceps virus turning people into hive-minded zombies. Pedro Pascal performs Joel, a grieving father entrusted with defending Ellie (Bella Ramsey), whereas escorting her throughout the nation after she’s found to be proof against the virus, hoping somebody can present a treatment.
The sequence has lastly returned for its highly-anticipated second season, which, for many who have performed “The Final of Us – Half II,” brings a certain quantity of dread. Whether or not “The Final of Us” season 2 works on tv stays to be seen, however even when it someway does not, listed here are our suggestions for extra reveals if you happen to’re a fan of the creators behind HBO’s hit, the trope of post-apocalypse and zombies, or just simply reveals the place really no one is protected from the cruelness of storytelling.
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These are the most effective reveals like HBO’s “The Final of Us.”
Chernobyl
Whereas “The Final of Us” as a online game was heralded by the sequence’ co-creator, Neil Druckmann, he had some assist from Craig Mazin, who had beforehand garnered acclaim on HBO together with his drama miniseries “Chernobyl.” Impressed by the titular nuclear catastrophe from 1986, “Chernobyl” was one of many cable community’s largest hits upon its launch in 2019, topping the streaming numbers of reveals like “Recreation of Thrones.”
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When it premiered, /Movie known as “Chernobyl” probably the most very important, terrifying, and related horror story of 2019, writing that it “excels at portraying not solely the bodily and physique horror that these women and men skilled, but additionally the psychological horror inflicted on them.” Of the sequence’ complete 5 episodes, Mazin was the screenwriter behind every one, bringing a sensitivity to the subject material that “The Final of Us” followers will acknowledge from his follow-up sequence, of which he additionally wrote or co-wrote all however one episode.
Most notably, there are many similarities in “Chernobyl” tonally to sure flashbacks from “The Final of Us” depicting the origin of the Cordyceps pandemic, albeit what makes “Chernobyl” way more chilling and hard-to-stomach is that it is no science-fiction. It definitely will not be the best watch, even for many who may simply deal with “The Final of Us,” however if you happen to had any appreciation for Mazin’s tv work, that is the subsequent sequence that you need to be watching.
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The Mandalorian
Many have famous how related Pedro Pascal’s position as Joel Miller in “The Final of Us” is to his position within the Disney+ “Star Wars” sequence “The Mandalorian.” Happening shortly after the occasions of the unique “Star Wars” trilogy, the sequence follows the procedural adventures of Din Djarin, a bounty hunter whose Mandalorian creed is examined when he rescues a baby of Yoda’s species and reluctantly turns into its surrogate father to guard it from remnants of the Empire.
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There are definitely similarities to the dynamic between Din Djarin and Grogu to Joel and Ellie in “The Final of Us,” however the reveals are additionally oddly related for his or her world-building. “The Final of Us” usually spends total episodes devoted to supporting characters that Joel and Ellie encounter on their journey, which can also be true for “The Mandalorian,” particularly when it highlights visitor stars like Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan or Invoice Burr’s Migs Mayfeld.
The present may not be as constant in high quality as “The Final of Us,” and Pascal’s position as Djarin usually is not way more than voiceover work, however as /Movie wrote in its season 3 assessment of “The Mandalorian,” which many take into account its weakest season, it nonetheless incorporates “what we beloved in regards to the present within the first place: the connection between Din and Grogu, mythos-expanding ‘Star Wars’ motion, and an entire lot of enjoyable.”
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Dopesick
Those that have performed by way of “The Final of Us – Half II” are well-acquainted with Abby, for higher or worse. Nonetheless, those that solely watched HBO’s adaptation will meet her for the primary time in season two, performed by Kaitlyn Dever (above). The actress has had a robust profession in comedy and drama to date, however for an concept of how properly she’ll slot in a present like “The Final of Us,” take a look at her efficiency in Hulu’s miniseries “Dopesick.”
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“Dopesick” dramatizes the impression of the opioid disaster on American households, with Dever enjoying Betsy, a coal miner who turns into hooked on OxyContin after it is prescribed to her for a again harm, sending her down a slippery slope of rehabilitation and desperation. Whereas the sequence does not function any zombies or post-apocalyptic survival, it makes the Cordyceps pandemic of “The Final of Us” look gentle compared to the epidemic of habit that swept America by way of the early twenty first century.
Particularly contemplating the controversy behind Dever’s “The Final of Us” character, followers know it’ll take lots for audiences to empathize with Abby. Fortunately, reveals like “Dopesick” show that Dever can do it simply, so in case you have any appreciation for the actress’ efficiency in “The Final of Us,” “Dopesick” is a robust (and essential) miniseries you must watch.
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Silo
Apple TV+ has turn out to be a brand new house for status tv, because the streaming house for a number of the greatest sci-fi reveals on TV for the time being. A kind of reveals is “Silo,” which premiered in 2023 and wrapped up its second in early 2025, with two extra on the best way. Primarily based on a sequence of novels by Hugh Howey, “Silo” facilities on a dystopic future the place humanity has survived in an underground advanced inside a large silo, with Rebecca Ferguson (above) starring as Juliette, an engineer who turns into embroiled in a homicide thriller with a righteous sheriff (David Oyelowo) and his suspicious spouse (Rashida Jones).
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Clearly, the dystopian setting of “Silo” is in elements much like “The Final of Us” provided that the floor world, believed by these contained in the silo to be toxic, appears ravaged by apocalyptic catastrophe. The group behind the titular silo can also be paying homage to FEDRA (the Federal Catastrophe Reply Company) within the HBO sequence, given how controlling they’re of their residents and secretive in regards to the origins of the surface world.
As we at /Movie wrote of the post-apocalyptic neo-noir’s intrigue and world-building, it “in the end stands other than commonplace post-apocalyptic fare due to its capability to deftly pull the viewers’s focus from one level of curiosity to a different, conserving us absolutely absorbed within the particulars of this unusual world all of the whereas.” Suffice it to say, if “The Final of Us” left you hungry for dystopian drama, “Silo” is one in every of TV’s present greatest.
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American Primeval
This latest Netflix miniseries does not have any dystopic authorities organizations or zombie virus outbreaks, however its exploration of mid-Nineteenth century America and deep exploration of its characters will enchantment to followers of “The Final of Us.” Having launched in January 2025, “American Primeval” finds Taylor Kitsch in a Joel Miller-esque position as Isaac, a mountaineer plagued with grief who reluctantly agrees to shepherd a mom (Betty Gilpin, seen above) and her disabled son (Preston Mota) by way of the damaging highway to California with a view to reunite with the boy’s father.
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“American Primeval” dominated Netflix’s prime charts upon launch, which must be no shock given how gripping it’s from begin to end. The sequence’ creator, Mark L. Smith, beforehand wrote Oscar-winning movie “The Revenant,” which ought to offer you some concept as to the best way this present depicts the brutality of nature. With solely six episodes, it is a brisk albeit bloody present that throws western tropes just like the “damsel-in-distress” or the “cowboy anti-hero” on its head, not not like “The Final of Us.”
When you had a specific affinity for the episodes of “The Final of Us” that particularly adopted the journey of Joel and Ellie by way of the American wild, “American Primeval” is the present for you. Whereas it does not boast any participating zombie motion, like “The Final of Us,” it understands that the true evil on the planet comes from different human beings.
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Yellowjackets
“Yellowjackets” is one other present that won’t have zombies, nevertheless it does have cannibalism, which it has in frequent with “The Final of Us.” The Showtime sequence premiered in 2021, centering on a highschool women’ soccer crew who find yourself in a airplane crash, leaving them stranded within the Canadian wild. In the meantime, the present concurrently explores their lives 25 years later, because the survivors nonetheless face penalties from their teenage trauma.
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Notably, one of many present’s largest stars is Melanie Lynskey, who performs Shauna. “The Final of Us” followers will acknowledge Lynskey from the HBO sequence, the place she performed Kathleen, the chief of a Kansas Metropolis-based revolution whose willpower to seek out and kill Henry (Lamar Johnson) and his youthful brother Sam (Keivonn Montreal Woodard) see a seemingly-sweet lady flip right into a ruthless monster.
/Movie wrote that the coming-of-age cannibal thriller sequence’ third season, regardless of having faltered a bit since its Emmy-nominated first season, “is proof optimistic that this present nonetheless has lots to say about female rage and the haunting powers of grief and guilt.” Plus, its checklist of visitor stars has begun to rival even the primary season of “The Final of Us,” with appearances by Hilary Swank, Elijah Wooden, and Joel McHale.
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Station Eleven
“Station Eleven” is just a restricted sequence of 10 episodes on HBO, that means it is a straightforward look ahead to “The Final of Us” followers biding time between new episodes of the second season. Primarily based on a novel by Emily St. John Mandel, “Station Eleven” takes place in an alternate future the place, not not like the Cordyceps virus (or, in all equity, the actual world), a pandemic has fully obliterated human civilization, nevertheless it facilities on a bunch of survivors who’ve banded collectively as The Touring Symphony, a post-apocalyptic theater troupe.
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Mackenzie Davis is the present’s middle as Kirsten, the troupe’s largest star, who was solely a baby when the pandemic started. The present equally explores how Kirsten survived as a baby with the assistance of Jeevan (Himesh Patel), a stranger who turns into her reluctant caretaker. The supporting forged additionally options gifted stars like David Cross, Lori Petty, and Gael García Bernal.
We at /Movie deemed “Station Eleven” a colourful, humane, and Shakespearean post-pandemic watch, writing, “‘Station Eleven’ is a present about what’s actually essential: folks, artwork, and the power of life that hums under the distractions.” It is definitely much more optimistic about surviving an apocalypse than “The Final of Us” is, which after watching season 2 of the sequence, is likely to be precisely what followers want.
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Z Nation
When you’re hungry for extra zombie motion after “The Final of Us,” then “Z Nation” is a sequence that can get you hooked. Premiering on Syfy in 2014, the present shares an identical premise to the HBO sequence due to Keith Allan’s character Alvin, who after a sequence of experimental vaccines is discovered to be proof against a lethal zombie outbreak that ravages society. Whereas, like Ellie, his antibodies maintain the treatment for humankind, Alvin slowly discovers that his immunity might also be slowly turning him right into a mutated zombie himself, able to controlling the senseless troopers he comes throughout.
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Most of “Z Nation” facilities on Alvin’s journey to California to ship the treatment, accompanied by Kellita Smith as an ex-Nationwide Guard named Roberta and DJ Qualls as a hacker named Simon. “Z Nation” is much much less grim than “The Final of Us,” making it an underrated zombie present to observe if you happen to love reveals like “The Strolling Useless” or different reveals prefer it. As we at /Movie wrote, “The present often veers into campy territory, and it has issue deciding how severely it needs to take itself. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re keen to roll with these punches, it may be a enjoyable, entertaining journey.”
Sadly, Syfy cancelled “Z Nation” after its fifth season in 2018, doubtless as a result of growing value of manufacturing, however that hasn’t stopped followers of the cult sequence to clamor for a revival. As of March 2024, it looks like there’s nonetheless some hope…
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Fallout
Online game variations could be hit and miss, however “The Final of Us” is not the one franchise to have seen success as a tv sequence these days. In 2024, Amazon Prime premiered “Fallout,” a drama sequence based mostly on a a lot totally different post-apocalyptic online game sequence than “The Final of Us.” The sequence takes place after nuclear catastrophe within the near-future leaves survivors retreating into a posh system of underground bunkers, often called vaults, the place people are unknowingly experimented on by an organization known as Vault-Tec.
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Ella Purnell stars as Lucy, a younger lady within the 12 months 2296, who leaves her vault in the hunt for her father Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), encountering eclectic characters akin to Walton Goggins’ hideous (however nonetheless good-looking) Ghoul, a lone ranger who was disfigured by nuclear radiation. Each followers of the franchise and unfamiliar new viewers deemed “Fallout” a stellar online game adaptation, with us at /Movie writing, “The world of ‘Fallout’ feels as large and detailed as ‘Basis’ or ‘Rings of Energy,’ whereas nonetheless feeling as desolate as ‘The Final of Us,’ … [it] understands the most effective elements of the ‘Fallout’ video games and tips on how to translate them to a brand new medium.
When you’re a online game fan who was shocked by how properly HBO dealt with “The Final of Us,” then worry not; Amazon does nice service to the “Fallout” franchise and proves that online game variations do not have to be extremely trustworthy to the supply materials to nonetheless be good.
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The Leftovers
One other drama sequence from HBO, “The Leftovers” premiered in 2014 and ran for 3 seasons. In “The Leftovers,” a mere 2% of the inhabitants on Earth out of the blue disappear, which can not seem to be a lot, nevertheless it’s sufficient to ship society crumbling, making manner for cultish factions rising. Like “The Final of Us,” the present has an ensemble, nevertheless it primarily follows the lives of the Garveys, Kevin (Justin Theroux) and daughter Jill (Margaret Qualley), who battle following the exodus of matriarch Laurie (Amy Brenneman) and son Tommy (Chris Zylka).
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Future seasons discover different survivors throughout America, because the thriller of this worldwide phenomenon is additional explored. Nonetheless, as /Movie wrote of the emotionally satisfying finale of “The Leftovers,” “Within the closing minutes, all that issues are the 2 folks sitting throughout from one another. As far out as Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta’s HBO sequence obtained, it turned more and more extra intimate over the course of three seasons.” Whereas “The Final of Us” does discover a number of the thriller behind how Cordyceps took over the world, “The Leftovers” is content material with conserving all the pieces grounded.
Clearly, that type of emotional deal with intimate character growth in a high-concept setting will enchantment to followers of “The Final of Us,” and the sequence is brief and candy sufficient to not really feel like a grind to get by way of all 28 episodes.
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Recreation of Thrones
The sequence has drawn plenty of comparisons to fantasy franchises like “Lord of the Rings,” nevertheless it’s no shock that the enduring HBO drama “Recreation of Thrones” took off, given its wealthy world, morally gray characters, and interesting plot. Nonetheless, season 2 of “The Final of Us” will doubtless draw much more comparisons to “Recreation of Thrones” due to how ruthless will probably be in proving that no character is protected, one thing the fantasy sequence turned considerably notorious for because it ran all through the 2010s.
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Plus, some may argue that, like “The Final of Us,” “Recreation of Thrones” can also be a zombie present. From the sequence’ first moments, one of many largest threats to Westeros is the invasion of White Walkers, a military of undead zombies from the wintry north past The Wall. Followers of Joel and Ellie will even see similarities within the likes of “Recreation of Thrones” predominant characters Jon Snow, Arya Stark, Sansa Stark, and The Hound, however the obvious one is Lyanna Mormont, who debuts within the sixth season, performed by none apart from Bella Ramsey herself.
Regardless of how you are feeling about what labored and what did not work in regards to the “Recreation of Thrones” finale, there is not any denying that it modified trendy status tv, for higher or worse. Like the way forward for “The Final of Us” past its first season, there can be discourse about its storytelling selections for many years to return.
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The Strolling Useless
You merely cannot discuss zombies on tv with out speaking about “The Strolling Useless.” The AMC sequence, based mostly on a comic book e-book franchise by Robert Kirkman, ran for 11 seasons and was some of the talked-about reveals of the 2010s, with characters like Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln, seen above), Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus), and Michonne (Danai Gurira) turning into family names by the tip of its run. The sequence facilities on Grimes, a sheriff who awakens from a coma to find that society has crumbled from a zombie outbreak, reuniting together with his household and surviving not simply from zombies, however different people.
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The place “The Strolling Useless” closely differs from “The Final of Us” is in its forged. Throughout each season of “The Strolling Useless,” it hardly ever maintained a gradual ensemble, as characters usually joined or have been killed off from episode to episode, with even Lincoln’s personal Grimes departing in its ninth season. Nonetheless, the sequence has additionally seen numerous spin-offs, together with “Concern the Strolling Useless,” in addition to a sequence targeted on Norman Reedus’ character, “The Strolling Useless: Daryl Dixon.”
So far as zombie tv goes, “The Final of Us” as a recreation owes loads of its success to the recognition of “The Strolling Useless,” however the sheer scale of the AMC sequence as a franchise could scare off some who’re simply searching for one other present to binge. Nonetheless, if you happen to’ve seen all the pieces else on this checklist however have but to observe “The Strolling Useless,” you are lacking out.
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