10 Best Shows Like The Last Of Us To Watch While Waiting For Season 2

The Walking Dead Franchise (2010 – present) – AMC

If you haven't already bitten into this zombie-smashing phenomenon, there's no time like the present. The Walking Dead follows Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes who wakes from a coma to find the world overrun with walkers. It's a slow-burning tale of survival that's ripe with moral dilemmas and heart-breaking losses, as well as a revolving door of characters that will make you question who the real monsters are. A fun fact? The actors who play walkers go to Zombie School to perfect their undead movement.

The 100 (2014 – 2020) – CW

The next show on our list certainly racks up points for its unique concept. A hundred juvenile delinquents are sent back to Earth from their space habitat after a nuclear apocalypse to check if it's habitable again. It's a teen drama (CW, duh!) but don't let that dissuade you. The 100 digs into complex themes like tribalism, utilitarianism, and what it means to be human.

Oh, and its Rotten Tomatoes score? A respectable 93%. Not bad for a show that first gives you teen love triangles and then sucker-punches you with philosophical quandaries!

Falling Skies (2011 – 2015) – TNT

This Steven Spielberg-produced series is next on our survival roster, earning a commendable 79% on Rotten Tomatoes. Alien invasions decimated the human population, and the remaining survivors, led by a history professor-turned-warrior, must fight back. Falling Skies provides thrilling, guerrilla warfare and survival action that'll satiate your adrenaline needs. Plus, for history buffs, there's a fun parallel to the American Revolutionary War. Trust us, it's not as boring as it sounds in your history textbook!

Station Eleven (2021 – 2022) – HBO Max

Fast-forwarding to a more recent entry, we have Station Eleven which boasts a whopping 4.2 out of 5 on Letterboxd. In this adaptation of the acclaimed novel, starring Mackenzie Davis, a flu pandemic wipes out most of the world, and we follow a troupe of Shakespearean actors navigating the fallout 20 years later.

Although it may seem like an odd premise, the beautifully layered narrative, combined with a dash of existential despair, creates a series as compelling as it is melancholic. Did you know that Station Eleven was filmed during the real-life Covid-19 pandemic? Now this, this is art imitating life!

The Leftovers (2014 – 2017) – HBO

The Leftovers is a thought-provoking series that scored an impressive 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. In this enigmatic show, 2% of the world's population mysteriously vanishes. The series delves deep into the emotional turmoil and existential crises that those left behind face.

While it may lack the gun-toting survivalist action of The Last of Us, it makes up for it with a deeply moving exploration of grief and the human condition. Justin Theroux, its lead actor, has admitted to crying while reading the script – just a hint at the emotional roller-coaster you're signing up for!

The Rain (2018 – 2020) – Netflix

Hailing from Denmark, The Rain brings a refreshing European touch to the post-apocalyptic genre. This series, which holds a solid 3.5 on Letterboxd, starts with a virus carried by rainfall wiping out most of Scandinavia. Two siblings emerge from a bunker six years later, joining a group of young survivors on a quest for a safe haven and answers. With all the plot twists and intense survival dilemmas, you'll be as hooked as a fish on a line.

Black Summer (2019 – 2021) – Netflix

If you like your zombie shows fast-paced and frantic, Black Summer might be your cup of tea (or should I say, your can of beans). Set in the early days of a zombie apocalypse, the series follows a group of strangers banding together to reach a military evacuation site. Rated a cool 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, Black Summer prioritizes intense, edge-of-your-seat action over character development, but hey, who needs character arcs when there are zombies to outrun?

Jericho (2006 – 2008) – CBS

Jericho, a show that's earned an impressive 7.9/10 rating on IMDB, presents an intriguing concept: a small town in Kansas dealing with the aftermath of nuclear attacks across the United States. As a result of its isolation, Jericho must survive with limited resources, internal conflict, and the threat of dangerous outsiders.

It's less post-apocalyptic and more post-nuclear, but the focus on survival, morality, and human resilience ties it firmly to The Last of Us. Despite its premature cancellation, fan outcry led to a seven-episode second season – proof that this small-town story packs a big punch.

Survivors (2008 – 2010) – BBC

Not to be confused with the reality show of the same name, Survivors is a British series based on the 1970s series and novel by Terry Nation. The plot, much like our earlier entry Station Eleven, revolves around a pandemic that wipes out most of the world's population.

Our protagonists navigate through a world without government, technology, or society as they knew it. With its stark and realistic portrayal of life post-apocalypse, this series (which holds a respectable 7.5/10 on IMDB) might be the cup of tea you're looking for if you like your dystopias served with a side of British accent.

Between (2015 – 2016) – Netflix

Wrapping up our list is Between, a Canadian science fiction drama series with an intriguing premise: a mysterious disease kills everyone over the age of 21 in the small town of Pretty Lake, leading to a government-imposed quarantine. The isolated under-21s must figure out how to survive and uncover the truth behind the disease. Between scored a modest 5.9/10 on IMDB, and while it may not be critically acclaimed, its unique premise and youthful perspective give it a compelling edge.