Summary
The second season of HBO’sThe Last of Uscontinued telling the tale of Ellie and Joel’s journey in a zombie-infested America. The zombie apocalypse show has evolved into HBO’s flagship program, delivering captivating drama and intense sequences that strive to meet the high standards set by bothThe Last of Usgames. The often stoic Joel and the enthusiastic Ellie’s dynamic is one of the great duos in video games, with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay pulling off tremendous performances in the live-action adaptation, carrying the show on their back.
With Season 2 coming to a close,TLOUfans in desperate need of compelling HBO drama to consume while they wait for Season 3 to arrive can look no further, as the network boasts a vast catalog of television that matches the standards set byTLOU.
Sci-Fi gemRaised by Wolvesmay explore a foreign world, but its post-apocalyptic storytelling, set in a world where the Earth has been destroyed, mirrors aspects ofTLOU, particularly in the continuation of human life after such earth-shattering events. After religious warfare on Earth obliterates the planet, humanity is rebuilt on Kepler-22b, where androids raise human children. However, religion and other nefarious factors cause the job to be tainted, as the children struggle to survive on the alien planet.
LikeTLOU’s religious group, the Scars, who appear in season 2,Raised by Wolvesheavily features religion at the center of its narrative, telling an enticing storydraped in familiar sci-fi tropes.
The post-apocalyptic dramaStation Elevencertainly flew under the radar for many on HBO Max, with the limited series mirroringTLOUin its examination of a dystopian future featuring cults and characters with deep-rooted connections. After a deadly flu decimates the world’s population, society attempts to rebuild, with a traveling performance troupe making the rounds, headlined by Kirsten Raymonde, a budding actresswho reminisces about Arthur Leander, an essential figure in her life, who has connections to many prominent characters withinStation Eleven.
Narratively,Station Eleven’s non-linear approach frequently jumps between before the pandemic and the present, similar toTLOU, with its exploration of art, culture, and loss, all of which contribute to a fresh and in-depth story.
The British productionYears and Yearsoffered a fresh depiction of societal decline through the lens of a British family, as warfare, financial despair, and technological advancements rock the world. Following the Lyons family, six episodes tell the story of their lives throughout a 15-year period as society crumbles under the weight of war, political upheaval, and technological threats.
For those eager to witness the slow-burning decline of society akin toTLOU’s dystopian setting,Years and Yearsis a limited seriesthat offers an original perspective on humanity’s fall.
TheWatchmenfranchise, popularized through Zack Snyder’s cult classic movie adaptation, saw HBO choosing to deliver a one-season spectacle ofWatchmen, based on the renowned DC Comics. In a world where masked vigilantes are heavily managed in society, Angela Abar, also known as Sister Night, is a vigilante detective who investigates a white supremacist group, uncovering many truths about a corrupt world.
Sharing similarities withTLOUthrough its sci-fi exploration of worlds that endure pain and suffering, as well as characters hiding their true identity and actions,Watchmenprovides intense drama brimmingwith corruption and terror that very few shows have achieved.
One of the most harrowing shows of all time is the miniseriesChernobyl, a biographical show detailing the real-life events of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine that altered the world dramatically.Masterminded byTLOU’sshowrunner, Craig Mazin,Chernobylexamines the nuclear explosion and the systematic failures that led to the disastrous accident, as well as the government officials, in an attempt to cover up an event that radically changed lives, particularly in Eastern Europe.
The apocalyptic and distressing feel ofChernobylis unlike anything else ever depicted on television, with the show going on to become an awards darling, owing to its immense and visceral qualities that shook audiences upon release.
Game of Throneswas a behemoth of its time, bringing forth a fantasy world that went far beyond any other, offering truly enthralling drama to the highest level. Weaving magic alongside the politicking of royalty and noble houses,Game of Thronessees characters vying for control and power, withbetrayal, death, sex, and dragonstaking center stage.
However, likeTLOU,Game of Thrones' use of wights in the Night King’s army of the dead, eerily similar to zombies, and the memorable performances of Pascal and Ramsay as Oberyn Martell and Lyanna Mormont, respectively, see the shows undoubtedly overlap, offering some of HBO’s finest entertainment.
Similar to the Thanos snap in the MCU,The Leftovers' premise of 2% of the world vanishing from Earth, leaving the rest of humanity to continue forth, offers a fascinating story that many overlooked while airing. From the mind of television visionary Damon Lindelof,The Leftoversexplores themes of loss and grief, with different characters and families each learning to cope with their sudden loss in their own way.
Akin toTLOU, a world-changing event dramaticallyalters humanity and its trajectory, asThe Leftovers' three-season run saw it become an underappreciated HBO gem.
