What to watch after 'the last of us'

There was a time when the idea of a video game adaptation sounded alarm bells, with all but guaranteed audience disappointment and critical dismissal. But the times have changed, especially

with the success of HBO’s _The Last of Us_, based on the video game of the same name. The series earned massive acclaim from fans and critics alike, including 8 Primetime Emmys. The

game-changing show follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they survive a harsh and unforgiving America that’s been taken over by the undead—and the other humans who have

survived aren’t exactly friendly. Advertisement Advertisement It’s not hard to see why _The Last of Us_ has broken the video game curse. The adaptation takes the game’s hugely engaging story

and expands it for the screen, bringing tremendous performances, stunning effects, and impeccably shot action. It’s a tale of humanity’s survival at its most desperate, the unshakable bond

between two unlikely people, and a zombie horror all in one. As the second season of the series comes to an end on Sunday, we’ve got some suggestions on how to fill that _Last of Us_-shaped

hole in your lives. From other world-building epics and post-apocalyptic dramas to other worthy video game adaptations, these choices should fit the needs of every kind of _Last of Us

_fanatic. POST-APOCALYPTIC DRAMAS _SILO_ A mysterious and unknown event means that all of humanity now lives deep underground in a Silo, a complex and gigantic 144-level community with

firmly entrenched class systems and plenty of intrigue. Juliette (a sensational Rebecca Ferguson), an engineer working at the very bottom of the Silo, begins to unravel a theory that may

change everything that’s understood about their way of life. The AppleTV+ series benefits from spectacular world-building, with carefully layered details that reveal more and more about life

in the Silo as episodes progress. _Silo_ is a wicked and bingeable slow burn with a tantalizing central mystery. And there’s no fear of it being cancelled too soon, as the show has been

confirmed for Season 3 and plans to conclude the story in Season 4.  _CHERNOBYL_ A miniseries with universal acclaim, including winning 10 Primetime Emmys, _Chernobyl_ hones in on the

nuclear fallout in the Soviet Union city of Chernobyl. Created and written by Craig Mazin (who went on to co-create and write _The Last of Us_), the series is bleak, heartbreaking, and

utterly haunting, yet nearly impossible to look away from. Like _The Last of Us_, it's a provocative exploration of humanity on the brink, fighting back against what feels like an

impossible force. The impressive ensemble cast includes Jessie Buckley, Jared Harris, Emily Watson, Paul Ritter, and Stellan Skarsgård.  _STATION ELEVEN_ The 10-episode miniseries uses

multiple timelines to explore the lives of those who survived a vicious and widespread flu that wiped out much of humanity as they strive to rebuild society. What’s fascinating about

_Station Eleven_, created by Patrick Somerville (_Maniac_), is that it doesn’t follow the kind of people you might expect, like societal leaders or rebellious groups. Instead, we see the

world through a theatre troupe known as the Traveling Symphony, which performs Shakespeare in the new world as they attempt to make sense of the carnage that took so much life. This is a

magical series about the healing power of art and how the key to survival lies in community. WORLD-BUILDING EPICS _THE WALKING DEAD_ Both an apocalyptic drama and a world-building epic,

AMC’s _The Walking Dead_ has everything a fan of _The Last of Us_ could want: a horde of undead, beloved characters, and great action. The series begins with Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), a

sheriff’s deputy who wakes from a coma to find the world taken over by creatures called “walkers,” and goes from there. As a bonus, once you get into the series, you may not need to look for

your next show for many months; on top of the 11 seasons of _The Walking Dead_, there’s an array of spinoffs, including _Fear the Walking Dead, World Beyond, _and _The Ones Who Live_. _THE

LEFTOVERS_ A shocking event changes the world forever when 2% of the entire world’s population vanishes without a trace.Created by Damon Lindelof (_Lost_, _Watchmen_) HBO’s _The Leftovers_

examines the impact of the event, dubbed the “Sudden Departure,” on a series of people in a small New York town. There’s police chief Kevin (Justin Theroux), Reverend Matt (Christopher

Eccleston), and his sister Nora (Carrie Coon), grieving the loss of her husband. The impressive ensemble cast also includes Regina King, Margaret Qualley, Amy Brenneman, Liv Tyler, and Ann

Dowd. At just three seasons, epic might not be the best world to describe _The Leftovers_, but this unpredictable, thought-provoking series is so expansive in its ideas that it deserves to

be discussed alongside the biggest and best of them.  OTHER VIDEO GAME ADAPTATIONS _TWISTED METAL_ The number of video game adaptations are fairly limited, and the ones that are actually

worth recommending are even fewer. But Peacock’s _Twisted Metal_ is genuinely fun, and a much lighter look at a post-apocalyptic landscape than _The Last of Us_, though there’s still plenty

of thrilling action sequences. Writers had a lot less to work with here, adapting a game where you drive a car around and blow stuff up into an intriguing story about John Doe (Anthony

Mackie) who's saddled with a strange package he must deliver across a ruthless America with foes that try to wipe him out at every turn.  _FALLOUT_ Created in 1997 by Tim Cain and

Leonard Boyarsky of Interplay Entertainment, _Fallout_ has emerged as one of the most beloved role-playing game franchises in history. The retro futuristic games have been given TV series

treatment, which Amazon has already renewed for two additional seasons. Occurring hundreds of years into the future, Lucy (Ella Purnell) leaves her very secure home in Vault 33 (most people

live in bunkers called Vaults after a nuclear war in 2077), heading into unforgiving wastelands to try and find her kidnapped father. It looks and sounds terrific, and delivers exciting

action and intriguing characters with a welcome comic edge.  _DEVIL MAY CRY_ Perhaps the show most tonally opposite to _The Last of Us_ on this list, Netflix’s _Devil May Cry_ is a riotous,

colorful blast of punk energy. Based on the extremely popular (and fun) action series from Capcom, _Devil May Cry_ follows mercenary demon hunter Dante (voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch) as he

tries to take down a terrorist known as the White Rabbit (Hoon Lee). This animated series helmed by Adi Shankar is visually adventurous and stylish, and its action sequences are fast paced

and inventively choreographed. The first season’s sixth episode is a particularly strong standout, and a great example of why the show is so damn fun.