15 post-apocalypse TV shows rated by where we'd least want to live
The post-apocalypse is one of those classic sci-fi concepts, delving into everything from survival horror to politics to what it truly means to be human. It makes for great TV story lines, sure—but not great living conditions for the residents of those fictional worlds. So which ones rank as the best of the best, and the worst of the worst?
Obviously, there's a lot to consider. What caused the apocalypse? Zombies and nuclear war are both pretty bad, and both offer pretty unique challenges. Then, of course, you have your alien invasions and resistance movements.
With shows like The Walking Dead and Falling Skies lighting up the airwaves, and buzzy newcomers like J.J. Abrams' Revolution launching next week, it looks like the genre will be sticking around.
So which post-apocalypses would be pretty cool to visit, and which would we probably not survive?
Check out our list below, ranked from the worst to the least terrible, and let us know what you think.
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Walking DeadVery bad place to live.Zombies have taken over the world, and as we enter season three, the few survivors weâve met are scrambling for a safe place to hide (when theyâre not being eaten, of course). Most folks didnât make it, and odds would be stacked against anybody still hanging around.
SupernaturalVery bad place to live.Throughout its lengthy run, this CW series has flirted with a few different end of the world scenarios. Among the worst? A world decimated by a crazy, evil monster virus. Definitely not pretty.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor ChroniclesVery bad place to live.Though this beloved series was mostly set in the modern day, we did get a few glimpses at the robot-ruled future, where humans live underground in constant fear of Skynet.
DollhouseBad place to live.Joss Whedonâs Dollhouse was set essentially in the present day, though its best episodes were the handful that took place in the future. Mind-wiping tech has essentially destroyed free will, and those who remain free fight a losing battle for freedom.
FringeBad place to live.Weâve glimpsed some messed up futures before on Fringe, but the latest looks to be the most likely, with the powerful Observers running roughshod over the Earth. The world is essentially a police-state, and it does not look like a fun place to be.
SurvivorsBad place to live.Not a terrible place to live, but this underrated BBC drama (based on a 1970s series) followed a world with just a handful of survivors following a disease that wiped out most of humanity. This being a British series, itâs a fairly polite apocalypse, but the messed up bits of surviving government and street gangs make it a pretty crummy place to be.
RevolutionNot a bad place to live.Set in a world devoid of electricity, this earthy take on America doesnât look half bad. Admittedly, it seems to be run by a dictator and militias, but most folks look relatively happy going about their lives raising crops and drinking moonshine.
Dark AngelNot a bad place to live.Sure, some nuclear explosions led to a global economic collapse, but the world doesnât seem like too bad a place to live. I mean, there may be some corporate conspiracies, but at least the delivery lady looks like Jessica Alba.
Terra NovaNot a bad place to live.The future is a burned out, polluted mess. So, humanity decided to restart civilization in the past, turning to the dinosaur eras for a colony that carries with it the hopes and dreams of humanity. Sure, you have to worry about dinosaurs and a shadowy organization bent on tearing down the colony, but most residents of Terra Nova seemed pretty happy.
JerichoNot a bad place to live.The physical and political fallout of a nuclear attack put some strain on this small town setting, but the people banded together to protect their neighbors and home. It wouldnât be easy, but Jericho wouldnât be a bad place to call home.
The StandBad place to live.Itâs a post-apocalypse tale where most of humanity has been wiped out by a disease. With this being a Stephen King story, itâs definitely not a world weâd like to visit.
HeroesBad place to live.If itâs not one apocalypse, itâs another. Throughout its rather uneven run, this super-powered series went to the end-of-the-world well way too often, though it usually made for some gorgeous disaster shots.
Falling SkiesBad place to live.With this being a rag-tag survival effort on an Earth all but ruled by aliens, youâd think this would rank a little higher on the awful list. But, despite the long odds, the survivors are a hopeful, inspiring lot. Itâd be a tough life, but itâd have some purpose.
Planet of the ApesBad place to live.The title pretty much sums this one up. The damn dirty apes are running the show. Our best chance is to be a pet, or slave. Not cool.
JeremiahBad place to live.Aside from the obvious implications of everyoneâs parents dying due to a disease, the kids left behind put together the best civilizations then can, mostly built on urban decay and whatever was left behind from the world before the Big Death.
