I loved The Last of Us — here’s what I’m watching next

It’s only March, but the leader for the best show of 2023 is The Last of Us. Based on the best-selling video game series, The Last of Us depicts a post-apocalyptic world after a mass fungal infection in 2003 that leaves people in a zombie-like state. The series picks up in 2023 as it follows Joel Miller (The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal), a ruthless smuggler who tragically lost his daughter in 2003. Joel is tasked with transporting a young girl named Ellie (Game of Thrones’ Bella Ramsey) across the U.S. because she may hold the key to finding a cure for the infection.

From the first episode, The Last of Us instantly became another HBO success as the pilot became the second-largest debut (4.7 million viewers) since 2010 behind House of the Dragon. The series has been praised for its writing, lead performances, and faithfulness to the source material. The Last of Us is already one of the most critically acclaimed video game adaptations ever.

If you need some shows to hold you over until season 2, check out our list of series that fans of The Last of Us will also enjoy.

Chernobyl

Before Craig Mazin (The Hangover Part II) co-created The Last of Us, he created Chernobyl, arguably the greatest limited series of the last five years. The five-part event focused on the 1986 Chernobyl accident and the efforts of the brave men and women who responded to the catastrophe. It’s a grim, devastating, and thought-provoking look into how a government tried to cover up a national disaster and how the residents were forced to deal with the consequences.

The ensemble cast…