Better than it has any right to be, until it isn’t After a string of seeing The Last Ship pop up in actor resumes I figured I’d give this 2014 series a shot. Concluding two fully years before Covid would hit, there are times in the early seasons when the story being told is strangely prophetic. But as the show carried on, it got away from what made it so effective and despite some high quality military porn, it kinda loses the plot. But the first three seasons are genuinely very good. “Vampire! Vampire! Vampire!” While on an extended mission that kept they out of radio contact, the crew of the USS Nathan James returns home to discover that a global pandemic has wiped out 75% of the world’s population by way of a virus that is 100% lethal. It is up to Captain Tom Chandler (Eric Dane), Dr. Rachel Scott (Rhona Mitra) and what remains of the US Navy to find a cure and literally save humanity. Creators Steven Kane & (Halo) Hank Steinberg (Without a Trace) had a hell of a thing going here. Perhaps it’s that humanity through centuries of history are predictable in how we react to a crisis, but the number of things this show gets right about how what would happen during a pandemic is kinda scary. If we’re ever faced with a truly dangerous global outbreak...we’re doomed. But luckily, the folks in this world have a superhero of a captain and the world’s greatest Naval destroyer. For as good as the whole pandemic stuff is, the highlight of this show are its sea battles and war tactics. I don’t know who the military advisers were, but this is on pace with what we see in SEAL Team and presented near the same level of quality as in Crimson Tide (which reminds me, I really do need to re-watch that movie). There are some water based chess matches that are super tense and wildly entertaining. There are also a handful of ground missions that are also pretty great, but unquestionable this show is at its best when the Nathan James is going up against another rogue ship or submarine. The cast is pretty massive, but fair warning…DO NOT get attached to supporting characters. The Last Ship is not at George RR Martin levels, but it’s not shy about killing your favourites. Of the series regulars, Eric Dane (Euphoria), Adam Baldwin (Firefly), Rhona Mitra (Kirkland brand Kate Beckensale), Bridget Regan (The Rookie) and Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim) are easily my favourites. But some of the guest star were equally impressive with my top 5 narrowed down to Hiroyuki Sanada (Shogun), Dichen Lachman (Altered Carbon), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear), Alfrie Woddard (Luke Cage) and Elisabeth Röhm (Law & Order). It isn’t that the final 2 seasons are bad, they’re just not nearly as good as the first 3 and get WAY too deep into the “Hoo Rah, ‘Murica” mentality. Quitting after the 3rd season and presuming a happily ever after conclusion isn’t the worst idea, but you would be missing out on few really good side stories and some pretty slick action.