7 Emotionally Devastating Shows Like 'The Last of Us'
Pouring hours of your time into a series that’ll just leave you feeling down sounds counterintuitive, but when they’re done well, sad shows often have much to tell us about how we connect to other people.
Chernobyl
The 2019 miniseries is based on a harrowing true story of suffering and tragedy that encapsulates the dual meaning of the word "fallout." A fictional account of the 1986 catastrophe at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the containment, and clean-up that followed in the surrounding areas.
True Detective
Like The Last of Us, Season 1 of True Detective sucks you in from the first minute and never lets you escape the deep void that the story falls into. The bright sun of the Louisiana bayou has never felt so dark, as our two detectives, Rustin Cohle (Matthew McConaughy) and Martin Hart (Woody Harrelson), start out investigating the murder of a prostitute, only to find themselves embroiled in a web of murder, abduction, conspiracies and Satan worship.
Euphoria
This willfully provocative series is a painful look into the modern teenage psyche, following a group of high school students. Capturing a raw and honest look at drug use, violence, self-harm, mental health issues, sex, and sexuality, the show is only for the brave — especially if you are a parent.
Broadchurch
A crime thriller with a strong emotional center, Broadchurch explores how a child’s murder affects a small fictional town in the UK. As the mystery slowly unfolds, we see the emotional turmoil created in the tight-knit community, and endure the unrelenting ripples of sorrow and loss created by this grim and tragic crime.
I May Destroy You
An emotionally crippling show that will mesmerize, anger, and devastate; I May Destroy You comes with a strong trigger warning. Arabella (Michaela Coel) is attempting to write her second novel when procrastination takes her on a night out in London with her friends that ends in a traumatic sexual assault.
This Is Us
Keep a box of tissues handy, as this show is a true tear-jerker. You will cry in almost every episode of this heart-warming — and heartbreaking — show. While stylistically and tonally, This is Us is nothing like The Last of Us, both shows know how to nuzzle a character deep into your heart only to subsequently break it.
Station Eleven
Focused on grasping at hope even in the darkest depths, Station Eleven showcases post-pandemic survivors trying to hold onto their humanity. It is a lyrical show about what happens after everything changes… and everything has changed.