Before Fallout: 5 Great Post-Apocalyptic Shows with Unique Twists

5. Aliens Hunt Humans Down to Extinction in Falling Skies (2011–2015)

Everybody’s a gangsta until a full-blown alien invasion begins and the highly technologically advanced extraterrestrials wipe out over 90% of the world’s population in just a few days.

Without modern technologies, means of communication, and a proper army, the surviving humans still try to fight back.

The idea of an alien invasion used to be popular in the 20th century but somewhat died off later; Falling Skies did its best to revive it. If you want to believe, you should consider the possibility of hostile extraterrestrials, as well, and this show is perfect for it — especially when you learn the invaders’ motivation. That’s Season 4, by the way.

4. A Global Blackout Left Humans Helpless in Revolution (2012–2014)

All of our technology relies on electricity; it would be a real shame if the world underwent a complete blackout, wouldn’t it? 15 years after the incident, people returned to the “old ways” and life seemingly became…normal. But the former USA is taken over by an oppressive militia, and revolutionaries intend to change that.

When humans lose all the modern conveniences, it’s not just their ways that change; they change, too. A global blackout left society under the boot of a tyrannical government and not everyone likes that, so there are bound to be clashes. At the same time, there’s an even more important question: why did the electricity cut off?..

3. After a War, the New Dark Age Began in Into the Badlands (2015–2019)

In the future, America is torn by the fallout of a massive war. In the power vacuum that appeared when the official authorities were gone, a new society emerged: that of a medieval type. Now, mighty Barons rule over the region known as the Badlands, and their tyrannical regimes treat people like biodegradable material, at best.

While some basic technologies like ground vehicles remained, in terms of weapons, no one uses firearms anymore: it’s the age of swords and bows again. A mighty warrior protects a prodigy child as they try to escape the Badlands and find a better place… Or, at least, survive their unlikely quest for freedom and enlightenment.

2. Water Disease Killed Off Most of Humanity in The Rain (2018–2020)

The walking dead aka zombies aren’t the only potential carriers of deadly viruses. Seeing how our bodies require water to stay alive, the scariest possibility is that water will become deadly — and that’s exactly what happened in The Rain. Coming from the sky, the deadly virus exterminated the population of Earth in no time.

A Danish scientist foresaw the tragedy and hid his kids in a bunker before setting off on a quest to save our kind. Six years later, the kids escape from the bunker as they have no more resources. But it’s not just food they’re after; most importantly, they want to find their father or learn what happened to him — and to the deadly rain.

1. Humans Face Another Ice Age in Snowpiercer ( 2020–Now)

Ice Ages happen on Earth from time to time, and they’re pretty good at wiping out thousands of species. But unlike the animals, humans have an advantage in the form of a massive Noah’s Arc-type train that goes around the world in a never-ending cycle housing the survivors of the ice-cold catastrophe. Yes, a train.

Questionable decisions aside, the Snowpiercer is all that’s left of humankind — but just like before the new Ice Age, the society on the train is severely divided. The rich enjoy their lavish lifestyle amid the apocalypse in the front cars while the poor barely hold on in their overpopulated and starving back wagons. This can’t last for long.