AMC’s 3-Part ‘The Last Of Us Meets Game Of Thrones’ Series Is One Of Its Best Action Shows

by

A fantastic, but often overlooked, action series on AMC successfully combines the epic scope of Game of Thrones with the intense storytelling of The Last of Us. 2026 is a great year for science fiction fans, as streaming services are delivering more sci-fi shows than ever before. These shows are also becoming bolder and more expansive, sometimes leading to entire franchises. While not every series survives – HBO’s The Nevers is one example – many are finding enough success to build dedicated followings and expand into larger universes.

Shows about the end of the world and its consequences are becoming increasingly popular, with critically acclaimed series like Prime Video’s Fallout and Apple TV’s Foundation. HBO’s The Last of Us, created by the same mind behind Chernobyl, is another success story. But one often-overlooked sci-fi show from this trend brilliantly combines the setting of The Last of Us with the epic scope of HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Premiering in 2015 on AMC, Into the Badlands was a post-apocalyptic action drama. The series centered on Sunny, a skilled warrior played by Daniel Wu, navigating a dangerous future 500 years after civilization collapsed. After a devastating war wiped out most of humanity, people rely on swords and crossbows instead of guns and modern technology, even though they still have electricity. In this world, powerful barons control what remains of the United States, hoarding essential resources like fuel and water to maintain their power.

Into the Badlands Mixes Post-Apocalyptic Drama With Historical Elements

The powerful barons control their lands by enslaving people into three main classes: “Cogs” who are forced laborers, “Dolls” who are sex workers, and “Clippers” who act as security. Over the show’s three seasons, viewers discover more about this bleak future world, the conflicts between different groups within it, and the external forces plotting to take down the barons’ oppressive rule. Similar to the sci-fi series The 100, this is a complicated, action-packed show set after a global disaster, designed to appeal to fans of shows like Game of Thrones by weaving together many engaging storylines.

Despite its sometimes intricate storylines, Into the Badlands was consistently exciting thanks to its frequent action. The show blended the worlds of Mad Max and Game of Thrones, offering a unique take on post-apocalyptic science fiction. Unlike many series in the genre, it focused more on the detailed political structure of its new world than on a single character’s journey. This made its storytelling more deliberate and complex than The Walking Dead, and it also set it apart in another key way.

Into the Badlands Breaks One Major Rule of Post-Apocalyptic TV Shows

Unlike the popular zombie series The Walking Dead, Into the Badlands offered something different. With the recent resurgence of zombie shows like Netflix’s Sweet Home, HBO’s The Last of Us, and All of Us Are Dead, it’s easy to forget how many zombie stories there were around 2015. By avoiding the typical zombie theme, Into the Badlands managed to stand out from other post-apocalyptic shows.

Running for three seasons until 2019, Into the Badlands consistently delivered as a thrilling and surprising action series. It felt like a futuristic Game of Thrones or a more intricate Mad Max. While it didn’t achieve the same widespread popularity as later shows like The Last of Us – perhaps because it was a post-apocalyptic sci-fi series without zombies – Into the Badlands deserves credit for its bold and ambitious storytelling.

Read More

2026-05-12 00:08