Introduction

The Last Ship is an American action-drama television series, loosely based on the 1988 novel of the same name by William Brinkley.

The series premiered on TNT on 22 June 2014 and concluded after five seasons on 11 November 2018.

Outline

After a global viral pandemic wipes out over 80% of the world’s population, the crew (consisting of 218 people) of a lone unaffected US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, the fictional USS Nathan James (DDG-151), must try to find a cure, stop the virus, and save humanity.

The Last Ship Series

• Prequel: Dr. Scott’s Video Journal (2014):
  • Episode 01: I Am Dr. Rachel Scott.
  • Episode 02: It May Predate Humankind.
  • Episode 03: Can You Still Hear Me?
  • Episode 04: The Clock is Ticking.
  • Episode 05: Avoid Populated Areas.
  • Episode 06: A Proper Goodbye.

• Series 01 (2014):
  • Episode 01: Phase Six.
  • Episode 02: Welcome to Gitmo.
  • Episode 03: Dead Reckoning.
  • Episode 04: We’ll Get There.
  • Episode 05: El Toro.
  • Episode 06: Lockdown.
  • Episode 07: SOS.
  • Episode 08: Two Sailors Walk into a Bar...
  • Episode 09: Trials.
  • Episode 10: No Place Like Home.

• Series 02: (2015):
  • Episode 01: Unreal City.
  • Episode 02: Fight the Ship.
  • Episode 03: It’s Not A Rumour.
  • Episode 04: Solace.
  • Episode 05: Achilles.
  • Episode 06: Long Day’s Journey.
  • Episode 07: Alone and Unafraid.
  • Episode 08: Safe Zone.
  • Episode 09: Uneasy Lies the Head.
  • Episode 10: Friendly Fire.
  • Episode 11: Valkyrie.
  • Episode 12: Cry Havoc.
  • Episode 13: A More Perfect Union.

• Series 03 (2016):
  • Episode 01: The Scott Effect.
  • Episode 02: Rising Sun.
  • Episode 03: Shanzhai.
  • Episode 04: Devil May Care.
  • Episode 05: Minefield.
  • Episode 06: Dog Day.
  • Episode 07: In The Dark.
  • Episode 08: Sea Change.
  • Episode 09: Paradise.
  • Episode 10: Scuttle.
  • Episode 11: Legacy.
  • Episode 12: Resistance.
  • Episode 13: Don’t Look Back.

• Season 04 (2017):
  • Episode 01: In Medias Res.
  • Episode 02: The Pillars of Hercules.
  • Episode 03: Bread and Circuses.
  • Episode 04: Nostos.
  • Episode 05: Allegiance.
  • Episode 06: Tempest.
  • Episode 07: Feast.
  • Episode 08: Lazaretto.
  • Episode 09: Detect, Deceive, Destroy.
  • Episode 10: Endgame.

• Series 05 (2018):
  • Episode 01: Casus Belli.
  • Episode 02: Fog of War.
  • Episode 03: El Puente.
  • Episode 04: Tropic of Cancer.
  • Episode 05: Warriors.
  • Episode 06: Air Drop.
  • Episode 07: Somos la Sangre.
  • Episode 08: Honour.
  • Episode 09: Courage.
  • Episode 10: Commitment.

Series Inspiration

The Last Ship is a 1988 post-apocalyptic fiction novel written by William Brinkley.

The Last Ship tells the story of a United States Navy guided missile destroyer, the fictional USS Nathan James (DDG-80), on patrol in the Barents Sea during a brief, full-scale nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. It details the ship’s ensuing search for a new home for her crew.

The Last Ship was released as an e-book on 27 November 2013, published by Plume.

Trivia

• The pilot episode was filmed at a number of locations across San Diego including aboard the USS Halsey (DDG-97), which is standing in for the show’s fictional USS Nathan James
• .The former Atlantic liner RMS Queen Mary, now berthed at Long Beach, was also to be used extensively.
• The USS Iowa museum ship was used in filming to represent a Russian Kirov-class battlecruiser.

Production & Filming Details

• Creators: Hank Steinberg and Steven L. Kane.
• Producers: Michael Bay, Jack Bender, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Hank Steinberg, Steven L. Kane, Jonathan Mostow, Todd Arnow, Eric Dane, and Mark Malone.
• Music: Steve Jablonsky and Nathan Whitehead.
• Cinematography: Lukas Ettlin.
• Editor: Ken Blackwell
• Release Date: 22 June 2014 to 11 November 2018.
• Running Time: 45 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

YouTube Link