Eric Dane’s 5-Part Sci-Fi Series Becomes a Must-Watch Sleeper Hit on Apple TV

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Published Mar 3, 2026, 7:56 PM EST

Makuochi Echebiri is a News Writer for Collider. He has been interested in creative writing from as far back as high school, and he would consume pretty much anything that’s film or TV. However, his truest love lies in the presence of historical epics and thrillers.

Lured by the brilliance of Middle Earth from an early age both in print and on screen, his palate has since expanded to other realms including Westeros, Kattegat among others. He also possesses a great appetite for the stories that emanate from the vastness of space. Even though he is no Avenger.

Obsessed with storytelling and having works of his own that have yet to make it to print, he is content to use that ability to communicate to as many as are reachable. In his spare time, he looks out for avenues where he can aid people aside from his plans to reign over this earthly realm. Yes…you heard that first here.

One of the most famous genres in the film industry is sci-fi, with Star Wars and Star Trek, two of its brightest stars. Sometimes, sci-fi finds a way to incorporate the end of humanity into its storytelling, and tossing an apocalypse into the mix makes for brilliant television. As confirmed by the successes enjoyed by a variety of projects over the years, from older classics like Cillian Murphy's 28 Days Later and the original The Walking Deadseries, to newer offerings like Prime Video's Fallout, Apple TV's Silo, and Netflix's 3 Body Problem.

The late Eric Dane, who will always be McSteamy from Grey’s Anatomy for many people who saw the actor in the role, was also drawn to sci-fi apocalyptic projects. Soon after making his mark on Grey's Anatomy, the actor went on to spend five seasons spearheading one of the last big summer blockbusters on TNT: The Last Ship. Running from 2014 to 2018, the Michael Bay-produced thriller explored a subject humanity has only experienced in the somewhat recent past: a global pandemic. The series was a decent success story in its time, and it's making a return once more.

Nearly 8 years since the last episode aired, The Last Ship is making a comeback on streaming services. According to data obtained by FlixPatrol, the Dane-led thriller is making waves on the Apple TV Store, cracking into the Top 10 in Germany. Renewed interest in the series, which also functioned as a breakout success for Jodie Turner-Smith, might be linked to Dane's passing, his ALS experience, and advocacy. In The Last Ship, Dane portrayed Captain Tom Chandler, a resilient, disciplined, and capable naval officer with an unwavering sense of duty.

Is 'The Last Ship' Worth Watching?

At the time, The Last Ship was airing on TNT, there was significant competition on other networks, including Under the Dome on CBS and The Walking Dead on AMC. While the series might not have been considered prestige TV, The Last Ship was able to maintain an audience with its fun, fast-paced, and surprisingly addictive style. With an iMDB score of 7.4 out of 10 and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 83%, the series is worth a watch. The critics' consensus on the first season reads, "movie-sized action sequences and a pretty cast provide smooth sailing for The Last Ship, though it's not anything that hasn't been seen before."

Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates.