Netflix Just Added One Of TV’s Most Underrated 5-Season Action Thrillers

3 hours ago 6

Published Jun 22, 2026, 5:42 PM EDT

Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 2800 articles at SR, including weekly recommendation guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions.

Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston.

Netflix just added one of the most underrated yet addictive action thriller series in modern TV history, with all five seasons ready to binge tonight. Spanning 56 episodes and airing on TNT from 2014 to 2018, this gripping military-based series combines a throwback Americana action feel from movies like Top Gun and Crimson Tide with a modern – and eerily relevant – sci-fi element set in a post-apocalyptic landscape.

As of June 22, 2026, all five seasons of The Last Ship are now available to stream on Netflix, making it one of the very best shows to watch on Netflix this week. Executive produced by Michael Bay, The Last Ship is based on the celebrated 1988 novel of the same name by William Brinkley and was created for television by Steven Kane (The Closer) and Hank Steinberg (Without a Trace). The series features a strong ensemble cast led by Rhona Mitra, who plays a determined doctor aboard the USS Nathan James, and the late Eric Dane, who plays the naval vessel's Commanding Officer, Tom Chandler.

The Last Ship Just Sailed Onto Netflix – What It's About

The Last Ship is commonly praised for its nonstop action sequences, lean story structure, and fast-paced episodes that make it widely entertaining from start to finish. As a show that premiered in 2014, it still carries the nostalgic and familiar look of classic television, not leaning too heavily into overly cinematic framing and camera movements. This puts the characters and the ensuing drama at the forefront of the series, which makes for an intense and rewarding viewing experience that makes it very easy to focus on and binge-watch.

The Last Ship begins with an outbreak of a global pandemic that has spread enormously around the globe in just a matter of months, killing 80% of the world's population. When we meet CO Tom Chandler, he is completely unaware of what has been happening around the world, intently focused on a military mission in the Arctic Ocean and leading his team of more than 200 members of the U.S. Navy. After the USS Nathan James is suddenly attacked by who appear to be Russian enemies, Tom discovers that the pandemic has not only caused billions of deaths, but also the collapse of most nations, including major superpowers.

While Tom is tasked with maintaining order on his ship and keeping everyone alive and unexposed to the virus, Dr. Rachel Scott (Mitra) is leading a team of scientists aboard the vessel to come up with a cure. The USS Nathan James becomes the safest place for the scientists to work as they desperately search for an antidote. Tom, Rachel, and everyone aboard have essentially become humanity's last hope to prevent extinction, giving a dystopian undertone to the series that feels similar to HBO's The Last Of Us.

The Last Ship's Sharp Pace & Vintage Feel Make It A Must-Watch

The Last Ship has often been compared to classic military action movies due to its sharp pace, vintage feel, and inherent patriotism, particularly naval thrillers like Under Siege. This show truly moves at an incredible pace right from the moment you press play, with very little superfluous dialogue or scenes that feel stretched out and unnecessary. If you tend to find it hard to actually get hooked on a show, then The Last Ship might just be one that can really hold your attention, which would make it an ideal series to watch this week.

Netflix’s New 8-Part Thriller Is Officially A Must-Watch Weekend Binge

Netflix just released a new 8-part thriller series that is officially a must-watch weekend binge due to its strong premise and talented ensemble cast.

Each episode of The Last Ship is only 40 to 44 minutes long on average, and with 56 total episodes to sink your teeth into, this show is not only easy to binge but could also become a go-to series for quite some time. Dane and Mitra are joined by a solid ensemble cast that includes Adam Baldwin (Independence Day), Charles Parnell (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Travis Van Winkle (The Pitt), Marissa Neitling (Madam Secretary), and more. While there are many good streaming options on Netflix right now, this underrated 5-season action thriller is one of the best new additions on streaming this week and is worth checking out.

The Last Ship

Release Date 2014 - 2018-00-00

Network TNT

Directors Paul Holahan, Jack Bender, Peter Weller, Michael Katleman, Bill Roe, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Bobby Roth, Brad Turner, Greg Beeman, Jann Turner, Jonathan Mostow, Kenneth Fink, Mario Van Peebles, Michael Nankin, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Tim Matheson, Nelson McCormick, Reza Tabrizi, Anton Cropper, Mairzee Almas

Writers Onalee Hunter, Jill Blankenship, Mark Malone, Hiram Martinez, Nic Van Zeebroeck, Katie Swain, Ira Parker, Cameron Welsh, Josh Schaer, Jessica Butler, Jorge Zamacona, Michael Sussman, Quinton Peeples, Anne Cofell Saunders