Are you simultaneously terrified and fascinated by the prospect of nuclear war? With two world leaders playing chicken with their respective “end of the world” buttons, it’s a weird time to be alive. But hey, that’s why we have entertainment for!
If escapism is what you’re after, then maybe look elsewhere. But if you’re weirdly interested in seeing a world with more nuclear weapons in play, then I recommend checking out these three TV series:
Manhattan
Go back to where it all began with this fictional TV series about the Manhattan Project. Inspired by true events but sensationalized for our enjoyment, this two-season WGN America original dives into the lives of the scientists, military personnel, and their families – all of which live and work within the confines of the top-secret military encampment in Los Alamos, NM. Science, math, paranoia, espionage, forbidden love, war, life or death stakes, betrayal – it’s got it all. The series also features classic 1940s fashion and beautifully shot desert locations.
Fun Fact:
Manhattan won an Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Design.
Where to Watch:
Find all 23 episodes of Manhattan on Prime.
Jericho
This short-lived CBS series is set in the small town of Jericho, Kansas and takes place after a major nuclear attack leaves many of the country’s major cities in ruins. Obviously their middle of nowhere America locale kept them safely outside of the initial blast zone, but with no idea as to what happened or how it happened the residents of Jericho must learn to work together to survive a world without a functioning government. Or even electricity for that matter. Come for the post-apocalyptic setting, stay for the small town drama.
Fun Fact:
CBS actually cancelled the series after its first season but a fan campaign, in which loyal viewers mailed literal tons of nuts to the network, brought it back from the dead. The 7-episode second season thankfully provides the closure fans so desperately wanted.
Where to Watch:
All 29 episodes of Jericho can be streamed on Paramount+.
The 100
Based on a book by the same name, The 100 is set 97 years after a devastating nuclear apocalypse. With earth essentially destroyed, humans have spent almost a century living aboard a space station known as The Arc; however, when the station’s life support systems start to fail a group of one-hundred juvenile delinquents are sent back down to earth to assess whether or not it can sustain life again. Mild spoiler alert: it can, otherwise the show would be over quickly. However, the environmental damage has been done and the remaining members of the human race still have to deal with the fallout, both the literal and figurative kind.
If you’re more interested in seeing said nuclear apocalypse and want to save yourself 99 hours of television, just skip to the episode “Anaconda” S7E08, which served as the backdoor pilot for a potential prequel series. The fate of which is still undetermined.
Fun Fact:
The guy who created the spoken Dothraki language for Game of Thrones is also responsible this series’ fictional language – Trigedasleng.
Where to Watch:
All seven seasons of The 100, aka the entire run of the series, is currently available to stream on Netflix.
Bonus:
HBO’s Chernobyl & Netflix’s Meltdown: Three Mile Island
Both are based on real events in nuclear history, but HBO’s Chernobyl is a fictional retelling packaged as a 5-episode miniseries meanwhile Netflix’s Meltdown: Three Mile Island is a four-part docuseries. Chernobyl is the better of the two, but each series is a quick watch and highlights interesting points in the energy race.
