TWD Daryl Dixon

TWD Daryl Dixon

Dark times are upon us. The threat of COVID-19 is holding most of us hostage in our own homes, going stir-crazy from the overconsumption of news, lack of sunlight, and too much free time on our hands. The smart thing to do in any apocalyptic scenario is to be prepared, which is why this is the perfect time to hunker down and load up on premium, doomsday content. Some may call it masochistic, but there’s a lot of valuable intel we can learn from shows like The Walking Dead and Doomsday Preppers.

Here are some of the best (and goriest) TV series available to watch now to pick up tips on how to survive zombies, vampires, Purge Night, and maybe even something like the coronavirus. Hey, we’ll take any help we can get.

TWD

The Walking Dead

Okay, it’s a little freaky how the coronavirus hit the same real-life hospital that Rick Grimes woke up in during the very first episode of The Walking Dead, but 10 years later the TWD universe is still going strong, so we’re gonna make it through, people! Through the years, I’ve learned how to whack a zombie in the noggin, how to blend in with a hoard (stinky, but useful), and even how to save myself from a zombie bite (who needs an arm, anyway?). But the most important lesson of them all? When shit hits the fan, I want Daryl Dixon by my side.

Where to watch: AMC, fuboTV, Netflix, Philo, Sling TV, YouTube TV


AHS

American Horror Story: Apocalypse

Season eight of AHS takes place during a nuclear winter in which the only chance of survival is to seek out one of the invitation-only, underground outposts, which also happen to be full of undercover demons and witches. Apocalypse shows the possibility of living in an uninhabitable world and how the strong can survive — even after everything we know and love is gone. Word to the wise: Watch out for the Rubber Man (unless you’re into that sort of thing).

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Hulu, Netflix


Doomsday Preppers

Doomsday Preppers is a severely underrated reality show that first aired on the National Geographic Channel from 2011-2014. Each episode features a series of different, real-life preppers as they show the cameras how prepared they are to survive their doomsday scenario of choice, which include social chaos, economic collapses, dirty bombs, government takeovers, natural disasters, and more. TBH, this is probably the most useful show on this list if you’re looking for hardcore survival skills because that’s what these people train for, OK! At the end of each episode, they’re graded by a company called Practical Preppers on how likely they are to survive. Take notes!

Where to watch: Netflix


Ian Somerhalder

V Wars

Ian Somerhalder just can’t stay away from the vampire genre. This Netflix original series is a more grown-up version of The Vampire Diaries, with the vampire transformations stemming from an ancient virus. The disease spreads quickly and pits science against the supernatural. I haven’t finished it yet, so I don’t know how it ends, but it’s safe to say these vampires make the Salvatore brothers look like a walk in the park.

Where to watch: Netflix


Containment

Containment

This one-season show from 2016 tells the story of a deadly disease that breaks out in Atlanta, leaving people trapped and fighting for their lives. Back then, I was shocked at how they could quarantine entire sections of the city, but now it hits a little too close to home considering the entire world is on lockdown. I vividly remember seeing lots of people in the show wearing flimsy paper masks that manage to protect them as everyone around them is coughing up blood, so maybe don’t follow it for medical advice. It never got renewed for a second season, but it’s still worth checking out — especially if you need some hope that you can find love in isolation.

Where to watch: Netflix


The Purge TV

The Purge

You’ve probably heard of The Purge movie franchise, but did you know there’s a TV series, too? The USA Network show takes place in a dystopian world in which a totalitarian U.S. government issues one wild, lawless night a year. All crime — including murder — is legal for 12 continuous hours, with the idea that people can “purge” all of their anger and stress during that time without worrying about facing consequences. You can follow different sets of characters in the first and second season to watch how far they’re willing to go to survive the night. It’s a wild world out there.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, USA Network

Photos: AMC, FX, National Geographic Channel, Netflix, The CW, USA Network

About the author

Jackie Cucco

Jackie Cucco

Jackie Cucco was a Senior Editor of The Toy Book, The Toy Insider, and The Pop Insider. She covered toy trends, pop culture, and entertainment news, and made appearances on national and regional outlets, including CBS, WPIX, News 12, and more. Jackie spends her time watching horror movies and working her way through every Stephen King novel out there.

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