The Last Ship (TV series)

For other uses, see The Last Ship.

The Last Ship
Genre	Post-apocalyptic action thriller
Created by	Hank Steinberg Steve Kane
Based on	The Last Ship by William Brinkley
Starring	Eric Dane Rhona Mitra Adam Baldwin Charles Parnell Travis Van Winkle Sam Spruell Marissa Neitling Christina Elmore John Pyper-Ferguson Jocko Sims
Theme music composer	Steve Jablonsky
Composer	Nathan Whitehead
Country of origin	United States
Original languages	English Russian
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	28 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Michael Bay Jack Bender Andrew Form Brad Fuller Hank Steinberg Steve Kane Jonathan Mostow
Producers	Todd Arnow Eric Dane Mark Malone
Cinematography	Lukas Ettlin
Editor	Ken Blackwell
Running time	45 minutes
Production companies	Channel Road Productions Platinum Dunes TNT Original Productions
Original release
Network	TNT
Release	June 22, 2014 (2014-06-22) – present

The Last Ship is an American post-apocalyptic drama television series, based on the 1988 novel of the same name by William Brinkley. In May 2013, the cable network TNT placed a 10-episode order for the series. The series premiered on June 22, 2014, at 9:00 p.m. EDT.

On July 18, 2014, The Last Ship was renewed for a 13-episode second season. The second season started airing on June 21, 2015. On August 11, 2015, The Last Ship was renewed for a 13-episode third season, slated to premiere June 12, 2016. The season 3 premiere was postponed following the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting because the episode also included a mass shooting in a nightclub.

Premise

After a global viral pandemic wipes out over 80% of the world's population, the crew (consisting of 218 men and women) of a lone unaffected U.S. 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.

Cast

Main

• Eric Dane as Captain Tom Chandler. A family man, Chandler has a wife, Darien (Tracy Middendorf), who died of the virus just before he found her; he was able to vaccinate his two children, Ashley and Sam, and his father, Jed. He also has a brother and a sister, and his wife's sister was one of the first reported casualties. In the season 2 finale, the Nathan James is put in drydock and Chandler is appointed to be the Chief of Naval Operations by President Michener and promoted from the rank of commander to captain. He is currently on the USS. Nathan James as the acting captain while Captain Slattery is being held as a P.O.W.
• Rhona Mitra as Dr. Rachel Scott, a paleomicrobiologist who creates the cure for the virus. Her death from the shooting in the season 2 finale is confirmed in the season 3 premiere when Kara, now Captain Chandler's aide, hands him his rations book and he opens it to find Dr. Scott's portrait on one of the stamps. (season 1-2)
• Adam Baldwin as Captain Mike Slattery, the former executive officer of the Nathan James. Originally from Chicago, he previously served as a homicide detective with the Chicago Police Department. Slattery's son was killed by the virus, and as of Season 3, the rest of his family is still MIA. At the start of season 3, he is promoted to captain and becomes commanding officer of the Nathan James. Currently a P.O.W.
• Charles Parnell as Command Master Chief Petty Officer Russell "Russ" Jeter, the ship's senior enlisted sailor, who also acts as its unofficial chaplain.
• Sam Spruell as Quincy Tophet, a paleomicrobiologist. A mole for the Russians after they hold his family captive, he is shot in the season 1 finale and allows himself to die rather than reveal the location of the cure to Amy Granderson's men. (season 1; guest star season 2)
• Travis Van Winkle as Lieutenant Daniel Joshua "Danny" Green, leader of the Naval Mountain Warfare Special Forces Unit aboard the Nathan James. In the season 2 finale, Danny proposes to Kara, having gotten the ring and her mother's blessing while they were in Norfolk, and the two officially become engaged. Before the start of Season 3, both he and Kara marry and Kara gives birth to their son, Frankie.
• Marissa Neitling as Lieutenant Kara Green (née Foster), a Combat Information Center Officer. She becomes a TAO following the death of LCDR Barker. In the season 2 finale, Danny proposes to Kara, and the two become engaged. Before the start of Season 3, both she and Danny marry and she gives birth to their son, Frankie. At the beginning of season 3, it is revealed that she no longer serves on the Nathan James as she is Chandler's aide in his role as Chief of Naval Operations.
• Christina Elmore as Lieutenant Alisha Granderson, an Officer of the Deck, also currerntly XO whilst LCDR Garnett is a P.O.W.
• John Pyper-Ferguson as Ken "Tex" Nolan, a private security/military contractor and former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier who joins the crew at Guantanamo Bay. In the season 2 finale, he tracks down his daughter, but learns that his ex-wife was killed by looters. (recurring season 1; starring season 2)
• Jocko Sims as Lieutenant Carlton Burk, head of the Nathan James VBSS teams. He is Lt. Cameron Burk's brother (recurring season 1; starring season 2–present)
• Kevin Michael Martin as Gunner's Mate Second Class (previously Seaman) Eric Miller, a member of the ship's VBSS teams (recurring season 1–2, starring season 3). Currently a P.O.W.
• Bren Foster as Chief Petty Officer Wolf "Wolf-Man" Taylor, a member of the Royal Australian Navy CDT 3 (Special Forces) attached to the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Joint Operations Training Program (recurring season 2, starring season 3). He is a skilled martial artist. He appears to be in a relationship with Valerie in "The Scott Effect".
• Bridget Regan as Sasha Cooper, a former Navy Intelligence Officer now operating under diplomatic cover in China for the newly reformed U.S. government. (season 3)
• LaMonica Garrett as Lieutenant Cameron Burk, the brother of Lt. Carlton Burk and the new Tactical Actions Officer of the USS Nathan James. Behind the Captain and XO, Lt. Burk is third in the chain of command on the ship. (season 3)

Recurring

Nathan James personnel

• Fay Masterson as Lieutenant Commander Andrea Garnett, Chief Engineer of the Nathan James. She is third in the chain of command on the ship, behind the Captain and XO. At the beginning of season 3, she is promoted to full Commander and is Captain Slattery's replacement as Executive Officer of the Nathan James. Currently a P.O.W.
• Jamison Haase as Lieutenant Commander Barker, a Tactical Action Officer (TAO) for the Nathan James. He is killed by Maryland State Police during the retaking of the Nathan James.
• Michael Curran-Dorsano as Lieutenant John "Gator" Mejia, Navigator of the Nathan James
• Inbar Lavi as Lieutenant Ravit "Ravi" Bivas, a member of the Israeli Defense Forces attached to the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Joint Operations Training Program. She is killed during a raid against the Valkyrie oil rig.
• Andy T. Tran as Lieutenant (junior grade) Andy Chung, Main Propulsion Assistant. He is killed during a raid against the Valkyrie oil rig.
• Chris Sheffield as Lieutenant (junior grade) (formerly Ensign) Will Mason, a Communications Officer for the Nathan James; he is made Sonar Officer after his predecessor is killed during the siege of the Nathan James, and is forced to learn on the job as the ship tracks a rogue former Royal Navy submarine. He is promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade). He is confirmed Killed In Action at the start of S03E04.
• Chris Marrs as Senior Chief Petty Officer Lynn, an Engineer on Nathan James. He is killed during a raid against the Valkyrie oil rig.
• Maximiliano Hernández as Chief Hospital corpsman "Doc" Rios, the independent duty corpsman for the Nathan James. In Season 3, he is promoted to Ensign in the US Navy Medical Corps and made Chief Medical Officer of the Nathan James. Currently a P.O.W.
• Ben Cho as Fire Controlman First Class Carl Nishioka, a member of the ship's Combat Information Center. In Season 3, he is promoted to Chief Petty Officer.
• Amen Igbinosun as Culinary Specialist Second Class Bernie "Bacon" Cowley, a member of the ship's mess hall. He previously served a tour of duty at Camp David attached to the Presidential Food Service, but transferred to the Nathan James because he needs time at sea to qualify for a promotion.
• Ness Bautista as Petty Officer Second Class Cruz, the second-in-command of the Nathan James VBSS teams, subordinate to LT Burke. In Season 3, he is promoted to Petty Officer First Class.
• Tommy Savas as Petty Officer Third Class Cossetti, a member of the ship's VBSS teams. He was killed in action rescuing CDR Chandler and Tex Nolan from the Russian vessel.
• Paul James as Gas Turbine System Technician Third Class O'Connor. He is a member of the ships engineering team.
• Felisha Cooper as Petty Officer Third Class Maya Gibson, she is the only person killed during the voluntary human trials. CDR Chandler nominates her for the Navy Cross.
• Adam Irigoyen as Ray Diaz, a 17-year-old kid from Florida who was the leader of a group of teenagers surviving on their own in the Everglades. He was rescued by the Nathan James in "Uneasy Lies the Head". In Season 3, it is revealed that he had successfully enlisted in the Navy (having been denied a position on the ship earlier for his age) and is now a Seaman Apprentice assigned to work under GM2 Eric Miller. Currently a P.O.W.

Others

• Hope Olaide Wilson as Bertrise, a young Jamaican woman rescued by the Nathan James who has a genetic immunity to the virus.
• Tracy Middendorf as Darien Chandler, Tom's wife who is seen in flashbacks and in the present. She and the family were holed up in the family cabin and infected with the virus. She dies from the virus before Chandler can save her.
• Grace Kaufman as Ashley Chandler, Tom's daughter who is seen in flashbacks and in the present. She and the family were holed up in the family cabin and infected with the virus. She is later injected with the vaccine by her father, and now resides in the vaccinated city of Norfolk.
• Aidan Sussman as Sam Chandler, Tom's son who is seen in flashbacks and in the present. He and the family were holed up in the family cabin and infected with the virus. He is later injected with the vaccine by his father, and now resides in the vaccinated city of Norfolk.
• Bill Smitrovich as Jed Chandler, Tom Chandler's Army veteran father who is seen in flashbacks and in the present. He and the family were holed up in the family cabin and infected with the virus. He is later injected with the vaccine by his son, and now resides in the vaccinated city of Norfolk. In "Safe Zone", CDR Chandler mentions that his father is 68 years old and that he has a heart condition.
• Alfre Woodard as Amy Granderson, the vice-chair of the U.S. President's Defense Policy Board. She is the highest-ranking member of the White House known to be alive at the end of Season 1, and is LTJG Alisha Granderson's mother. She is revealed to be killing the people infected with the virus and burning their bodies to power the city of Baltimore, intent that only the "proper" people survive to aid humanity. She and her rogue Maryland State Police bodyguards, as well as her council are vaccinated before that knowledge is known to the Nathan James crew. Maryland State Troopers capture the Nathan James and hold Slattery and the crew hostage, killing a couple of crew and leaving Quincy with a life-threatening injury. She chooses to kill herself rather than surrender to Chandler after his crew manages to retake the ship.
• The real-life United States Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, cameoed as himself in "It's Not a Rumor", issuing orders to the crew of the Nathan James via a recorded message; by the time the ship received the orders, Secretary Mabus had succumbed to the "Red Flu" virus.
• Mark Moses as President of the United States Jeffrey "Jeff" Michener, the former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Immune to the "Red Flu" virus, Michener is the sole surviving member of the Cabinet of the United States & Presidential Line of Succession which makes him the next President. In the season 2 finale, "A More Perfect Union", Michener is formally sworn in as President by a surviving judge in St. Louis, Missouri, which he names the new capital of the United States. One of his first inaugural acts as President is to issue pardons to the Immunes who were swept up in the Ramsey brothers' campaign, as well as to Dr. Scott, who intentionally killed Niels Sørensen in order to create a contagious cure; he also appointed CDR Chandler as Chief of Naval Operations while the Nathan James is in drydock.
• Jade Chynoweth as Kathleen Nolan, Tex's daughter. She was reunited with her father in "A More Perfect Union".
• Brían F. O'Byrne as Sean Ramsey, the leader of the Immunes and commander of the former Royal Navy Template:Sclass- HMS Achilles. Presumably dead after HMS Achilles sank with him aboard.
• Tania Raymonde as Valerie Raymond, she created the Valkyrie network. In Season 3 she is suspected KIA when her plane blows up in mid-air.
• Ravil Isyanov as Admiral Konstantin Nikolajewitsch Ruskov, the Commanding Officer of the RFS Vyerni, the Russian vessel that is attempting to obtain Dr. Scott and the vaccine from the Nathan James. He died when the Nathan James sunk his ship.
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Niels Sørensen, aka "Patient Zero", the glory-seeking Norwegian scientist who unknowingly took advantage of his immunity by testing the virus on himself which made him a carrier and creates the current pandemic version of the virus in his effort to find the cure. Formerly a captive of Ruskov, then working with Sean Ramsey and the Immunes, even trying deliberately to infect others. He died on board the Nathan James after his immunity is removed by Dr. Scott and he is killed by the virus.
• Titus Welliver as Thorwald, a mysterious local warlord fighting underground. He is revealed to be an ex-Baltimore Police Department detective fighting against the rogue government led by Amy Granderson, who is vaccinating select people and killing everyone else with a toxic dose which they claim is the vaccine, to be burnt to power up the city of Baltimore, Maryland.
• Alice Coulthard as Kelly Tophet, Quincy's wife who is living in captivity on the Russian vessel. She is later rescued by the Nathan James, and departed the ship at Norfolk, where she and Ava now reside with the Chandler family.
• Jade Pettyjohn as Ava Tophet, Quincy and Kelly's daughter who is living in captivity on the Russian vessel. She is later rescued by the Nathan James, and departed the ship at Norfolk, where she and her mom now reside with the Chandler family.
• Elisabeth Röhm as Allison Shaw, the Chief of Staff to President Michener.
• Nestor Serrano as Alex Rivera, the United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs under President Michener.
• Fernando Chien as President Peng, the new and formidable leader of post-plague ravaged China.
• Dichen Lachman as Jesse, an off-the-grid helicopter pilot who is a former acquaintance of Sasha Cooper.
• Hiroyuki Sanada as Takehaya

Episodes

Main article: List of The Last Ship episodes

Season	Episodes		Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
1	10		June 22, 2014 (2014-06-22)	August 24, 2014 (2014-08-24)
2	13		June 21, 2015 (2015-06-21)	September 6, 2015 (2015-09-06)
3	13		May 30, 2016 (2016-05-30)	September 11, 2016 (2016-09-11)
4	10		August 20, 2017 (2017-08-20)	October 8, 2017 (2017-10-08)
5	10		September 9, 2018 (2018-09-09)	November 11, 2018 (2018-11-11)

Development and production

In July 2012, TNT ordered a pilot episode for a potential series based on William Brinkley' novel The Last Ship (1988). Hank Steinberg and Steven Kane wrote the pilot script, and Jonathan Mostow directed the pilot. It was filmed at a number of locations across San Diego including aboard the USS Halsey (DDG-97) and the USS Dewey (DDG-105), which stands in for the show's fictional USS Nathan James (DDG-151), and the USS Iowa museum ship.

The series is produced by Channel Road Productions and Platinum Dunes, with Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, Andrew Form, Steinberg, and Kane. Steinberg and Kane serve as executive producers and day-to-day showrunners.

Reception

As of October 2015 the season has a Metacritic score of 60 out of 100 based on 22 critic reviews for a rating of "generally favorable". The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a rating of 64%, with an average rating of 6/10 based on 28 reviews, as of October 2015. The website consensus states: "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."

In July 2015, Entertainment Weekly's Ray Rahman said of the second season, "The story is getting more interesting as we get an on-the-ground sense of how the pandemic-ravaged US has fared."

External links

• Official website
• The Last Ship at IMDb