“The Last Ship” stars Rhona Mitra (“Gideon’s Crossing,” “The Practice,” “Boston Legal”), Adam Baldwin (“Firefly”) and Eric Dane (who played Dr. McSteamy on one of ABC’s many lady-doctor shows). It’s about a U.S. naval vessel that decides to stay at sea after a virus wipes out half the world population. It’s from writer-producers Steven Kane (“The Closer”) and Hank Steinberg (“The Nine”).
It is not to be confused with ABC’s “The Last Resort,” which also starred a “Gideon’s Crossing” vet and was also about a U.S. naval vessel that decided not to return to America following an international crisis.
... The characters are not complex. … It’s the expertly rendered combat scenes and vivid depictions of danger that provide excitement and suspense …
... Chandler can handle banter, bathos (Chandler left a wife and kids behind in the now plague-decimated States) and blather (some of the dialogue is less written than forked out of a can). … seems determined to put concept before character … Although the crew of the Nathan James are likable enough, three episodes in, no Tyrion or Arya, no Daryl or Michonne have emerged. …
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
... despite the fact that there's nothing here you haven't seen before, TNT makes it fun to watch. …
... Despite some initial problems with pace and a bland idea of suspense, “The Last Ship” is at least a break from all the detective and lawyer shows …
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:
... It’s entirely possible “The Last Ship” could turn out to be a cruise to nowhere, but in its first three episodes, it’s at least a fun ride.
... While no one here is likely to win an Emmy for acting or writing — although the gifted effects and technical crew should win a boatload — prestige is not the point of a show like “The Last Ship” …
... awfully square in its hokey heroics, solemn acting and predictable subplots: a dull shipboard romance, a lurking saboteur. But it also has the feel of a summer page-turner, sturdy as the title vessel but also just as stodgy. …
... never pretends to be anything more than pure entertainment and that works for the series right from the start. …
... as starts go, this one picks up speed, but still feels a little rocky. That said, there’s enough here to want to hang around for a spell, waiting to see whether this crew can find its sea legs …
9 p.m. Sunday. TNT.
