Script:

Apocalypse, Then

EP 1: “Top 10 pieces of apocalyptic media from the early 21st century”:

Intro:

Hello and welcome to the first episode of Apocalypse, Then where we review, rank, and analyze the best apocalyptic media from the early 21st century.

My name is Trey and I’ll be the host guiding you through these visions of the apocalypse.

Today’s topic: “The Top 5 pieces of apocalyptic fiction from the early 21st century”. From the neat and shiny satirical depictions in Don’t Look Up, to the grimy, dark, and highly stratified world of The Walking Dead, we’re going on a journey that’s bound to scratch that apocalyptic itch.

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Body:

The 21st century is a strange time. Every event seems to stoke fears of the end of the world. Every disagreement, every novel virus, every geopolitical tension is positioned as a harbinger of the “end times.”

Whether it was the result of sensationalist media practices or some subconscious desire for self-destruction, the apocalypse is a prominent feature of early 21st-century media. So, let’s explore some of those worlds and talk about their cultural impacts.

5.     Don’t Look Up

A star-studded satire so ridiculous that it felt like a very real possibility. In this film, as the earth teeters on the brink of annihilation, capitalism, politics, and news media collide to create a truly confusing world where desperate pleas for rational thought and action are drowned out by greed and outright denial. The film stars Oscar-winning actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, and Meryl Streep as leads, and has original songs from big names in music like Ariana Grande, Bon Iver, and Kid Cudi. It was a blowout film with a very present message that never really got its moment.

4.     The Walking Dead

When it aired, The Walking Dead was the most-watched basic cable premiere of all time. It was seen as the height of sci-fi television and made the once-cult genre of zombie-apocalyptic media mainstream. In the series, Officer Rick Grimes wakes from a coma to realize that the world has fallen. Life as he knew it has given way to a new form of life known as the walking dead. This series puts everyday people in extraordinary situations and becomes a character study of humanity in crisis. The character building, world building, and general success of this TV show led to 5 spin-offs, and a highly rated video game series. When you go to watch this show, get ready to have your heart filled, smashed, put back together, and then shredded. You will fall in love with at least one character who dies gruesomely.

3.     Greenland

Greenland is a gripping ride from start to finish. The story begins with a couple on the rocks coming together for their son’s birthday celebration. There are bits and pieces of background radio and television news chatter of a recently discovered comet that’s set to fly by close to Earth. While picking up mustard and hotdog buns from the grocery store (remember those?), our main character gets a presidential notification that he and his immediate family have been selected for emergency relocation. From there, we’re sent on a wild ride across the country as this family fights (sometimes literally) for a chance at survival. Greenland is less about society and more about how far we’re all willing to go for the people we love.

2.     Interstellar

Set in the near future as earth begins to run out of viable food sources, a former Air Force pilot leaves his family to travel through a wormhole to seek a new refuge for the last of humanity. Exploring new planets beyond our solar system, our protagonist finds a way to communicate with the daughter he left behind across time, space, and dimensions. This film was a blockbuster. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the setting of this story is one that could really become our reality. He worked with scientists and mathematicians to get every last detail to exist with a realm of possibility. In fact, the depiction his team created of what a blackhole may look like, almost exactly matches the image that was captured by scientists nearly 8 years later! If you’re looking for the point where sci-fi meets reality, this will certainly be your first stop.

1.     The Parable of the Sower

When it was released, Parable of the Sower wasn’t a smash hit. Published in 1994 by Octavia E. Butler, the novel was the first of its kind in the genre of “Afrofuturism.” Butler takes readers on a journey through a world initially very familiar to that of our own. Beginning in the year 2024, Butler’s protagonist, Lauren Olamina is a precocious 16-year-old girl who seems to be the only person in her walled community who doesn’t see a path back to the comfort and stability of the 20th century. She sees the signs of societal collapse and begins to secretly prepare an exit plan. This gripping, heart-wrenching journey explores that space where positive obsession, purpose, and religion all meet.

Outro:

Thank you all for supporting us here at Apocalypse, Then

Now that we’ve covered some of the essential apocalyptic scifi of the early 20th century, send us a tweet on our Twitter, (at) A P T H N, and let us know if you agree with this ranking, or just send us suggestions for future shows. My name is Trey, and this has been Apocalypse, Then. We’ll see you at the world’s next end.