Plot Synopsis

Based on William Brinkley's popular novel, THE LAST SHIP is a one-hour drama series that follows the Navy crew of the U.S.S. Nathan James, who must find a way to pull humanity from the brink of extinction after a global pandemic wipes out 80% of the Earth's population. At the helm of the Nathan James, Captain Tom Chandler, an authoritative and decisive career Navy man, is a born leader and a loving father and husband, respected and loved by the men and women under his command. The series opens with Captain Tom Chandler and the crew of the USS Nathan James setting out for the Arctic with two civilian virologists, Dr. Rachel Scott and Dr. Quincy Tophet, who claim to be studying birds. When they come under attack by a renegade team of Russian forces, Chandler learns these virologists are actually collecting samples of the source of a deadly virus that has wiped out over half the human population while they've been at sea. Because of its positioning, the Nathan James has avoided falling victim to the devastating tragedy. As they head home on the orders of the remaining U.S. government, Chandler and his crew realize that home is a shadow of what they left, and the safest place to develop a vaccine for this deadly disease is out at sea on their ship. Chandler and his crew then head to the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, where three teams are dispatched to collect food, medical supplies and fuel replenishments. While there, they come under attack by escaped Gitmo prisoners and enlist the help of a grizzled private contractor who's been surviving for weeks and living off the land. Now the crew and its captain must confront the reality of their new existence in a world where they are among the few remaining survivors. In the season ender, Chandler and his crew finally return home, where a former D.C. power player is fending off a dangerous warlord who threatens everyone's hopes of restoring law and order in society. Now with a location and a means to finalize their mission, Chandler sets out to find his family, only to discover something absolutely terrifying about this brave new world. THE LAST SHIP returned for its second season with a two-hour season opener on Sunday, June 21, 2015 from 9-11pm ET/PT. As Season 2 opens, Captain Chandler, XO Slattery and the rest of the crew are working to disseminate the cure that paleomicrobiologist Dr. Rachel Scott developed at the end of Season 1. After the horrifying revelations and reversals of fortune in Baltimore, Chandler and his fractured team join forces with an underground resistance in an attempt to defeat Amy Granderson. With doses of the cure running low, Rachel tries to do some good for the sick while remaining a prisoner at Avocet. Meanwhile, Slattery and the crew of Nathan James are in a race against time to save an injured Dr. Tophet and regain control of their ship. TNT premiered Season 3 of LAST SHIP on Sunday, June 19, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT, showing back-to-back new episodes. Following the second season cliffhanger, Season 3 finds the crew of the Nathan James shifting their attention to Asia after President Michener hears rumblings that the Chinese leader, President Peng, has been hoarding the "Scott cure" instead of distributing it to the people in the region. Michener sends Chandler to a global summit to investigate this allegation, as well as rumors of a possible mutation of the original virus that has caused a fresh outbreak in Japan. If the mutation has occurred -- and Asia has not been protected -- the consequences for the world are dire. With Rachel Scott shot in the Season 2 finale, and her fate as yet unknown, hope is in low supply. But soon after arriving in the Far East, Chandler must find a way to return to his old crew and investigate a dangerous new foe. The ten-episode fourth season of LAST SHIP launches with a two-hour premiere on Sunday, August 20, 2017 from 9-11pm ET/PT across TNT platforms. Over the course of the first three seasons, The Navy destroyer U.S.S. Nathan James has been the central vehicle for the discovery and distribution of the cure to the Red Flu, resulting in near global recovery. After the chilling events at the end of last season, Tom Chandler has given up his heroic titles and responsibilities and sought solace -- and anonymity -- with his family in a small fishing village in Greece. Meanwhile, Captain Slattery and the crew of Nathan James have discovered that the virus has "jumped kingdoms" and now infects the world's food crops, bringing humanity to the brink of global famine. As the ship traverses the Mediterranean in search of a solution that can save the world's food supply, Chandler encounters his own enemies in Greece. His "hero's journey" becomes a modern day retelling of Homer's Odyssey. In the season opener (9pm), "In Medias Res," 16 months after thwarting the coup in America, Nathan James must face yet another global disaster. The question remains, where in the world is Tom Chandler? Then, in the night's second new episode (10pm), "The Pillars of Hercules," having lost their only lead, the crew of Nathan James continues their search for an item that could save the world. Chandler immerses himself in a mission for revenge. One year earlier -- on Thursday, September 8, 2016 -- TNT announced it extended its recent renewal for THE LAST SHIP, adding a fifth season of the epic drama. THE LAST SHIP embarked on its final mission when the show returned for its fifth and final season on Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT on TNT. This season, the world is finally recovering from the deadly virus that devastated the population, but global political unrest remains. Tom Chandler has retired and his former crew has scattered, many having risen in the ranks within the Navy. Sasha Cooper, Lieutenant Danny Green, SBS WO-N Wolf Taylor and Sergeant Azima Kandie are on a covert mission in Panama. When they are wrongly blamed for an attack on the Panamanian president, the consequences for the United States are dire. The Nathan James must fight to prevent invasion by Latin America -- and the next world war. Season 5 is THE LAST SHIP at its most epic, upping the ante on action and excitement, but at its core, it underscores the costs of prolonged war and the toll it takes on the heroes who fight it.
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On Tuesday, March 12, 2019 Warner Bros. Home Entertainment released THE LAST SHIP Complete Season 5 on DVD and Blu-ray. The fifth and final season takes place as the world is finally recovering from the deadly virus that devastated the population, but global unrest is still growing. Tom Chandler has retired and his former crew have moved on, many having risen in the ranks within the Navy. Sasha Cooper, Lieutenant Danny Green, SBS WO-N Wolf Taylor and Sergeant Azima Kandie find themselves on a covert mission in Panama, and when they are wrongly blamed for an attack on the Panamanian president, the consequences for the United States are dire. The Nathan James must fight to prevent an invasion by Latin America -- and the next world war. Own all 10 action-packed episodes. Also out today on DVD and Blu-ray is the complete series with all 56 episodes and more special features. Buy and binge NOW! (Click the red "Buy DVDs" button on this page.)

Special Feature: Inside The Last Ship -- Tales From the Bridge with showrunner Steven Kane, cast members, production designers and U.S. Military advisors.