15 TV Universes You Wouldn’t Survive a Week In

Some TV shows create worlds so vivid you can’t help but imagine stepping into them. But not every universe is a place you’d want to visit, let alone survive.

I’ve rounded up 15 TV universes where danger lurks around every corner, from apocalyptic wastelands to societies ruled by fear. Here’s why you’d be lucky to make it through a single week in these brutal settings.

15. The 100 (2014–2020)

‘The 100’ drops you into a post-apocalyptic Earth where radiation has turned the planet into a death trap. Survivors face warring factions, mutated creatures, and scarce resources.

You’d need to navigate constant betrayals and brutal battles just to eat. With characters like Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor) barely surviving despite their skills, an average person wouldn’t stand a chance.

14. The Walking Dead (2010–2022)

Zombies roam the world of ‘The Walking Dead’, where every day is a fight to avoid becoming walker chow. Safe havens are rare, and human groups like Negan’s Saviors (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) are often as deadly as the undead.

Finding food is a nightmare, and trust is a luxury. You’d be exhausted dodging both zombies and ruthless survivors, making a week feel like a lifetime.

13. Game of Thrones (2011–2019)

The medieval world of ‘Game of Thrones’ is a bloodbath of dragons, White Walkers, and political schemes. From King’s Landing to Winterfell, no one is safe, as seen with characters like Ned Stark (Sean Bean).

You’d face sword fights, betrayals, or worse, a frozen undead army. Without noble status or combat skills, surviving seven days would be a miracle.

12. Black Mirror (2011–present)

‘Black Mirror’ explores near-future worlds where technology turns society into a nightmare. Each episode, like those starring Bryce Dallas Howard, shows tech amplifying human flaws to deadly extremes.

Imagine living where your social status hinges on a digital rating or your memories can be hacked. One wrong move, and you’re ostracized or worse in under a week.

11. The Handmaid’s Tale (2017–present)

In ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, Gilead is a totalitarian regime where women like June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) are enslaved for reproduction. Disobedience means torture or death.

You’d be under constant surveillance, with no freedom to speak or act. Surviving a week would require perfect compliance, which is nearly impossible in this oppressive world.

10. Westworld (2016–2022)

‘Westworld’ is a futuristic park where AI hosts, like those played by Evan Rachel Wood, can kill guests if things go wrong. The park’s lawless zones are a death trap.

One glitch could turn a fun vacation into a massacre. Without tech expertise or fighting skills, you’d be at the mercy of rogue robots within days.

9. The Last of Us (2023–present)

A fungal infection in ‘The Last of Us’ turns people into monstrous clickers, leaving survivors like Joel (Pedro Pascal) to scavenge in a collapsed world. Cities are crumbling, and supplies are scarce.

You’d face infected hordes and hostile raiders. Even with a weapon, staying alive for a week in this brutal landscape would be a long shot.

8. Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009)

In ‘Battlestar Galactica’, humanity is nearly wiped out by Cylons, robotic enemies who look human. Survivors, led by Adama (Edward James Olmos), flee on a spaceship under constant attack.

Resources are tight, and betrayal is common. You’d need to outsmart Cylons and survive space battles, making a week’s survival a desperate struggle.

7. The Purge (2018–2019)

‘The Purge’ imagines a world where all crime, including murder, is legal for one night a year. Characters like Miguel (Gabriel Chavarria) fight to survive this chaos.

You’d have to barricade yourself or face bloodthirsty mobs. Even if you make it through the night, the fear and trauma would make a week unbearable.

6. Stranger Things (2016–present)

The Upside Down in ‘Stranger Things’ is a parallel dimension filled with monsters like the Demogorgon. Even heroes like Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) barely escape its horrors.

You’d be hunted by creatures or trapped in a toxic alternate reality. Without psychic powers or a group of brave friends, you’re done in days.

5. Lost (2004–2010)

The island in ‘Lost’ is a mysterious death trap with smoke monsters, hostile natives, and time-travel twists. Survivors like Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) face new dangers daily.

You’d be lost in the jungle, dodging traps and supernatural threats. A week would feel endless with no clear way off the island.

4. Firefly (2002–2003)

The space frontier of ‘Firefly’ is lawless, with Reavers—cannibalistic space pirates—lurking everywhere. Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his crew barely scrape by.

You’d face starvation, betrayal, or Reaver attacks on outer planets. Without a ship or crew, surviving a week would be nearly impossible.

3. Years and Years (2019)

‘Years and Years’ shows a near-future Britain spiraling into chaos under a populist leader, Vivienne Rook (Emma Thompson). The Lyons family faces economic collapse and political oppression.

You’d deal with riots, refugee camps, and surveillance tech. Keeping your head down for a week in this dystopia would be a challenge.

2. The Man in the High Castle (2015–2019)

In ‘The Man in the High Castle’, Nazis and Imperial Japan rule a divided America. Characters like Juliana Crain (Alexa Davalos) risk everything to resist.

You’d face execution for stepping out of line in this oppressive regime. Survival for a week would mean constant fear and hiding.

1. The Expanse (2015–2022)

‘The Expanse’ throws you into a solar system on the brink of war, with asteroid belt miners like Jim Holden (Steven Strait) caught in the chaos. Alien tech and political conspiracies make every moment deadly.

You’d face space radiation, oxygen shortages, or betrayal. Without a spaceship or combat training, you’d be lucky to last a few days.

Which TV universe do you think is the deadliest, or did I miss one you wouldn’t survive? Drop your thoughts in the comments!