Paul Neafcy's The Last Bus arrives as a British science-fiction adventure series that premiered on Netflix in April 2022. The ten-episode series follows a group of mismatched schoolchildren on a bus trip to witness the unveiling of genius scientist Dalton Monkhouse's (Robert Sheehan) latest invention, the Genie Orbs. When the Orbs activate, they vaporize every human on Earth — except the children on the bus, who are shielded by the vehicle's experimental coating. The kids — including gifted but anxious Nas (Moosa Mostafa), his protective sister Sophie (Phoebe De Silva), lonely Tom (Daniel Frogson), rebellious Misha (Lauryn Ajufo), rule-follower Chelsea (Marlie Morrelle), goofy Josh (Nathanael Saleh), and song-loving Bethan (Carys John) — must navigate a suddenly empty world while uncovering what the Orbs really did.
Wikipedia describes The Last Bus as a British science fiction adventure television series created by Paul Neafcy for Netflix, consisting of ten episodes that premiered 1 April 2022. The series stars Moosa Mostafa, Phoebe De Silva, Daniel Frogson, Lauryn Ajufo, Marlie Morrelle, Nathanael Saleh, and Carys John, with guest appearances by Tom Basden, Lara McDonnell, and Robert Sheehan. It received generally positive reviews for its style, story, casting, musical score, and emotional weight, though opinions varied on the acting and comparisons to Stranger Things.
The series wears its influences openly — a group of kids on bikes (or a bus), a missing scientist, a looming AI threat — but finds its own voice through the specificity of its characters. Each child gets a distinct arc: Nas's hero-worship of Monkhouse complicates when he meets the man's abandoned daughter; Sophie's caregiving instinct clashes with her own fear; Tom's isolation makes him both vulnerable and observant. The post-apocalyptic London is rendered with eerie beauty — familiar landmarks emptied, nature reclaiming the streets. Nathan Micay's score blends synth and orchestral elements to strong effect.
For a bingeable, family-friendly sci-fi adventure with heart, The Last Bus works well. Its single season tells a complete story with a definitive ending, avoiding the cliffhanger trap. The themes — grief, friendship, the ethics of technology, what we owe each other when the world ends — are woven into the adventure rather than lectured. It's a show that respects its young characters' agency and intelligence, and by extension, its audience's. A solid pick for a weekend watch with teens or anyone who likes their apocalypse with a side of hope.