For my own part, I enjoy apocalyptic works like 'The Walking Dead' and 'Battlestar Galactica' because the premise allows the writers to (hopefully) craft stories and scenarios that examine the human psyche and delve into just how much of what we take for granted would survive when the world ends. Regular people pitted against impossible odds and insurmountable tragedy. When it's done well, it's heady stuff.
I could take or leave the zombie (or Cylon) bits, as they're just there to 'set the stage,' as it were.