The Last Ship made a major splash in the ratings for TNT last night, garnering 5.3 million total viewers, 1.5 million of whom are in the advertiser-friendly 18-49-year old demographic.

The Eric Dane-led drama thereby stands as the number-one cable launch of 2014.

Elsewhere on TNT, the Falling Skies Season 4 premiere garnered 3.7 million viewers, along with 1.3 million in the aforementioned demographic.

These figures are both down from the show’s previous premiere (4.2 million/1.9 million), along its August finale (3.7 million/1.6 million).

Did you catch The Last Ship Season 1 premiere? Grade it now:

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.