More from the Dead
We don’t review many TV shows, but given the Walking Dead series’ comic book roots, its only right. The original Walking dead series is the best thing currently on TV. It has zombies, action, a compelling story…but most importantly, zombies! Any addition to this mythology is a welcome addition to my TV routine, but it’d be really difficult to match the quality of the original series.
The Story
Fear The Walking Dead is the spinoff from the show we all know and love. It follows a different group and takes place at the onset of the zombie apocalypse. It promised to tell the story of how the whole thing began. Fear follows Travis and his family as they try to survive all the mayhem that ensues.
My main gripe with the show is that it hasn’t really delivered on the its initial promise. We get to see the spread of the zombie virus, but we don’t really see what the cause of the situation was. Was this area the place where everything began or were similar things happening all around the world? How do those who weren’t bitten have the virus? Did this happen naturally or were they experimenting on people? I want to know!
The Characters
It took a while for me to warm up to them, but I grew to care about Travis and his family by the end of the season. The performances of the actors and the way the different characters’ stories tied together was a bright spot in the show for me.
Cliff Curtis was great as Travis; a family man trying desperately to get his family all together so he could get everyone to safety. I could see his character developing into a bad ass Rick Grimes sort of role. The whole angle of Travis and Madison’s family coming together throughout the season was also a nice touch.
There were a few things I didn’t like about the characters though. The characters who did have to kill zombies for the first time didn’t react in a way that I felt was appropriate. They should have truly seemed disheartened by the experience, but they were fine with it. Finally, I didn’t find any of the characters outside of Madison and Travis’ family too likable. Every time someone else was on the screen, I was wondering what was going on with the family.
The Action
The finale of the season finally had a lot of great action, but took them long enough to get up to that point. The rest of the season had some moments here and there, but it wasn’t enough for me. In some situations, it seemed like the show even went out of its way to not directly show what was going on with the outbreak. I was so frustrated during the time when Travis was in the barber shop taking cover while we knew all hell was breaking loose outside. I know that was a way to introduce new characters, but there was a much better moment just waiting to happen outside those doors.
Everything that happened in the finale is exactly what I’m always hoping for in a Walking Dead episode. You had a whole stadium worth of zombies on the move and wreaking havoc, characters getting trapped in dark hallways with walkers and suicide by helicopter propeller. What more could you ask for?
The Verdict
It probably seems like there were a lot of things I didn’t like about the show, but I’m extra critical because I love the franchise so much. Fear The Walking Dead was a lot of fun to watch and I’ll definitely be back for more next season. Let’s just hope they’re more generous with the zombie action next time around.
