TheWalking Dead requires no introduction, as the show has solidified its name as one of the best TV shows of all time. It's evident that the successful Zombie Apocalypse series would spawn spin-offs to explore more stories within the universe. Among these spin-offs, Fear The Walking Dead, a prequel to the original series, stands out as the most discussed and boasts the longest run compared to the other spin-off shows. The series is almost at its conclusion after an impressive eight-year span.
However, the main question that arises is: Was Fear The Walking Dead a truly commendable TV show? What exactly was the premise of Fear The Walking Dead and how does it measure up against both the other spin-off shows and the main Walking Dead series?
What is Fear The Walking Dead about?
Fear The Walking Dead was the first spin-off from The Walking Dead and was a prequel series that begins by depicting daily life before the zombie outbreak. The series explores how people adapted to survival after the outbreak occurred. While Fear The Walking Dead focuses on original characters even though it is set in the universe of The Walking Dead series, some returning characters are also seen for instance, Morgan Jones, who was one of the very first characters in The Walking Dead. The storyline of Fear The Walking Dead revolves around a blended family residing in Los Angeles, who are forced to collaborate in order to survive the new apocalypse.
Initially set in Los Angeles with a primary focus on the Clark Family, the show later shifted its attention to Morgan Jones. Fear The Walking Dead offers a different perspective from The Walking Dead by encapsulating different themes and offers the struggle of humanity against the outbreak in the initial stage and how they are forced to make difficult decisions that affect their morality while also facing the challenges of survival.
How many seasons of Fear The Walking Dead are there?
Fear The Walking Dead first premiered in 2015 and has spanned over 8 years with 8 distinct seasons, introducing and bidding farewell to numerous fan-favorite characters. However, earlier this year at Comic-Con, a producer from the AMC network, responsible for the spin-off show, revealed that Fear The Walking Dead, the first spin-off from The Walking Dead's universe, will conclude its story with its 8th season. This final season is being released in two parts, with the first part already available for streaming and the second set to be released later this year in October.
Is Fear The Walking Dead a good spinoff?
While The Walking Dead has spawned several spin-offs, Fear The Walking Dead is undoubtedly the best among them. Although the show was far from perfect due to inconsistent writing and pacing, as evidenced by its eight-season run, it remained captivating from start to finish. While the first three seasons started out strong with compelling characters and stories, the later seasons didn't hold up as well, mainly due to the changing of showrunners. The writing took a downturn, resulting in fluctuations in the quality of the show. However, despite its ups and downs, the show managed to recover in the later seasons. Over its extended duration, the show delved into different characters, their development, and different locations, expanding the storyline and maintaining a fresh viewing experience.
One of the main reasons for the show's excellence is that, unlike The Walking Dead, it did not adhere to a comic book source, granting it the freedom to explore diverse narrative directions—an aspect the writers executed masterfully.
Moreover, Fear The Walking Dead presents the concept of a pre-apocalyptic civilization grappling with the challenges of a new outbreak. This narrative showcases the realistic spectrum of human behavior, including the moral compromises people make out of fear and the pursuit of survival. The emotional trauma they endure and how rapidly they adapt to their circumstances further contribute to the show's depth. What makes Fear The Walking Dead so great is the fact that it explores several genres in a single TV Show combining the aspects of Horror, Thrill, Survival, and Drama.
If calling it good isn't enough, some even consider it better than the main The Walking Dead series. While it may sound absurd, it does have some sense in it. Fear The Walking followed an already perfect formula based on The Walking Dead and made it even better and wasn't afraid to be experimental and try new things.
Fear The Walking Dead Season 8 Part 2 Is Expected To Come Out On October 22 On AMC