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Are There Too Many Zombie Related Television Shows?

By Adam Carlson

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The Walking Dead is a huge success for Robert Kirkman and AMC.  Because of that, we’re starting to see a group of zombie related television shows popping up that hope to cash in on the fans of the undead that are willing to try to expand their horizons.  But the major question regarding these shows is this: can they come close to matching the popularity of The Walking Dead?

There have been other shows based on comic books with zombies, shows tweaking the formula to include fast running members of the undead, and even news that a horror legend will be bringing his vision to the small screen soon.  While they might not ever get as popular as The Walking Dead, there’s no doubt that they’ll be seen as competition in the niche market and there could be a fight for control of the genre.

Here is a list of recent zombie television shows that are either currently airing or have been announced:

The Walking Dead

  • Based on a comic book series
  • Created by Robert Kirkman
  • Slow moving zombies
  • Drama focusing on relationships and survival
  • 5 seasons

Z Nation

  • SyFy’s alternative to The Walking Dead
  • Created by Karl Schaefer and Craig Engler
  • Fast moving zombies
  • Drama that doesn’t take itself too seriously
  • 1 season

iZombie

  • CW’s adaptaion of the popular comic series
  • Created by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred
  • Zombies are mistaken for humans
  • Memories can be transferred by eating brains
  • 1 season

The Returned

  • A&E’s remake of the popular French show
  • Developed by Carlton Cruse
  • The dead come to life
  • Dead people try to go back to their regular life
  • 1 season

Resurrection

  • ABC’s show based on the book ‘The Returned’ By Jason Mott
  • Developed by Aaron Zelman
  • Loved ones come back to life
  • People attempt to find out why the dead are returning
  • Cancelled in May of 2015

In The Flesh

  • BBC’s original zombie show
  • Created by Dominic Mitchell
  • Rabid fast zombies
  • The undead are hunted by groups of survivors
  • Cancelled in January of 2015

Fear The Walking Dead

  • AMC’s companion show for The Walking Dead
  • Created by Robert Kirkman
  • Slow zombies
  • Set in the same universe as The Walking Dead
  • Premieres this Summer

Empire of the Dead

  • Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Marvel
  • Written by zombie legend George Romero
  • Involves vampires, zombies and humans
  • Not yet picked up by a network
  • Rumored to be going to Netflix

While I know that I’m already interested in Fear The Walking Dead, I’ve also tried out iZombie and Z Nation, but just couldn’t quite get into them.  Shows like The Returned look interesting, Empire of the Dead has the credibility and support to possibly be a major contender in the zombie market.  With a name like Romero’s attached to it, it has likely already drawn the attention of fans of the genre and could become a powerhouse with a successful launch.

The one thing that is for certain is that all this competition is great.  It forces each show to work harder to draw in and keep viewers.  And if there is one thing that fans of The Walking Dead have learned, it is that the show is never happy to rest on its laurels and be happy in the current state.  With an ever-growing fan base, The Walking Dead can help be a gateway to some of these other shows as well.

Will you be watching any of the other zombie shows on TV?  Or are you looking forward to any of them?   Let me know in the comments below.

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