Water is the Currency now on Fear the Walking Dead: Mad Max Inspiration
By Nir Regev
Water scarcity became center focus on Fear the Walking Dead this week. Reminiscent of Mad Max: Fury Road, Strand commented “Water is the Currency now”.
In a rich twist, water reasserted itself on the throne of priorities on Fear the Walking Dead. Reclaiming the crown as king, green paper reduced to the history books. The ominous vision of the future where the rich and powerful control a basic necessity for life… Was more chilling than a herd of zombies could ever be. It hit home in a way that required very little to no suspension of disbelief.
You can evade a walker or two but you can’t evade thirst. It’s a whole new series plot worthy of its own time slot. A water shortage calls for immediate and decisive action. No planning or postponement. It demands obedience, just as we saw Strand finish his water canteen in about 15 seconds after deprivation.
No looking for the right settlement for future survival as Madison and Nick have been doing. The body needs water and it needs it now. No negotiations. The owner of water holds the key to life, which is why Strand’s old buddy is now the most powerful man in the history of the show.
Fear the Walking Dead inspired by Mad Max: Fury Road
If you care, my top five 2015, so far:
— Robert Kirkman (@RobertKirkman) August 30, 2015
1. Mad Max
2. MI: Rogue Nation
3. American Ultra
4. Mad Max
5. Mad Max
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It’s no secret that Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead was a major fan of 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. In fact, he listed the film three times in his top 5 movies of 2015 on Twitter.
Mad Max: Fury Road saw a grim future where water and fuel are rare and limited resources to the general public. A ruling class king deciding when the public drinks in the desert wasteland.
Mad Max appears to have inspired Kirkman to put his own spin on the concept on Fear the Walking Dead. A major part of Kirkman’s success with The Walking Dead was after all, the idea of human behavior faced with limited resources.
The walkers have always been consistently predictable, human behavior is not. Distrust and greed is why most individuals on both The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead hesitate to work together. The idea of no true altruistic actions is one of the main captivating draws for the audience. An introspective look at human nature.
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No longer is it about giving half to Negan’s saviors. Now it’s about the right to exist. Water is life… And it’s instantly relatable to fans and non-fans alike.
Follow me on Twitter: @nirregev