What to watch while The Walking Dead is on break: Z Nation

The Walking Dead hiatus is always rough, but here’s a show I’m watching

Ah hiatus how I dread you, but this year has been particularly bleh thanks to the ever growing pandemic preventing our favorite shows from filming, shops to be closed and a lack of new movies to get excited about. If you’re like me you’ve spent a lot of time watching Netflix, Hulu, Disney, Prime and/or your vast collection of DVD/Blu-Rays. (OK the vast collection of DVDs is probably just me but you get the point). I’ve rewatched several older favorite shows and got caught up on a few others. I’ve watched The Walking Dead so many times I’ve actually worn out my TWD season 1 DVD and had to replace it, and my son has claimed my PS4 so no video games for this girl.

So what is a zombie loving fan to do? How about Z Nation?

I want to start by saying I know there have been some on social media that like to compare the two shows, as it seems like parts of the fandom are always willing to fight about something, but honestly the shows are both great in their own way.

Z Nation is a quirky show that at times doesn’t take itself overly serious. With a strong lead in the wonderful Kellita Smith as Lt. Roberta Warren, the adorable Nat Zang as 10k, the hilarious Russell Hodgkinson as Doc and  Keith Allan as resident bad boy Murphy along with Addy, Citizen Z, Kia and (one of my personal favorites) Nana; there’s a character for everyone. (Lydia Hearst, who is married to Chris Hardwick, also stars in the show)

The plot is deceptively simple: There’s a zombie outbreak and a mission to get the one person who may be the cure to a lab across a zombie-filled country. The show itself is so much more than that. The episodes are a delightful mix of humor, horror, drama, social commentary, frivolity, moral dilemmas, tears and laughter. The characters have strong bonds yet don’t always agree; sometimes they find themselves on opposite sides of a fight yet they always manage to come back together. The acting is great as is the sound and lighting.

One of the more interesting aspects of the show that puts it in a realm of its own is the variety of zombies our intrepid band come across. I don’t want to give anything away for those that haven’t seen Z Nation, so I’ll just say not all zombies are alike.

The show was cancelled by the SyFy Channel after its fifth season and those of us that love the show are hopeful Netflix will give it a sixth season, but never fear… If you start the show just know the writers were able to wrap up the series in a way that doesn’t leave you hanging yet leaves room for more of the series.

Whether you are a long time fan of The Walking Dead or someone looking for something to kill time during hiatus, give a thought to the little zombie show that could and check out Z Nation!