On August 23, 2015, AMC would release what was touted as a companion series to The Walking Dead titled Fear the Walking Dead. This series was initially set on the West Coast giving a whole new perspective on the outbreak as the flagship series takes place on the eastern side of the US. The other unique element of this series is that it is set at the onset of the outbreak, which was another exciting new storyline.
The first episode didn’t waste any time laying out what Fear the Walking Dead would be focused on as the first scene sets up the series’s premise as Nick (Frank Dillane) encounters his first undead in the form of his girlfriend Gloria (Lexi Johnson). It was an outstanding scene to kick off this first spinoff in TWDU.
AMC would release the first three minutes of the pilot episode days ahead of the premiere to tease fans about the new series.
Now, that is how you open a series. This video had fans very excited about this new chapter in The Walking Dead universe. The episode initially received a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, with one review stating it ” does a solid job of establishing its characters and milieu, and provides enough tense moments to please diehard Deadheads.”
Fear the Walking Dead episode 1
The episode did a great job of setting up what’s to come in this series, and it was a great look at how things could be at the beginning of an apocalypse. People will be in disbelief and denial that something like this could actually happen.
The setup of the characters was well done, and although there were some pacing issues, overall, it was interesting to watch these new characters as they figured out what was happening as the dead began to reanimate.
Fear the Walking Dead’s final season.
In January 2023, AMC announced that the eighth season of Fear the Walking Dead would be the last. This was a bittersweet announcement for the die-hard fans, but those who feel that the series has gone downhill agree it is time to end it.
On May 14, 2023, the first six episodes of the last season premiered and saw a significant focus on PADRE and crossover characters Morgan Jones (Lennie James), who by the midseason finale appeared in his last scene. He and his daughter Mo (Zoey Merchant) headed in search of his old friend Rick Grimes.
The final six episodes will focus on Madison (Kim Dickens), a character who returned in season 7. She will reunite with several old friends, including Victor Strand (Colman Domingo). Another wild bit of excitement for the final episodes is the return of Troy Otto (Daniel Sharman), a character thought to have died in season 3.
AMC has announced that season 8, part 2 of Fear the Walking Dead, will premiere on October 22 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC and AMC+.
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