Is Fear the Walking Dead good? The key to appreciating the first spinoff of The Walking Dead
By Renee Hansen
In 2013, AMC Networks announced the development of a companion series to its wildly successful The Walking Dead series. Set in the same world, the series, originally known as Cobalt, would be set on the West Coast and focus on a new cast of characters.
The spinoff's pilot was ordered and written by Walking Dead comic creator Robert Kirkman with Dave Erickson, who would also serve as showrunner through the third season. Kirkman, Erickson, Gale Anne Hurd, and David Alpert would executive produce the series.
On August 23, 2015, Fear the Walking Dead premiered its six-part debut season with the Pilot episode. This is a prime example of how you begin an apocalyptic storyline by starting the story at the beginning. Fear TWD wasted no time as its first scene features Nick (Frank Dillane) as he encounters his first member of the undead in the form of his girlfriend Gloria (Lexi Johnson).
Fear the Walking Dead has encountered a new group of viewers as AMC Networks and Netflix have collaborated to provide several AMC original series on the streamer, this includes all eight seasons of Fear TWD and the first season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. This sees the question trending: whether or not Fear TWD is good or worth watching.
View the first three minutes of Fear the Walking Dead below.
How to enjoy Fear the Walking Dead
One significant mistake viewers made was beginning to view Fear TWD and expecting to see TWD. With that mindset, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.
The idea behind spinoffs is to feature a new story that acts as a companion to the original. By the time Fear TWD premiered, TWD had aired six seasons, and fans were used to seeing seasoned survivors. Going back to the onset of the outbreak in Fear TWD, it was a shock to see the characters unsure of what was taking place and unable to defend themselves.
That said, the first three seasons feel like an entirely different show than the final five seasons. Erickson was replaced by Andrew Chambliss and Ian B. Goldberg, a move many believe was detrimental to the remainder of the series.
Seasons 1-3 saw much character development and gave a fantastic look at the chaos and confusion experienced at the onset of the outbreak. This would lead to the survivors slowly realizing the reality of the situation, that a mass killing of civilians, Operation Cobalt, was to take place. The second season is set partially on the sea, leading to their journey to Mexico. On the US/Mexican border, the group encounters a ranch where they find refuge until things go south.
The fourth season sees a drastic change with new showrunners, a new filming location (Austin, TX), and the first-ever crossover character in TWDU. Morgan Jones (Lennie James), a character introduced in season 1 of the main series, begins a new journey in Fear TWD. This season took many twists and turns as the show transformed into a western of sorts, with this season losing key main characters.
Season 5, the lowest rated of the series, is where many believe the show began its decline. During the final four seasons, the show had ups and numerous downs, with disjointed stories incorporating many time jumps. The series partially redeemed itself in the final season, bringing the stories of the surviving characters full circle.
The series also has a stellar cast whose acting abilities have been proven time and again in other movies and shows.
- Alycia Debnam-Carey - Alicia Clark
- Kim Dickens - Madison Clark
- Rubén Blades - Daniel Salazar
- Colman Domingo - Victor Strand
- Danay García - Luciana Galvez
- Lennie James - Morgan Jones
- Jenna Elfman - June "Naomi/Laura" Dorie
- Cliff Curtis - Travis Manawa
- Frank Dillane - Nick Clark
- Mercedes Mason - Ofelia Salazar
- Daniel Sharman - Troy Otto
- Maggie Grace - Althea "Al" Szewczyk-Przygocki
- Garret Dillahunt - John Dorie
- Karen David - Grace Mukherjee
- Austin Amelio - Dwight
- Christine Evangelista - Sherry
- Mo Collins - Sarah Rabinowitz
- Daryl Mitchell - Wendell Robinowitz
- Zoe Colletti - Dakota
- Keith Carradine - John Dorie Sr.
Overall, if you are a fan of the undead and go into this series without comparing it to the original, it can be enjoyable. Fear the Walking Dead seasons 1-8 are now available to stream on Netflix.
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