The Walking Dead universe features several webisodes that are brief looks into other people and situations that tie to the main series or its spinoffs. Dead in the Water was initially released in 2022 on AMC+ and later on YouTube, and the story ties into Fear the Walking Dead.
Dead in the Water gives a backstory to the crew of the USS Pennsylvania, a submarine featured in season 6 of FTWD. The submarine washed ashore near Galveston, Texas, and drew the attention of the doomsday cult led by Teddy Maddox (John Glover), who used the nuclear missiles on board as a means to destroy the cult members and himself.
The six-part webisode was set at the onset of the outbreak. This places the story in the same time frame as FTWD's first episode, which pre-dates episode one of The Walking Dead. The events of Dead in the Water serve as a prequel to events in season 6 of FTWD.
One of the cult members, Jason Riley (Nick Stahl), is a former member of the submarine crew. Dead in the Water tells his story and those of his fellow crewmembers. The crew of the submarine was tasked with running peacetime drills in the Gulf of Mexico. Little did they know that the world above them was quickly falling to pieces as the outbreak began to overrun the country.
Below water, Riley, a new father of a son he had yet to meet, and the rest of the crew begin a fight for their lives when one member dies and reanimates. This transforms the sub into a walker-infested death trap. This leads to Riley's story, which picks up in season 6 of FTWD.
Dead in the Water was written by FTWD writing team member Jason Pinion, who also wrote the six-part webisode The Althea Tapes, that also ties to FTWD. Walking Dead universe producer Kenneth Requa directed.
AMC has released Fear the Walking Dead: Dead in the Water on Youtube.
Dead in the Water cast
- Damon Carney - Walter
- Emmett Hunter - Captain Renwick
- Jay Gutierrez - Lt. Alvarez
- Ja’Quan Monroe-Henderson as Winokur
- Garrett Graham - Ginger
- Jason Francisco Blue - Pierce
- Austin Hyde - Middlebrook
- Alexander Biglane - Park
- Jon Lee - Farley
- Zach Lazar Hoffman - Cook
- Calum Sharman - Friedman
- John Franklin – XO
- AJ Jones – Park’s Asst.
- Marco Ramirez – Seamen
- Eyland Gaddy-Brewer
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