5 Reasons Fear the Walking Dead Is Getting as Good as The Walking Dead
Yes, you read that headline correctly. And, judging from the comments that you’ve been leaving beneath our Fear the Walking Dead recaps, we’re gonna guess that right about now you’re scoffing and rolling your eyes.
Nonetheless, there is a case — a strong case, in fact — to be made that the Walking Dead prequel has gotten good, is getting better and is showing signs that it will eventually become every bit as gripping as the monster smash off of which it was spun.
Consider the evidence:
5 | Strand is starting to seem as nasty as Negan
From the moment we met Victor last season in “Cobalt,” it was clear that the smooth operator wasn’t exactly Mr. Nice Guy. But since he (literally) cut loose poor Alex and Jake in this week’s “Ouroboros,” we’ve begun to wonder if he won’t turn out to be a villain who’s just as heartless — if twice as classy — as TWD’s new Big Bad.
4 | It’s dead — or would that be Dead? — funny
Whether the show has Daniel referring to el capitán as “Ahab,” Nick defending “geriatric chic” as a valid style choice or Ofelia questioning how her father plans to score more antibiotics when she’s “pretty sure [Walgreens is] closed,” it manages to make room in the zombie apocalypse for zingers that are (at least almost) as memorable as an Abraham turd joke.
3 | The cast is killing it — in a good way
We’ve been high on Frank Dillane’s portrayal of impish junkie Nick since the pilot last summer. This week, as Chris mercy-killed a survivor of Flight 462, Lorenzo James Henrie did some work that was so visceral, it was nearly Andrew Lincoln caliber. And between Ruben Bladés (who plays Daniel like a cynical, dangerous Hershel) and Colman Domingo (Strand), the series has gravitas to spare.
2 | It’s gotten hard to tell the friends from foes
In your comments, you often suggest that none of the characters seem to like each other (though sibs Nick and Alicia are tight, and he’s often reached out to Chris). Yet isn’t it more interesting to watch Madison align herself with Daniel, who doesn’t trust her, and Strand, whom she doesn’t trust? (It’s like the Alexandria/Hilltop alliance, only on a smaller scale.) Plus, you know there’s gonna come a day when, along with us, Nick learns the price he’ll pay for the “safe” passage that was bought by his alliance with Strand.
1 | Several plots are about to converge
Just as we’re making a little progress toward an unexpected Nick/Ofelia romance, we’re also anticipating finding out why Strand really wants to get to Mexico (and certain that it isn’t just a walker-proof hideout), nervously waiting to meet Alicia’s “radio crush” (who left her with an ominous “See you soon” in “Monster”) and dying for Alex to come back with a vengeance (and she has to come back, right?).
What do you think? Is anybody else loving the show — or at least its potential? Hit the comments… gently.
That is some damning praise. The Walking Dead has always been three or four steps below the top tier of television programming. To say something is “getting as good as” it isn’t very promising.
IMDb rates it second only to Game of Thrones.
LOL @ IMDB ratings…
But that’s only your Opinion, not every one else.
I think the show should aspire to be more than just crap.
i AGREE!
Yeah, none of these five reasons are any I agree with. There’s good elements to the show, but they’re just not coming together in an interesting or compelling way. The plotting is boring, the pacing is slow, the characters have very little meaningful interaction or chemistry with each other. It’s just not gelling. That said, if they execute some more interesting ideas and pick up the pace, I think the actors can and will “find their characters,” so to speak. I know from seeing many of them in other projects that they’re all great and really talented. There COULD still be a show here . . . but right now there isn’t, and I’m just not seeing any promising signs like this article wants to.
Reason #6: Kim Dickens has added another expression to the one that she already had. I checked out on this mess before the first season was over. Just not very good.
Plotting is a verb, doing, what are they plotting? Compelling is a stronger word for interesting so it’s redundant. I don’t know how the pacing can be described as slow when all of this from this season has happened in hours and a day, not days and weeks like some misguided people seem to think. It needs time to gel! The quality of the acting, the money that allows for great special effects do bode well for a great show to develop as this article points out. Give it time and perhaps pick up a dictionary.
I’m hoping it gets better, because i’m a fan of the original. I like the actors, and I think they are all great, but their characters just annoy me or bore me.
I agree. There’s not one character on that show that I find myself rooting for. Any one of them could die I wouldn’t care.
I’m trying to find a reason to keep watching.
me too
I’m just waiting for someone to give Nick a comb!
The one that is keeping you watching, not hard.
Nick, Chris and Daniel’s daughter are my favorites so far. Liked Chris’s mother a lot better than Maddie. Have never felt any chemistry between Travis and Maddie as a couple. Just watch it to fill in that time slot on tv for me. lol
I can see Maddie and Travis as a couple pre-apocalypse, but now that polite society is over, I don’t see them lasting too long. I could even see her doing something cold-blooded but necessary that causes him to cut ties with her.
I love The Walking Dead, but I can’t get into this series since I pretty much hate all of the characters, and the only thing I’m rooting for is that they die quickly.
The only character with any promise is Strand. You make him out to be a villain, but he’s been very diplomatic with Madison, the rag tag band of do gooders without a clue, and Daniel who’s been on him like a fly on s***. He didn’t even toss Alicia overboard for the flirting on the radio with someone who was hunting them. This guy has the patience of a saint.
I don’t care if he stole that boat, he saved all of their lives, and they’re about the most ungrateful folks ever. Strand should have knocked out Daniel, and sailed off when everyone went to go socialize with the suicide family.
The last episode, they’re supposed to gather supplies from the plane crash quickly. Instead they play dress up, and Chris goes off on his own walkabout. (why, why could he not be eaten…) They’re being hunted because Alicia is stupid, they have the constant risk of being bitten, but they stop to play dress up and run off for a fun solo hike? Where’s the drive to get in, get what you need and get out.
Can anyone tell me how they went from frantically carrying their boat into the water, and all of the sudden, Alex the new comer was able to get her life preserver with the extra crispy guy in it, and have a tow line set up to drag them out???
I’m glad Strand had the balls to chop the line to Alex’s boat. She already killed the one guy to protect extra crispy that needs to be put out of his misery. Who else would she kill to protect KFC?
The best way to end the show… toss all of them overboard in a pit of zombies, and Strand sails off to his destination and lives the high life.
You summed up my frustrations and questions. Playing dress up, wandering off, HUGGING as they are being attacked, ugh! I thought Strand was very patient – he didn’t say much about the CB flirting or Madison telling him to turn the GD boat around! I’d make examples of anyone who questioned my authority. I think Chris was itching to kill some more walkers – maybe easy targets for his pent up rage? He struck me as a brat in the beginning when he ignored his parents so he could be at the “protest” downtown. Carl Grimes had more common sense as a little boy than this guy has.
I keep hoping the Abigail hits an iceberg and sinks so my OCD will no longer compel me to watch this boring show. The characters are sooooooooooooooooo boring.
You are a IDIOT! Change the channel!
Lol calm down
There is this thing called a remote
LOL!
I thought I was the only one being nudged by my OCD tendencies to keep watching.
But a string of ‘o’s’ are fascinating on the other hand.
I think Strand works for a cartel. He uses Abigal to run drugs, explains his wealth, the guns and maps, and why he knows about a big fortified compound in Mexico.
I agree with this! Plus his initial fascination with Nick is because he knew he could manipulate him.
Also, every black character on the show ended up a hoodlum. Why would Strand be any different, right? (Who’s writing this stuff, and which black man killed their parents?)
Hi, I honestly preferred the first season , I don’t know if this was because of the novelty of it , but this season is hella difficult to watch without sleeping through it. am waiting for something to happen , so I will probably stick around.
As for how the franchise treats its minorities , we all know in Atlanta where TWD is set there is only 0,001% of minorities.
The very first un-dead in this LA based spin off ,was a black male . And the one that own the yacht , we could safely assume that it is implied that he stole it, he is a one dimensional stock character . So far every white character has had a integral family life and ties beyond them. Hell even the Guerra family had hers, the minor white characters whose arc was short had 3 generations of living relatives, a big home etc..and they’ve had more structured dialogue than the sole minority in the show.
I don’t know why it is implied/assumed that minorities do not have families , close friends or no life prior to the scene they are depicting as if they came out of Mars. Because unless their specific story line intersects with one of white characters, they are rendered useless .
Absolutely wrong the first undead was a white female junkie. ( zombie zero)
Sadly, yes the black guy is always the bad guy. They keep wanting to save the world by adding to his boat and cant ever respect he doesn’t need them in any way. I would have dumped them by now.
Wow , some libtard has to bring race in here too ! You need a life !
plus the cartel or whomever has kidnapped/is holding someone important to him. His behavior only makes sense if there is a valuable he is retrieving and in this world and situation it has to be a person.
I agree that he is a drug dealer but considering what’s going on in the world, does anyone care about the latest shipment of crack? Doesn’t make sense to me.
I’ve been thinking that same thing.
I wouldn’t say it’s on par with TWD, but it’s for sure getting much stronger. I see it more as a filler piece, but it’s an entertaining filler piece none-the-less.
I’ll correct to: 5 Reasons Fear the Walking Dead Is Getting as Good as Z-Nation… we have Zombie swimmers, exploding Zombies and so on
Don’t forget the little girl who turned into a zombie and killed her mom
Not having a character like Rick who is always right is, IMHO, one reason why this show is proving to be more interesting this season.
another who probably watched 2 episodes of TWD .
Thank you!! And Robert Kirkman agreed and wrote in Negan at this point for that very reason. Rick had a long predictable run, it isn’t over, but finally a change has been introduced. This show has a long way to go, I feel quite good about it. But this season started five hours after Liza was shot, it needs time! They have the acting quality and the money to make the production values very high, just have a little less pretentious attitude and a lot more humble patience to the others writing in!
and how much exactly did amc pay you to write this?
It’s definitely getting better with each episode. It still has a way to go but if they can keep improving on each ep, it can be a great.
Are we watching the same show?
Was about to say the same thing…I want whatever they’re on because it is NOWHERE not even a little bit close to regular TWD quality wise.
I’m liking it more and more. And about Alex – I’m guessing she offed the third passenger in the boat so she’s probably as ruthless as Strand. I’m enjoying the complex characters.
I’m beginning to like fear the dead…it’s different from twd… which is refreshing!
The latest episode was really good. It’s getting better and better. Some forget that this show is only 9 episodes in so it’s still finding it’s footing. Previous episode was good, the latest one is even better.
I’m guessing she “offed” him, too, and I think he’s the guy who got sucked up into the Abigail’s intake (I need to double-check the clothing to be sure).
It was the guy from the life raft, same striped shirt.
Nice article Andy and I agree. I’m enjoying watching because I know that all of this will come together like you said and it will be great!!
I enjoy this show, and I do think it gets better every episode. And since Walking Dead has been going downhill in past seasons, I suppose Fear is getting on par with its current state. But my issue with this show is the characters. There’s a huge difference between “scared, confused survivors in the new apocalypse” and downright stupid and insufferable. Once they either A) kill half of them off or B) start making them step up and be even remotely intelligent, I will start to respect this show a lot more.
I agree. I like this show and Nick has been my favorite from the beginning.
Same although I do wish he’d find a comb. But at least he changed out of those old man clothes from last season, lol. Alicia and Chris are growing on me. I’ve always enjoyed Daniel and Strand also. The only character that I don’t really care for is Madison. For me she’s the Andrea of this group :-)
Yes. The yacht must have a comb somewhere lol! Yeah Madison just kinda runs around confronting people or trying to order around her kids who never listen to her lol. I’ve tried with her but she doesn’t get it. Nick even had to remind her last night that things aren’t going to settle. My husband is convinced that crucifix they kept passing around was the one Carol had but I’m not so sure…. It would have to really take a long journey to make it to TWD group but who knows.
I think Nick’s hair is meant to be in the beginning stages of dreads. Look the actor up in images and you see he also has messy hair. LOL
We are spoiled by outstanding TV drama such as the Sopranos The Wire Fargo Seasons1 of True Detective that it becomes difficult to praise a watchable but not mind blowing show like those of the Dead franchise. Last night’s episode while not must watch . Was the best in the series so far and fun to watch.
I think it’s a better show than people here like to say, and I like the more slow-burn approach of the storytelling… but I also think the characters could stand to be a bit more compelling. At the moment it’s only Nick, Daniel, and Strand that I really find all that interesting to watch.
Really, you think it’s a good show? you must like boring and uninteresting TV, you probably are the type of guy who likes sitting through Masterpiece Theatre on PBS.
and you must be a yahoo that cannot discuss or give his opinion without insults to others with whom he disagrees. The show has shown progress.
You’re honestly a loser. Just because someone disagrees with you gives you a right to personally attack them? The fact you watch a show you ‘supposedly’ don’t like shows you’re someone with no life and whose only joy is coming to online message boards to insult people. Go back to quietly being a hermit in your mother’s basement.
This show is painful to watch, it has a painfully slow pace, I never connected with the characters like I did with TWD and I especially can’t stand the drug addicted character…and what’s with the Members Only jacket? Is that junkie fashion? I am waiting for him to brush that weird hair and eventually get killed. I would not loose any sleep if this train wreck got cancelled.
Hmmm well it’s already been renewed for season three so I guess the choice is yours.
yep, the choice is mine and judging from the majority of people like me who find the show crap AMC better slow it’s roll before even going ahead with 3, I’d hate see AMC spend more money on a slow sinking ship.
You are not the majority fuel770, there are plenty of people that enjoy the show. Seriously if you don’t like it just DONT watch it. You obviously like it enough to watch it so you can slate it
I just want someone to die already.
Please let it be the drug addict that dies.
I’ve been waiting since the first season. I’m shocked he’s lasted this long. Although if he ends up in a fortified building with a drug cartel I bet he’ll either overdose or he’ll get killed for using their stash
Any or all of the cast would be fine with me.
Need to call out #5-I don’t understand why everyone is so angry with Strand for setting Alex loose-We saw her kill people on the plane to protect Jake and kill 2 survivors on the life raft to protect Jake-Are you sure you want her on your boat before Jake is sorted out?
well,I think only Strand and maybe that torturer are the only ones cold enough to try to finish him off.
It really should be better than Walking Dead since it has no source material to stick to and they can do anything.Downside is the characters weren’t as thought out as the original.
It’s alright, but it can’t compare to the original/main series. It did get better this season. Still…How long before the show becomes a mirror image of the original tho? They can’t stay on that boat forever.
It is getting vastly better… but it started out so poorly, the only direction was up. Still, these last 2 weeks have been good TV!
Strand is the only one who seems to realize they have limited resources and can’t afford to take on every new person they meet. He’s now probably very aware that his guests are one beat from telling him what to do on his own boat.