AMC's hit television show, The Walking Dead, spawned a spinoff called Fear The Walking Dead and it aired its pilot episode yesterday. While it looks, sounds and feels familiar, ultimately the show is quite different from its more established sibling but provides a fresh new perspective in the series.
Fans of The Walking Dead should rejoice because while the original series only gives viewers 10 episodes a season, Fear The Walking Dead will give them that extra bit of zombie goodness to satisfy the craving for blood and gore.
**SPOILER ALERT** Those who haven't seen the episode should turn back
Set in Los Angeles around the time the zombie virus was just beginning to spread, and way before Rick Grimes wakes up inside a hospital only to find the world in shambles, the story begins with Nick, a teenager with a drug problem, waking up from a sleep-inducing high.
Nick is hiding out at an abandoned church, where all the other druggies do their deed, when he quickly discovers something is amiss. There's a dead dude with his neck ruptured in the hallway, there's blood and guts everywhere, and Nick is looking for Gloria, who we can only assume is Nick's (probably now ex) girlfriend.
Minutes later, Nick stumbles upon Gloria but before he could get two words out, Gloria glares back at him and makes the all too familiar yet uniquely Walking Dead zombie growl as she munches on a poor boy's face.
Nick looks in horror as Gloria, with blood dripping from her face, chases him out of the abandoned church.
A hobbled Nick stumbles out of the church and onto the street as a reckless driver runs him over. He is sent to the hospital to recover.
And that is how the story begins.
Along the way we meet Nick's mom, Madison (Kim Dickens), Madison's English teacher boyfriend Travis (Cliff Curtis), and his snotty teenage sister Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey).
There is an obvious family drama going on, a cliched one at that, with Nick playing the irresponsible teen, Madison the disappointed parent and Travis, the stepdad who kinda wants to be the real dad.
Oh, and Alicia plays the super annoying sister.
Character development is one of the most important aspects of The Walking Dead universe, and it's understandable that the writers and producers are trying to lay the foundation for what should be an interesting dynamic.
The Madison family is obviously at the center of the storyline, and will most likely be the stars of the show. I have to say right now, Nick and Travis are my favorite characters so far as they offer more intriguing personalities than a mom who is constantly disappointed with her children, and a rebellious teenage girl trying to annoy her family members.
While some fans are on the fence with regards to the new show, some are hopeful this new hour on television will actually do great in satiating the hunger (pun intended) for zombie gore.
Without giving away too much of the story, I do agree that the show did start off rather slow, as all pilots tend to do.
The episode ended rather well, when Nick's friend Calvin tries to "off" Nick who has become a liability to his illegal drug trade. With gun in hand, Calvin produces a familiar moment of tension between the two, which has become uniquely Walking Dead.
Those disappointed with the maiden episode will have to know that rarely is a pilot THAT good anyway, apart from a few standouts. Usually it takes a few episodes for the story to build and get viewers hooked.
All in all, Fear The Walking Dead has potential, and that's all that really matters.
And all I know is that I'm interested.
I have no doubt however that pretty soon, viewers will be hooked too. After all, everyone I know is secretly wishing for a zombie apocalypse where they can leave their jobs, raid grocery stores, and live off the land.
The Walking Dead, and now, Fear The Walking Dead, gives people an escape to live out that fantasy, and now we have an extra hour on TV of that good stuff.