Is Fear the Walking Dead Worth Watching? Keys to Enjoying the First Spinoff

In 2013, AMC Networks announced plans for a companion series to its hit show, The Walking Dead. Originally known as Cobalt, the spinoff was set on the West Coast with a new cast of characters.

The pilot, written by Walking Dead comic creator Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson, was ordered, with Erickson serving as showrunner through the third season. Kirkman, Erickson, Gale Anne Hurd, and David Alpert would also executive produce the series.

On August 23, 2015, Fear the Walking Dead premiered its six-part debut season with the Pilot episode. Unlike The Walking Dead, this series starts at the beginning of the apocalypse. In the opening scene, Nick (Frank Dillane) encounters his first undead in the form of his girlfriend Gloria (Lexi Johnson).

Fear the Walking Dead has attracted a new audience as AMC Networks collaborated with Netflix to make several AMC original series available on the platform, including all eight seasons of Fear TWD and the first season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. This leads to the question: Is Fear TWD worth watching?

One common mistake viewers make is expecting Fear TWD to be just like TWD. With this mindset, disappointment is almost guaranteed.

The idea behind spinoffs is to provide a new story that complements the original. When Fear TWD premiered, TWD had already aired six seasons, featuring seasoned survivors. In contrast, Fear TWD starts at the beginning of the outbreak, showing characters who are confused and unable to defend themselves. This shift can be shocking to fans used to seasoned survivors.

The first three seasons feel different from the last five. When Erickson was replaced by Andrew Chambliss and Ian B. Goldberg, many believed this change negatively impacted the series.

Seasons 1-3 featured significant character development and effectively captured the chaos of the outbreak’s onset. The survivors slowly realize the grim reality, leading up to a mass killing of civilians, known as Operation Cobalt. The second season partly takes place at sea and follows the group’s journey to Mexico. At the US/Mexican border, they find refuge at a ranch, but things eventually go south.

In the fourth season, changes include new showrunners, a new filming location in Austin, TX, and the introduction of the first crossover character in TWDU, Morgan Jones (Lennie James) from the main series. This season took many twists and turns and lost some key characters.

Season 5 is considered the lowest-rated of the series, where many believe the show started to decline. The final four seasons had their ups and downs, characterized by disjointed stories and numerous time jumps. However, the final season partially redeemed itself by bringing closure to the stories of the surviving characters.

The series also boasts a stellar cast, known for their acting prowess in other movies and shows.

Overall, if you are a fan of the undead and watch the series with an open mind, without comparing it to the original, it can be enjoyable. Fear the Walking Dead seasons 1-8 are now available to stream on Netflix.

Source: AMC Networks, Netflix