Fear the Walking Dead - Season 1

[RelaxImaPro]

Since it seems the infection has already run its course it shouldn't take very long at all for a place as densely populated as LA to fall... much less for everyone to be seeing or hearing about Walkers with much more frequency.

170 people die in LA per day on average.  In an unsuspecting metropolitan area it probably wouldn't take more than a dozen walkers to do some serious damage in less than a single day's time.  Much less 170.  Each one of those 170 are going to kill a few to multiply that number... so on and so forth.  The walker numbers should theoretically be in the tens of thousands within a single day in a huge city.  That was even noted in the original Walking Dead IIRC when they talked about how quickly Atlanta fell, a far less populated city by comparison.

The pilot itself seems to take place over the course of 3 days or so... with the first known instance of a walker happening on that first day, yet all that time later... still hardly nothing.

[CCS]

It was alright. It feels like one of those shows that will be better if you just binge watch it though.

[cookinwithgas]

I'm only halfway through the premiere but have a not good vibe already, from the appearance that the addict kid started out in the show seemingly hating the boyfriend of his mom, then confiding in him some crazy stuff immediately after they showed hostility. It reminded me of how in the first episode of Star Trek Voyager the Federation and the Maquis were bitter enemies in the premiere, but by the second episode they were all one big happy family. And that's not a good comparison to be having. But hey it's early.

[Bronn]

I really liked it. I don't have too much commentary to add yet.

[d-dave]

So I started writing something earlier this week, but work happened and I lost it.  So my opinion on the show, in brief:

I loved it!  I loved all the foreshadowing and the use of music and sound effects to build tension. While there was a very long build up, the junkie son story took too long to really benefit anything, I like that we're seeing a different kind of story.  TWD is a simple story about a Dad saving his family.  It hits hard and clean.  FTWD is going to be a much messier story about the relations of a complex family in one of the largest cities that's collapsing.  I am completely fine for a slow burn because the setting is going to be so huge. 

As a fictional show about the rise of a zombie apocalypse, one thing a lot of reviewers forget is that we have to assume that his alt universe is that they can't have any idea and reference to zombies.  Otherwise it would be kind of dumb.  Imagine if we had a zombie outbreak now a days?  It would be quelled pretty quickly.

Overall, I really loved the first episode.  It's so different from TWD, but again centers around the idea of family.  The way they explore it is going to make the show.  I'm glad they are taking some chances with the storytelling and characters.  The key is going to be if the audience begins to care about the family.

[cptx]

Showtime!!

[Hotsauce]

The 2nd show was good tv, I just wished for a little bit more action. They are doing a good job building the characters and trying to hold off total anarchy as long as possible. 

My wife has been watching this with me (she doesn't watch WD). I keep asking her "what if" questions as crazy things start happening. You can't really ask those questions in Ricks world because it's so far gone. 

There were a couple of head scratchers for me in this episode though. 

1) The HS student Tavarius is way to mature and knowledgeable about the future.  It was also cliche that he happend to run into at the school. 

2) when they are at the house at night and the daughter is pointing a flashlight outside at the neighbor getting attacked, why didn't the woman take the flashlight away and secure the house better?  She seemed to not be too concerned about the safety of her house. Wouldn't you be packing and at least carrying weapons?

Great show, I am pumped for the next show which is two weeks away!

Also, Sling TV didn't crap out on me, which is a positive. Did you know you can stream AMC shows on SlingTv?

[Darth Biscuit]

Loved the show... I agree with Hotsauce that there were a few little cliche things, and overall the "gee I'm dumb let me help these people" stuff will get a little old if they continue it, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I think they're looking at these characters as if they're in a vacuum... never even thought about something like zombies before... which is the right approach imo, and why she wouldn't be as concerned as you would think about locking down the house (even tho some of that is common sense) they have to make it dramatic.

 

Also there's this...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/walking-dead-special_55e1d5bae4b0aec9f3538050?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

It's a stand-alone special that will take place in this 'Fear' timeline on an airplane and introduce a character that will be on 'Fear'.

 

What a great idea!

 

[rodeo]

I'm enjoying the show so far but it kind of seems like "What if The CW made the Walking Dead." It seems kind of amateur compared to the original.

[d-dave]

What y'all have to remember is that they are working with zero knowledge of a zombie apocalypse.  They don't know the rules.  Also, despite living in LA, the characters don't know how to really protect themselves.  

So for episode two, I was hanging on every sound cue.  They are really getting me with those as a way to create tension.  Sure the school thing was predictable, but where was the walker who go the Principal?  There were a lot of people coming into the building after all...

And the kid with the acne who knows too much, he's the warning bell.  He knows, somehow, a way to survive this.  No one believes him because he looks like he's a max level geek.  It's like that guy holding the sign "The End is here." They aren't surprised and are able to function better than most of us would.  

I still love the gradual pacing.  FTWD is not TWD.  This group is watching things from the get go.  Now they have to experience what Rick did not.  Rick's group was quite lucky because they were able to get that great camping spot at the quarry and Shane kept them organized.  This group is all a bunch of folks with no real experience being violent.  I can't wait to see how they continue to respond to the ever worsening world around them.

I just hate that I have to wait until September 13th!  

[Datawire]

 

So for episode two, I was hanging on every sound cue.  They are really getting me with those as a way to create tension.  Sure the school thing was predictable, but where was the walker who go the Principal?  There were a lot of people coming into the building after all...

If you recall the principal was eaves dropping on class I think in the episode last week. This week while eaves dropping he heard sounds and a lot of disheveling going on. My guess is he went to investigate the sounds and that is where he was bitten. I could be wrong I may watch it again later for clarification.

[d-dave]

If you recall the principal was eaves dropping on class I think in the episode last week. This week while eaves dropping he heard sounds and a lot of disheveling going on. My guess is he went to investigate the sounds and that is where he was bitten. I could be wrong I may watch it again later for clarification.

true! i imagie he was checking for looters or vandals when he was bitten. 

[Datawire]

So, I just re-watched the episode. I think the barber shop family is harboring, or at least the wife is, an infected person. Maybe she wanted them in after the husbands refusal as a means to an end.

I also enjoyed the ole switcheroo with the radio comment "This changes everything. This is a catastrophe of biblical proportions. We've just lost the best pocket passer in the NFL".

[lightsout]

Solid second episode. I hate Nick's sister. Not sure why. I just do. She seems like the type that will get the whole family killed because she can't appreciate the gravity of dire situations. She's too focused on her selfish needs. poo, she almost let her brother have a seizure unattended because she wanted to go to her boyfriend. But, it's not entirely her fault. First thing you do in this situation is explain to your family the details of the situation at hand. For whatever reason, this is not happening. Just a lot of vague dialogue and fearful expressions. Mother fugers don't talk anymore or what?

Looks like next week, we'll start to see the oh poo moments and running from walkers. I imagine it'll be Jurassic Park-esque. Running and screaming and not understanding how this is even possible. I'm really hoping the season ends with the leader of the group, whoever it is, giving a great monologue. My favorite part of TWD is the monologues at key moments.