AMC’s iconic zombie series “The Walking Dead” reached its peak of popularity when “Fear the Walking Dead” premiered in 2015, generating significant anticipation as the franchise’s first official spinoff show. However, despite initial excitement, “Fear the Walking Dead” struggled to resonate with viewers as strongly as the original series. Many fans criticized it for lacking the gripping intensity of “The Walking Dead,” citing the new show’s lead characters as too ordinary compared to larger-than-life heroes like Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), Michonne (Danai Gurira), and Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus). Additionally, some viewers were disappointed by the series’ premise of exploring the early days of the zombie apocalypse instead of advancing the entire story alongside “The Walking Dead.”
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Nevertheless, as “Fear the Walking Dead” approaches its eighth and final season with a premiere date of May 14, it has steadily built a loyal and discerning audience that believes the show excels in various aspects compared to the original. With new viewers discovering past seasons on platforms like Hulu and other streaming services, “Fear the Walking Dead” is gradually gaining cult-favorite status in contrast to its predecessor. As the spinoff series nears its gory conclusion, Variety has identified 10 things that “Fear the Walking Dead” does better than “The Walking Dead.”
you are watching: 10 Things ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Does Better Than ‘The Walking Dead’
It Reinvents Itself
What sets “Fear the Walking Dead” apart is its capacity for reinvention, bringing an element of unpredictability to the narrative. In contrast to “The Walking Dead,” which largely adhered to the overarching storyline from the long-running comic book series that served as its inspiration, “Fear the Walking Dead” doesn’t rely on pre-existing source material. Consequently, it has the freedom to chart its own course, regardless of how unconventional it may be.
This creative liberty makes the show feel more innovative and less bound by a predetermined path compared to “The Walking Dead.” Across its initial seven seasons, “Fear the Walking Dead” embraced numerous shifts, introducing creative twists that consistently kept viewers on their toes. The most notable deviation occurred between Seasons 3 and 4 when, in the premiere episode of Season 4, Morgan Jones (Lennie James) from “The Walking Dead” joined the series. This unexpected integration led to a sudden shift in tone and focus, offering a bold reinvention that injected the characters and the storyline with newfound energy and ventured into unexplored territories.
It Revealed Life Before Zombies
By design, “The Walking Dead” chose to limit its depiction of the pre-apocalyptic world, and the wisdom of this decision remains open to debate. Except for a brief sequence early in the first episode where Rick experiences a gunshot wound and slips into a coma at Harrison Memorial Hospital, the original series rarely delved into life before the zombie outbreak. The few glimpses of the pre-apocalyptic world were fleeting and typically presented as unreliable dream sequences. In stark contrast, “Fear the Walking Dead” devoted its entire first season to showcasing the gradual intrusion of unimaginable horror into the Clark family’s once normal, everyday existence. This approach had a profound emotional impact on viewers. By unraveling the lives of characters like Madison Clark (Kim Dickens), Daniel Salazar (Rubén Blades), and Victor Strand (Colman Domingo) in the past, their future fates became even more dramatic and consequential.
It Embraces Different Genres
While “The Walking Dead” adhered firmly to the action-horror genre throughout its 12-year run, “Fear the Walking Dead” has exhibited remarkable fluidity in changing genres, resulting in a fascinating evolution. The show’s gripping first season unfolded as a family drama against a nightmarish backdrop. The suspenseful second and third seasons transported the characters to Mexico, introducing subplots reminiscent of a telenovela. Season 4 shifted into gritty military action, while Seasons 5 and 6 embraced the Western genre. In the recent Season 7, as deadly nuclear fallout descended, “Fear the Walking Dead” morphed into a hybrid of “Mad Max: Fury Road” and the Atomic Age classic “On the Beach.” The show’s successful embrace of the Western genre featured pioneers on horseback chasing armored vehicles across the Oklahoma landscape, and oil wells gushing black gold, reminiscent of George Stevens’ 1957 Oscar-winner “Giant.”
Source: https://dominioncinemas.net
Category: TV