17 replies to this topic

[FoolishYoungling]

Well, the first episode just ended. I expected it being at best a 7.5, but it sure did surprise me. First Better Call Saul, and now this. Most of the ratings for this pilot episode are around 9/10. I'm extremely interested in this series for 2 reasons. Firstly, the show kicks you into the excitement of surviving the zombie apocalypse almost as good as The Walking Dead did. Second, we get to find out how the world failed to stop the beginning of mass apocalyptic spreading of zombies. We saw riots breaking out, and that seems about the only real way that the millions of men and women in service could lose to millions of zombies that walk so slowly. Humans killing themselves from the inside from fear.

 

Thoughs on this "prequel" to The Walking Dead? Can't wait for that next episode? Talk about it all here.

 

Dropping this hint here for those who haven't seen it! Look at the phone when the girl is texting. You'll get a good laugh at the obvious hint in her most recent sent message.

 

the hint for those that don't mind being spoiled or have already seen it

The guy doesn't come to the beach for their little date and she has to wait for him. At one point you can see that she had texted him saying "you better be dead!", which obviously means he died, or he was stuck in a place everyone around him was dying. Either way, it's interesting to note that she'll always regret texting that.

[rocci]

What's this? A prequel?

Hmm, a true depiction of world war z.
Anyway this zombie universe is screwed.
It already depressing that the world turn into undead, it even more depresing if you become them when you die not only from bite.

[FoolishYoungling]

What's this? A prequel?

Hmm, a true depiction of world war z.
Anyway this zombie universe is screwed.
It already depressing that the world turn into undead, it even more depresing if you become them when you die not only from bite.

Well that's the whole point in a zombie show. And it's not World War Z, as the zombies in that movie are much more advanced. To answer your question, though. Yes, it's a prequel. The group and setting have no connection to anyone on The Walking Dead, but it's the same universe, and we get to follow a group surviving the beginning, instead of one surviving the empty of human life cities and roads that have been replaced with zombie life.

 

A big part of The Walking Dead is that humans are still more dangerous than zombies, because fear and great personal loss takes a toll on people, and can turn them into horrible people. In Fear the Walking Dead, we'll see how the humans turn more and more against themselves.

[Tiller]

It's a good setup. I think they are capturing the "what's going on? This can't be real." feeling that people would have if the whole zombie thing started happening. Espically since this world has no "zombie" fiction before it's uprising to look at, so for them it's just a huge wtf moment.

 

The teen drama aspects I think are going to subside for the realities of the fall of society. I'm hoping we will see more of how the early "Tribes" (for lack of a better word) begin to be developed. I'm intersted to see how it works out.

[chouzu_tao]

I don't know how to rate this episode. It's hard not to view this with the knowledge of it's predecessor/ sequel series. I understood what they were going for, trying to get us invested in the characters and lulling us into a false sense of security before pulling the rug out from our central characters. But this is hard to pull off with it being a prequel. I wonder how much more effective the first episode was for those who didn't know about the Walking Dead. It's odd, I can't tell if it was because of the quality of the episode or just my impatience but the episode felt too long. I know they wanted to build to that final moment with the family, but I feel they could've had an equally effective result with half the time. Anyone else?

[FoolishYoungling]

I don't know how to rate this episode. It's hard not to view this with the knowledge of it's predecessor/ sequel series. I understood what they were going for, trying to get us invested in the characters and lulling us into a false sense of security before pulling the rug out from our central characters. But this is hard to pull off with it being a prequel. I wonder how much more effective the first episode was for those who didn't know about the Walking Dead. It's odd, I can't tell if it was because of the quality of the episode or just my impatience but the episode felt too long. I know they wanted to build to that final moment with the family, but I feel they could've had an equally effective result with half the time. Anyone else?

I think you meant to say it felt too slow. I would agree they could of made it quicker, but I guess they wanted to introduce every character. Remember The Walking Dead introduced 3 characters (4 counting the zombie wife) and lasted 2 hours. This first episode lasted a hour and a half and introduced like 20 characters. Gotta give it prompts for making sure to get the intro part out the way while adding the horror factor. I just find it stupid how there was a report of 5 states having people trying to eat each other, and when their son told them he saw someone trying to do it, they just passed it off as him being drugged up. Dumb parents.

[chouzu_tao]

I think you meant to say it felt too slow. I would agree they could of made it quicker, but I guess they wanted to introduce every character. Remember The Walking Dead introduced 3 characters (4 counting the zombie wife) and lasted 2 hours. This first episode lasted a hour and a half and introduced like 20 characters. Gotta give it prompts for making sure to get the intro part out the way while adding the horror factor. I just find it stupid how there was a report of 5 states having people trying to eat each other, and when their son told them he saw someone trying to do it, they just passed it off as him being drugged up. Dumb parents.

Too long, too slow, same result. To me, it felt too long. I know that it wasn't but it felt like it was. Which means there was a lot of dead air, no pun, intended. 

 

I agree, with the reports thing, although the kid carrying the knife made it sound like all that was being reported was that people were killing each other, not eating the crap out of each other. I fail to understand how that wouldn't be the bigger portion of the reportings.  

[FoolishYoungling]

Too long, too slow, same result. To me, it felt too long. I know that it wasn't but it felt like it was. Which means there was a lot of dead air, no pun, intended. 

 

I agree, with the reports thing, although the kid carrying the knife made it sound like all that was being reported was that people were killing each other, not eating the crap out of each other. I fail to understand how that wouldn't be the bigger portion of the reportings.  

What I don't understand is how it started happening. If it begins with people dying, and then coming back. Wouldn't the first person to die coming back be reported? Like... the very first one. And the zombies were no where in the setting we were put in for FTWD (I'm guessing Miami) except that church. How come only 1 zombie live footage was captured, while in 2 days, the population after that live footage was linked dropped to like.... half. You would figure there would be several more videos, and since people were staying inside out of fear of the live footage, that there would not be anyone getting sneak attacked by a funny walking person, and they would be inside. But no, when people were aware to stay safe, that's when the zombie spreading multiplied by a thousand.

[Tiller]

I enjoyed this weeks episode. Starting to see more of the culture clash between those who want to survive compared to those who want to live by the old world ideals. What do you guys think?

[chouzu_tao]

Each episode has some good things, some bad things, but with each passing episode, the bad things outweigh the good. I don't think I've ever swore so much at a TV show as I have this last episode. The whole, no one has ever seen a zombie movie, along with how they set up each scare for this episode is just too jaw-droopingly frustrating. At this point, there's maybe three people I don't want to die. 

[FoolishYoungling]

Yes, they're too weak, and the family is full of too many difficulties. That's the point of this show, though. Unlike with The Walking Dead, the characters in this show aren't good at surviving.

[chouzu_tao]

But it's not even that they're too weak. It's that they're stupid. Who casually saunters to the car after and gives their parents attitude for wanting them to hustle after they saw a zombie the night before? Who wanders away in the dark after having just witnessed their neighbor attacking another neighbor's family? They're not weak. They're stupid and annoying. I don't like any one in the core family. Who leaves the door open? Even if there wasn't a dog that appeared with blood all over it, it's just good manners and a regular thing that people do. Who turns their lights low to hide the fact that they're home but flashes a flashlight at a window when the power goes out? I'm okay with people not knowing how to handle a zombie encounter and struggling with whether or not people can come back to being alive, but a lot of the tension they tried to create in this episode are all things only someone conceited and super stuck up  or incredibly stupid and ignorant of basic survival 101 would do. Don't like the characters. Well, the Spanish speaking family is okay and interesting.  

[FoolishYoungling]

But it's not even that they're too weak. It's that they're stupid. Who casually saunters to the car after and gives their parents attitude for wanting them to hustle after they saw a zombie the night before? Who wanders away in the dark after having just witnessed their neighbor attacking another neighbor's family? They're not weak. They're stupid and annoying. I don't like any one in the core family. Who leaves the door open? Even if there wasn't a dog that appeared with blood all over it, it's just good manners and a regular thing that people do. Who turns their lights low to hide the fact that they're home but flashes a flashlight at a window when the power goes out? I'm okay with people not knowing how to handle a zombie encounter and struggling with whether or not people can come back to being alive, but a lot of the tension they tried to create in this episode are all things only someone conceited and super stuck up  or incredibly stupid and ignorant of basic survival 101 would do. Don't like the characters. Well, the Spanish speaking family is okay and interesting.  

 

Spanish family knows what's up! They surviving this thing!

[Tiller]

One thing should be remembered here with this setting though. The Walking Dead and Fear are set in the same universe, a universe where the idea of a "zombie" was never developed. There is no notion of zombie fiction here. That's why it took Hershel so long to understand, he had to watch one of his undead neighbors shot multiple times and still come after them, that he began to understand that they truly are dead.

 

So for the first few episodes I really don't have a problem with people not understanding what the hell is going on. If this is still going on in 3-4 episodes then I can start understanding the kittening. There's a curve here at least in my view. I think one of the obvious driving points of this is going to be like I said the clash between what kind of "people" you become in this universe. If Step-Dad is arguing against guns much longer it's likely a sign that he is about to die.

[chouzu_tao]

One thing should be remembered here with this setting though. The Walking Dead and Fear are set in the same universe, a universe where the idea of a "zombie" was never developed. There is no notion of zombie fiction here. That's why it took Hershel so long to understand, he had to watch one of his undead neighbors shot multiple times and still come after them, that he began to understand that they truly are dead.

 

So for the first few episodes I really don't have a problem with people not understanding what the hell is going on. If this is still going on in 3-4 episodes then I can start understanding the kittening. There's a curve here at least in my view. I think one of the obvious driving points of this is going to be like I said the clash between what kind of "people" you become in this universe. If Step-Dad is arguing against guns much longer it's likely a sign that he is about to die.

 

I don't remember seeing anything that shows or tells us that there is no zombie fiction in this world. Your example of Hershel is just a normal reaction that someone could have regardless of zombie fiction, it does not point directly to zombie fiction not existing. To say otherwise is just EDIT:apologizing making excuses for the writers, and so far they don't deserve your help. Anyway, even if there is no zombie fiction, you cannot tell me that the horror genre does not exist. Again, survival 101. While my comment about no one seeing a zombie movie was partially a joke (partially) the bigger issue is that they're acting unrealistic for the situations they find themselves in. Again, stupidity for the sake of tension. 

 

EDIT 2: did some research and the comic book writer says there is no concept of zombies in fiction. 

 

EDIT 3: The only pop. zombie fiction thing that I can remember that acknowledges zombies is Shaun of the Dead. Why is that! It's annoying and lazy!

Edited by chouzu_tao, 16 September 2015 - 08:02 PM.

[Tiller]

 

I don't remember seeing anything that shows or tells us that there is no zombie fiction in this world. Your example of Hershel is just a normal reaction that someone could have regardless of zombie fiction, it does not point directly to zombie fiction not existing. To say otherwise is just EDIT:apologizing making excuses for the writers, and so far they don't deserve your help. Anyway, even if there is no zombie fiction, you cannot tell me that the horror genre does not exist. Again, survival 101. While my comment about no one seeing a zombie movie was partially a joke (partially) the bigger issue is that they're acting unrealistic for the situations they find themselves in. Again, stupidity for the sake of tension. 

 

EDIT 2: did some research and the comic book writer says there is no concept of zombies in fiction. 

 

EDIT 3: The only pop. zombie fiction thing that I can remember that acknowledges zombies is Shaun of the Dead. Why is that! It's annoying and lazy!

 

The people in this universe don't understand the idea of a corpse getting up on it's own and walking around on it's own, well having a desire to eat. The point of this series is people coming to terms with that reality, at the moment the idea that these people are simply "sick" and could be "saved" is something many think is possible. This series is really about watching society and it's remnants come to terms with that reality.

[chouzu_tao]

 

 

The people in this universe don't understand the idea of a corpse getting up on it's own and walking around on it's own, well having a desire to eat. The point of this series is people coming to terms with that reality, at the moment the idea that these people are simply "sick" and could be "saved" is something many think is possible. This series is really about watching society and it's remnants come to terms with that reality.

 

 

Zombies are only part of my issue with the core family characters. 

 

Who casually saunters to the car after and gives their parents attitude for wanting them to hustle after they saw a zombie the night before? Who wanders away in the dark after having just witnessed their neighbor attacking another neighbor's family? They're not weak. They're stupid and annoying. I don't like any one in the core family. Who leaves the door open? Even if there wasn't a dog that appeared with blood all over it, it's just good manners and a regular thing that people do. Who turns their lights low to hide the fact that they're home but flashes a flashlight at a window when the power goes out? 

 

I even give them a pass on the dealing with zombies thing:

 

 

I'm okay with people not knowing how to handle a zombie encounter and struggling with whether or not people can come back to being alive, but a lot of the tension they tried to create in this episode are all things only someone conceited and super stuck up  or incredibly stupid and ignorant of basic survival 101 would do. Don't like the characters. Well, the Spanish speaking family is okay and interesting.  

 

And again they saw the drug dealer kid in the first episode get smashed to bits but still desire to harm them. Friend// knew them or not, precautions need to be taken. Regardless of knowing how to deal with zombies. Survival 101 again, and again it's not shown that horror genre does not exist. If they did then they're being nonsensical and silly.  

[Tiller]

Another good episode. Not great but good. It's a shame it's going to end in two weeks, but as a setup this has been good so far. It will be interesting to see what happens next.