Spin-off: 1 (entertainment) an intellectual property that stems from the popularity of a parent intellectual property set in similar circumstances. 2 (TWD) a money grab because reruns get old.

Who can say what makes the Walking Dead so popular? Well … lots of folks. It has a good amount of human story and survival plots, and is a great example of the descent into chaos experienced when civilization because uncivilized. Law becomes lawless as Rick and company do what they must to survive.

Then there’s Fear the Walking Dead, a concept that should work well. Most fans of the original Walking Dead have wondered how it all started and this was going to be answer. Ask George Lucas how prequels tend to fair. He would probably answer with dollar signs, millions of them. But does that mean it’s good?

In my humble geek opinion, meh. It was OK. The whole series so far can be summed up as this:

Where’s Nick? Found Nick. LOST NICK!

Where’s Nick? Found Nick. LOST NICK!

Where’s Nick? Found Nick. ZOMBIES!!

Sorry. Spoilers.

I feel that the writers have suffered from a serious case of the human drama bug as most of our characters are dealing with some seriously over-the-top Saturday morning special kind of problems. A drug addict, a rebellious teen girl, a divorced family, a grieving family, a torture expert: it’s like if Gilligan’s Island were made today and added zombies.

We don’t get that “WHOA! ZOMBIES!!” moment until the final act of the final episode, but it was enough to save the franchise for me, and add another pretty awesome character to the roster at the same time.

Where as the first episodes had me not caring who was a walking Happy Meal, I now find myself almost interested in the characters enough to care what happens to them. Not to say I would be upset if any of them turned into a slobbering buffet, but there is hope for the series yet.

Class dismissed.

 

Jason Reeves is a self-proclaimed geek tackling the biggest issues from video games to movies and everything in between.