Horror Aficionados discussion

Just wondering about what people feel about the recently released spin-off of The Walking Dead.

I really quite liked it and I was very pleased that they managed to succesfully give it a different feel to it's popular counterpart, especially through the use of slower pacing. It's like a slow burning candle in comparison to the blowtorch pace The Walking Dead takes.

I'm also looking forward to the implications of junkie surviving a zombie apocalypse, me thinks it will cost lives.

Anywho, thoughts?

I will watch but it is following one of my biggest pet peeves in these kind of stories. I hate it when there is something major going on but no one says anything to each other. " Mom what's going on.... Mom tell me, Mom!" Shut up and go clean the puke of your heroin addict brother, your too young to understand anyway... Sorry that trope does not work for me anymore. this society is too tell all.

Tom wrote: "I will watch but it is following one of my biggest pet peeves in these kind of stories. I hate it when there is something major going on but no one says anything to each other. " Mom what's going ..."

I'll agree with you on that and I'll admit that Fear The Walking Dead suffers from this trope, as do a horde of other visual media offerings. I guess it doesn't bother me as much and other aspects of the show allow me to overlook this flaw.

But besides that I think the acting is good and I like the 'before' the apocalypse angle. I too hope they don't rush it.

Tom wrote: "But besides that I think the acting is good and I like the 'before' the apocalypse angle. I too hope they don't rush it."

If they do rush it I'll be pretty pissed, I hope that they wait until the end of this season before things start to really kick off zombie wise, otherwise all of the build-up they've so carefully created will all be for nothing.

I watched only half way into the second episode before giving up on it. Personally, I didn't find it that interesting.

Tom wrote: "I will watch but it is following one of my biggest pet peeves in these kind of stories. I hate it when there is something major going on but no one says anything to each other. " Mom what's going ..."

And she is a guidance counselor as well...

right. Don't they by nature want to 'talk'

Tom wrote: "I will watch but it is following one of my biggest pet peeves in these kind of stories. I hate it when there is something major going on but no one says anything to each other. " Mom what's going ..."

Also they don't listen to Nick. They pass it off as a junkie hallucinating.But i think they didn't tell whats her name? because the parents dont quite know themselves what is going on, i think we are so used to TWD that we just think they should know? Obviously something is going on but the characters aren't sure yet what it is, only that people are getting sick and SOME are getting back up.

I like it, it takes some getting used to because i am going into it knowing more than the characters on the show. I wonder where they are gonna go with it.

Well I think it looks and feels excellent. We have a difference of opinion already so it is good enough to spark debate. It needs to be "slow" so it builds tension. She doesn't tell her daughter as she wants to protect her. Clearly the police know something as they are shooting those who have "turned" without question and they look very bewildered and one is fleeing LA. I think it is a welcome change going back to basics and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Vastly superior to Hanniball which everyone on here raves about but I think is an awful rehash of great films.

Tom wrote: "I will watch but it is following one of my biggest pet peeves in these kind of stories. I hate it when there is something major going on but no one says anything to each other. " Mom what's going ..."

LOL

I like it, although at first I was getting frustrated by how slow it's going. Then, I thought about what it would be like in that situation, not knowing what's going on, not wanting to freak my daughter out, and therefore trying to keep it from her, and trying to stay safe at the same time. AND having to kill your boss while stealing drugs from lockup. I think it'll be a good show.

Excellent comments Kathy. As all fan of The Walking Dead know the tension has to be built. It can't all be killng zombies or people getting attacked or you simply would no care about the characters. Madison is trying to wean her son off heroin, build a relationship with her rebellious daughter and try to maintain normalcy whilst the world is starting to go to hell. AND she had to kill her boss and save the local lover. She cannot explain what is going on as it will freak her daughter out and she doesn't really know herself!

Local loner not lover

Terri wrote: "Tom wrote: "I will watch but it is following one of my biggest pet peeves in these kind of stories. I hate it when there is something major going on but no one says anything to each other. " Mom w..."

So she is a guidance counsellor? Doesn't mean she can explain a zombie apocalypse!!!

I think the show is decent so far. I understand the slow building of tension and I'm okay with it.

The one person that I'm not digging so far is the mom. From what I understand she was a good actress in Sons of Anarchy, but I'm not fond of her performance on this show. She seems sort of wooden and her facial expressions don't seem to change at all. Maybe that's just me?

no, I'm not too crazy about the mom either but maybe that's her character? maybe she's not the overly expressive mother?

I love Nick though he's just a very screwed up precious cinnamon roll. he reminds me a little of Johnny depp? the acting, I mean. It's really hard to say too much about the characters its only two episodes in, once they get it going in the third and fourth episodes I think we will see who they really are.

Charlene wrote: "I think the show is decent so far. I understand the slow building of tension and I'm okay with it.

The one person that I'm not digging so far is the mom. From what I understand she was a good act..."

I am undecided on the mom. I really wanted Tobias to be in their group, though.

I think he will be. I think the Mom is going to insist on finding him. So far he knows the most

Nospin - I think ol' Toby will find his way into the group. Every group needs the "soft" person who gets toughened up and Toby's the guy! By season three he'll be lean (due to a lack of food), mean (due to killing zombies) and romancing the sister. I really want to like this show, and so far it's keeping my attention, but the acting / characters aren't quite doing it for me. Maybe it's because TWD got us started by Rick waking from a coma - great rip off of the movie 28 Days Later - and forcing us viewers to meet people as he does. Meeting people while craziness is going on seems a much better way to accept awkwardness, than being thrust into a dysfunctional family. Maybe the show will throw in a Daryl or Michonne type character to pick things up. Maybe the junkie kid has some violent friends? Stay tuned...

Kathy wrote: "I like it, although at first I was getting frustrated by how slow it's going. Then, I thought about what it would be like in that situation, not knowing what's going on, not wanting to freak my dau..."

But lack of knowledge may GET her killed. To me, that is more important than JUST trying to protect her.

Hey, Nospin! *waving*

I am sure Madison will have to tell her in the next couple of episodes but the mother/daughter relationship is strained so I guess she had a rough day! Having to kill her boss would freak you out a little.

S.J. - That 28 Days Later opening was also ripped off. Directly inspired by Day of the Triffids.

But more directly on topic: Fear the Walking Dead has yet to capture my interest. It's not for the lack of zombie action. I'm just not investing in any of the characters or caring at all about their fates. I'll give it a little longer, but at this point I'm not feeling it.

Charlene wrote: "Hey, Nospin! *waving*"

*waving back*

Steve wrote: "I am sure Madison will have to tell her in the next couple of episodes but the mother/daughter relationship is strained so I guess she had a rough day! Having to kill her boss would freak you out a..."

Yeah hammering a fire extingusher until your bosses skull cracks open would most certainly be a wrap on the rest of the day. Probably need a few days off after something like that.

Neheroth wrote: "Steve wrote: "I am sure Madison will have to tell her in the next couple of episodes but the mother/daughter relationship is strained so I guess she had a rough day! Having to kill her boss would f..."

Definitely Neheroth

I am really starting to like this story, it makes me more scared then Walking Dead. Walking Dead is in your face type of story with all the people having already accepted the world is done. Fear the Walking Dead is learning what is going on first and then how to survive it. It is like slow motion end of the world. I find myself talking to the tv :) when they call out loud for their loved ones . I go shhhhhhh. And aim for the head, you got to get yourself a bigger knife :) BTW I am a peaceful person so this really has to get to me.

@Deke, funny how many things are rip offs of other things. I'm with you on the characters, I'm not caring, but I too will give it a little longer. Maybe it's the dad who is trying to "blend" his two families. That seems forced to me. Anyway, when the most interesting character is the barbershop owner, that can't be good. Unless he becomes part of the group and displays some crazy scissors action!

S.J. wrote: "@Deke, funny how many things are rip offs of other things. I'm with you on the characters, I'm not caring, but I too will give it a little longer. Maybe it's the dad who is trying to "blend" his tw..."

I do enjoy Ruben Blades. :)

How annoying, they didn't release the third episode this week.

That makes me a sad necro flesh eater :(

@Charlene, was that Ruben? I thought I recognized him, but didn't pay much attention. Maybe that's why I liked his character, I too enjoy me some Ruben. Good catch!

@Neheroth, yep, annoying!

I was wondering that as I couldnt access it last night through a link. So episode 3 wasn't shown in the states on Sunday?

Steve wrote: "I was wondering that as I couldnt access it last night through a link. So episode 3 wasn't shown in the states on Sunday?"

No it wasn't shown sadly, I hate it when certain TV networks do this. Though I'm sure there's a decent reason for it, I still feel the need to see people in terror of an impending zombie apocalypse.

It will be back on next week though, so at least that's something.

It was a holiday (labor day weekend).

Randy wrote: "It was a holiday (labor day weekend)."

Ah, oh well I can't even be angry now.

Them pesky holidays eh?

I'm enjoying this so far although the first episode was 30 minutes too long. I'm all for a slow build but keep it entertaining. Anyway, it looks promising.

Anna (Bananas!) wrote: "I'm enjoying this so far although the first episode was 30 minutes too long. I'm all for a slow build but keep it entertaining. Anyway, it looks promising."

Agreed on that!
I will definitely keep watching, at least it is a rare occasion that a US series is shown overseas at the same time.

It's good so far - I agree it's slow, but I have gotten into the characters enough. I do agree on the mother though, she doesn't have enough acting range.

One thing I'm not crazy about is the boyfriends kid and ex-wife and that hang-up. I would have preferred the one family and not tying into the drama mess of the second family too. Annoyed me for some reason.

I haven't watched the original series (although I've read the comics) and I'm disappointed by Fear's characters. They seem to make so many silly decisions.

Do the live-action versions of Rick and his friends behave the same way?

Derek wrote: "I haven't watched the original series (although I've read the comics) and I'm disappointed by Fear's characters. They seem to make so many silly decisions.

Do the live-action versions of Rick and..."

Well, Rick wakes up from a coma and all this stuff is already going on and it doesn't take long for him to pick up on what the zombies are and how to kill them.

With the fact that the government isn't telling anyone what, exactly, is going on, they are flying blind, so to speak.

Willowblue wrote: "I am really starting to like this story, it makes me more scared then Walking Dead. Walking Dead is in your face type of story with all the people having already accepted the world is done. Fear ..."

I really like it, too. I'm not really invested in the characters yet, but it's only been three episodes. I'm interested in seeing what they do, which is all I felt about Rick at first, too. I think a lot of TWD fans are very interested in having this "from the beginning" experience, and it is weird to have more knowledge than the characters! My husband says, "Why are they shining the light out the window? Don't they know that will draw attention?" And I say, "No! They don't know! Normally bad people run when lights come on." I think it does capture that helpless, "ground-shifting-under-your-feet" feeling that people would have if the world was imploding around them. I'm not sure our government would do a better job of keeping us informed than the one in the show is!

Cindy wrote: "Willowblue wrote: "I am really starting to like this story, it makes me more scared then Walking Dead. Walking Dead is in your face type of story with all the people having already accepted the wo..."

LOL I was yelling at the TV myself. "Shut that damn light off!"

Not all bad people run when they see lights. And with not knowing what is happening outside, why draw attention to your location. Stay down and stay quiet is always good advice... even when zombies aren't around.

The show has not endeared itself to me. I don't care for most of the characters, the writing is quite cliched, the soap opera feeling does just not go away.

I'm actually enjoying things, so far. I like the slow build, and I hope they maintain this pace for the rest of the season.
One thing though. Nick, dude, change your bleeding togs, fella. They belong to a dead man. Take a shower or something! Jeeez!

Stephen wrote: "I'm actually enjoying things, so far. I like the slow build, and I hope they maintain this pace for the rest of the season.
One thing though. Nick, dude, change your bleeding togs, fella. They belo..."

I'd second this. I like the slow burn. Zombies on the rampage has been done to death in most media, so this is a refreshing viewpoint. I definitely agree about Nick's clothes. Dead man walking surrounded by dead men walking.

Nick is a junkie and most junkies have no qualms about their clothing, I mean, he was wearing Gloria's sweater when he was run over in the first episode. his main concern is his drugs. But I like the slow build of the show though I was getting a little angry at the fact that nobody was telling each other anything.