How 'Fear the Walking Dead' Can Avoid 'The Walking Dead's' Early Mistakes

Forbes ^ | Paul Tassi

[BenLurkin]

As we head into the second episode of Fear the Walking Dead on AMC, the show is already a runaway success. It shattered both live ratings and DVR records for a cable show, and has likely secured itself a lifespan past the initial two seasons that have already been greenlit.

I quite liked the pilot, which was slower paced than the original Walking Dead, and managed to capture more of a sense of rising tension. You only saw two or three zombies over the course of the evening, yet that was in many ways more terrifying than the type of hoard we now take for granted on The Walking Dead every week.

And yet, I worry that Fear the Walking Dead could potentially fall victim to some of the early mistakes of the original show. While The Walking Dead is a cultural phenomenon now, in its early seasons, it was often comically bad to the point where it could have collapsed altogether. Here’s how Fear the Walking Dead can avoid that type of situation.

Fewer idiots

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A faster learning curve

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Throw hope out the window (for now)

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Stay mobile

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[BenLurkin]

Huh?

[papertyger]

Avoid the early mistakes of TWD. ;)

[ozzymandus]

Psst! It’s just a TV show. Magicians don’t really cut ladies in half either.

[LS]

I thought week one was a tad slow, but Laurie Holden makes up for it. I still don’t quite follow the thing where the dead have to eat flesh. If it’s any flesh, why don’t they eat each other?

[gop4lyf]

I think he is referring to Walking Dead’s penchance for killing off black characters.

[LS]

Wait . . . “horde?” Isn’t it a “gaggle” or a “pride of zombies?”

[Lazamataz]

I'd also like it if the two series stopped killing EVERY BLACK MAN THEY INTRODUCE.

It's becoming a Star-Trek Red-Shirt cliche.

Throw me a curve. DON'T kill the black guy. Surprise me!!!

[Lazamataz]

Energy is neither created or destroyed. So how can they walk without generating power. Their insiders are destroyed, so they cannot process food or any other fuel.

It's a Zombie Thing. You wouldn't understand.

[Vermont Lt]

It’s funny. Every Zombie thing I’ve ever read always blames the Chinese. I doubt we will see that on TV. Don’t want to offend anyone.

[TomGuy]

And yet, I worry that Fear the Walking Dead could potentially fall victim to some of the early mistakes of the original show.

Seriously?

It is a TV show. Try worrying about something significant and worthwhile.

[BenLurkin]

The guy’s a TV critic — he’s paid to worry.

[immadashell]

Zombie lives matter!

[Dr.Deth]

I'm guessing... it's a murder

[Macoozie]

What we have learned is that Zombies are dangerous, but people are more deadly.
The LA setting is a great place to have all the dysfunction of Big Money Hollywood, South Central gang bangers and Occupy Wall Street Anarchists froth up to face the new Zombie hoardes.

The Purge, Straight Outta Compton, Blade Runner, Mad Max all in one.
With Palm trees to boot!

[CatherineofAragon]

"The shear hope of Glenn getting eaten every week keeps me coming back for more."?

Dude!!!

[BenLurkin]

But it's gotta have surfin'

[LS]

LOL.

[Charles Martel]

The actor who plays Gabriel, the black character that viewers *want* to see die, was arrested for DUI and marijuana possession a few months ago. How cliche is THAT?

[jwalsh07]

You do understand that WD is adapted from comic books rather than the New England Journal of Medicine, right? :-

[Nuc 1.1]

Watched the first episode of Fear... and I am hooked. It was very well done for a TV show and well done by movie standards. Looking forward to tonight’s episode.