Current Events > So I spent the last week watching Fear The Walking Dead.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Got covid and just sat and watched season 3-8 of the show.

A quick review is basically

3 - meh
4 - great
5 - good
6 - solid until the end
7 - bad
8 - god awful, show should have ended with season 6.

There is a sub plot I wish we could have seen, where they talk about one of the characters basically Mad Maxing it around the wasteland, and I wish we would have gotten a few episodes of that.

Overall though for me personally, Fear seemed to excel when established actors were part of the cast. Season 4 added Garrett Dillahunt who's always amazing, always, Jenna Elfman who while not the acting pedigree of Dillahunt in terms of varied roles, was still quite exceptional in her role here, and then Maggie Grace, another at least recognizable actor who'd starred in film and TV.

The issue I had here, is that outside of Reuben Blades, nobody else was really notable for much before this show. The same goes for TWD. Look at the fan favorite characters, they're generally the skilled actors, not the unknowns. Or in Bernthal's case, they're the ones who were so great in their roles, they actually became stars.

The show in general just needed more actual established actors, because when given a chance to shine, those were generally the best characters.

My condolences.

It's weird how it's one show for the first few seasons and then they just turn it into another show.

The whole Walking Dead franchise is such a roller coaster of quality, but whenever its actually good, its usually really good.

I still haven't finished the second half of the final season of Fear. I was enjoying the last season...and by enjoy I mean I just embraced the badness and treated it as a comedy. I seriously found myself laughing audibly many times because of how stupid it got. After the break I stopped watching all things walking dead. It was a combination of this show and the main show "ending" and then being split into 12,000 spin-offs. I was like I'm out.
I intend on going back and watch the remainder of the shows...later....much, much later.

ScazarMeltex posted...

Season 6 had the capacity to be a good season but your could really tell when COVID hit and threw a wrench into the plans.

I actually liked the end of the season though even though the events leading up to it were lackluster. I've never actually seen a show allow it's heroes to fail in such a spectacular manner with such grim consequences.

The final episode of the season showing how each of the characters dealt with the immediate event I thought was also interesting.

I just felt like that ending is why the show just fell off a cliff afterwards. They painted themselves into a corner with that, and it would have taken some amazing writers to actually craft a competent story afterwards, and what we got with season 7, showed it was just a very poorly thought out conclusion to hinge the remainder of the show on.

If they wanted that to be the finale, I'd be okay with that, but if you want to continue on, you better have a great story to tell after and setting up Padre and the Tower were not it. Those were horrible set ups and even worse executions. Padre was legitimate trash and whatever they did with Strand was fucking stupid as all hell.

The show lost me when they abandoned their original idea and did the time skip. It was sold as us seeing the fall and degradation of the remnants of society but it quickly just turned into Walking Dead West.

***Series spoilers ahead***

I do think that Madison is what I disliked most about the show. And it's not even the character, but looking back, outside of season 7, every other season without her was just flat out better than any season with her.

I don't know if it's simply the character, or the plot line of following a family into the apocalypse, but there just never felt like the show had room to grow until Morgan showed up in season 4. His addition, as well as the addition of all the new characters, as well as pushing Madison from a main character to basically a side character, where only a portion of the story ran through her character, I think benefited the show.

One of my main issues with the final season was how little I gave a shit she was back. As soon as she came back, everything revolved around her again, despite having several seasons without the need to. The fact they had to bring back Troy was so mind numbingly stupid, yet here it was, because she needed a familiar face since she was now the face of the show again, for the final stretch.

Everything about her was just pointless. They tried to make her a hard nosed mother protecting her cubs, but how many times did she just make stupid decision after stupid decision, and unlike Morgan who constantly owned it, but was routinely pushed to keep trying and striving, everyone kept telling her, she's an idiot, but she'll just fuck up again and again.

I give Morgan and everyone else a pass because they routinely tried to say they didn't have the answers and routinely fucked up, but the people around them knew and trusted them, so they kept trying to get him to overcome it and try again. With Madison it was like everyone kept trying to get her to stop and nobody was backing her, but she'd still push through stupid idea after stupid idea and constantly fail despite nobody backing her.

Morgan wore the failure on his face season after season. Madison just sucked ass and didn't seem to give a shit.

Best way to watch it is straight through but skip the middle episodes at the farm.
I actually liked Nick. I had a friend who was kinda like him without the drug addiction.

Should have ended on Season 4. I stopped watching after the cartoony hurricane episode.

vycebrand2 posted...

Best way to watch it is straight through but skip the middle episodes at the farm.
I actually liked Nick. I had a friend who was kinda like him without the drug addiction.

Honestly, that whole family sucked, but Alicia got better as it went. By season 5 I was digging Alicia. She was a little too heated in season 4.

It's strange, Season 3 is widely regarded as the best season of the show, with seasons after getting gradually worse.

Strider102 posted...

It's strange, Season 3 is widely regarded as the best season of the show, with seasons after getting gradually worse.

Yeah I read that. I didn't feel that way. I thought season 3 fell into far too many of those stupid plot traps. I'd understand if Morgan was there why the season exists, because he's always looking for redemption, but Madison is not Morgan in that regard and there's several instances showing she's more of the opposite and far closer to early Rick who had no qualms of straight murdering people to get ahead.

So the idea that the villain in season 3 even lives beyond episode 3 or 4 shows how much plot armor they needed to heap onto them just to get to the finale.

Bump

So one thing I found weird was people bitching about the time jump from season 3 to 4, wanting a conclusion to the Dam when it did t really matter.

I went through the old seasons topics and it seems like that's something most of the posters complained about throughout the season 4 and 5 topics. It was weird.

Also found it crazy how many people actually liked Nick and Madison.

I like Nick enough to the point that when he was offed I stopped watching the show. Wasn't much there for me, after that.

Fear angered me by having so many unresolved cliffhangers. Often itd be dramatic moment, jump forward several months and make you wonder for several episodes howd we get here until they were ready for a flashback episode.

ClayGuida posted...

Bump

So one thing I found weird was people bitching about the time jump from season 3 to 4, wanting a conclusion to the Dam when it did t really matter.

I went through the old seasons topics and it seems like that's something most of the posters complained about throughout the season 4 and 5 topics. It was weird.

Also found it crazy how many people actually liked Nick and Madison.

It's because the time jump made no sense.

One minute Nick blows up the dam, Madison washes up in this drainage channel all alone, boom, the end.

Then next season Madison somehow found everyone again and they make a home in the stadium.

Strider102 posted...

It's because the time jump made no sense.

One minute Nick blows up the dam, Madison washes up in this drainage channel all alone, boom, the end.

Then next season Madison somehow found everyone again and they make a home in the stadium.

****Season 3 spoilers****

I mean, it stands within reason that Nick and Daniel met up with them, even rescued them on the shore. There's even a plot point where Victor and Madison have a conversation about why she saved him instead of just letting him drown like he deserved.

It's clear the Dam blew up, a hole formed, sucked them all into it, Daniel and Nick dipped, then Daniel went his own way to be alone because everything he touches dies.

Yes it took a couple seasons to get Daniel to talk about why he left, but the rest isn't really all that confusing. What is was Luciana randomly showing up again after dipping in season 3 without notice. There is a bit of throw away dialogue where someone mentions Madison finding her and bringing her back, but who knows what else. I do find it kind of silly how these people randomly find one another time and time again, despite it being logically impossible to find one another.

That was honestly my biggest gripe. Everyone kept just randomly running into one another no matter the circumstance. It's one thing if they know you're here or there and bump into them on the way, but Jesus, how they found one another time and time again was astonishingly silly.

ClayGuida posted...

****Season 3 spoilers****

I mean, it stands within reason that Nick and Daniel met up with them, even rescued them on the shore. There's even a plot point where Victor and Madison have a conversation about why she saved him instead of just letting him drown like he deserved.

It's clear the Dam blew up, a hole formed, sucked them all into it, Daniel and Nick dipped, then Daniel went his own way to be alone because everything he touches dies.

Yes it took a couple seasons to get Daniel to talk about why he left, but the rest isn't really all that confusing. What is was Luciana randomly showing up again after dipping in season 3 without notice. There is a bit of throw away dialogue where someone mentions Madison finding her and bringing her back, but who knows what else. I do find it kind of silly how these people randomly find one another time and time again, despite it being logically impossible to find one another.

*Spoilers for season 3/4*

They rarely didn't follow through with expectations. Season 3 ends with them scattered to the wind and you expect them to find each other again but going into season 4 you expect some sort of rebuilding effort. But instead they're all fine at a stadium and now that's falling apart but I don't care cause I don't have attachment to that place, didn't see them build it up.

It's like later in the series when they build up Padre as the only safe place from the radiation but then the following season where we finally come into conflict with Padre suddenly the radiation is no longer an issue.

That was honestly my biggest gripe. Everyone kept just randomly running into one another no matter the circumstance. It's one thing if they know you're here or there and bump into them on the way, but Jesus, how they found one another time and time again was astonishingly silly.

Agree so much, especially with how large of an area they covered.

See for me, losing the stadium wasn't the reason I cared. It was them failing at finding an adequate place to live. They'd searched over and over and over and over. It didn't matter where it was, it was the repeated failures that mount and lead you to break. Through no fault of their own, they just kept getting shit on by fate unlike with the ranch's downfall where they were 100% to blame for why it collapsed, here they just couldn't help certain things. Bringing Charlie in didn't even matter or lead to the fall either. Nick failed at growing shit, because they got invasive pests and they couldn't really rectify that in time. It was just shit luck, and that to me is the most relatable thing in the entire show. They seemingly did most things right, tried to be good people, and still ended up getting fucked. I understand why Alicia went apeshit after that, though I personally think she went way too far, which was definitely out of character, but oddly, that helped her grow as a character and allowed her to become an actual relevant character later on in the series after simply being the damsel or someone's boyfriend in the first few seasons.

4 was my favorite season by a wide mile because it gave us a middle point for many of the characters and it allowed them to essentially be two different characters, before X and after X. The different shading for present and past was great too, the mystery as to why certain people weren't around in current timeline was good as well. The way the plot would introduce a minor detail here or there, and that'd come into play 4, 5, and 6 episodes later. I love plotting like that. I love when a story has to be filled with various decisions leading to it. In another topic, I compared it to a season of Orange is the New Black, where the culmination of the entire season led to a huge explosive moment, but all roads led to that point so it always had to happen, not because it was a shocking finale, but because several plots directed us to that moment. I felt the same here. There wasn't just one thing that happened that led to season 4's climax. It was a myriad of things. Some big some small. I like when details matter.

As for Padre, that place was just utter nonsense. It was a neat idea in season 7, then as you watched season 8, it was legit the dumbest concept in TV. We take kids away from their parents so they don't have to suffer losing a parent. What the actual fuck is that? Fuck outta here with that dog shit.

Worst thing about Season 8 was Troy coming back after Madison bashed a hammer into his skull, twice, while also, somehow managing to get away from the dam seconds before it exploded.

ClayGuida posted...

As for Padre, that place was just utter nonsense. It was a neat idea in season 7, then as you watched season 8, it was legit the dumbest concept in TV. We take kids away from their parents so they don't have to suffer losing a parent. What the actual fuck is that? Fuck outta here with that dog shit.

Id be less bothered if they were somewhat competent. They had so many mooks working for them and I dont believe any would actually listen to a single order given by that leader.

bfslick50 posted...

Id be less bothered if they were somewhat competent. They had so many mooks working for them and I dont believe any would actually listen to a single order given by that leader.

I guess if they had a different set of actors as leaders. Maybe if they just saved Wes for that role it wouldn't have been as bad, but it would still been quite stupid. But at least he's more intimidating.

I will say, I've been trying to watch Sabrina and it's a god damn chore compared to Fear. Feel like Fear due to being 40~ minute episodes, they were much quicker paced and had shit happen far more often. Feel like it takes me 2-3 hours to get through a Sabrina because I just lose interest real quick.

Remember when the Walking Dead use to been about people surviving in a zombie apocalypse? Pepperidge farm remembers...

ShaneMcComez posted...

Remember when the Walking Dead use to been about people surviving in a zombie apocalypse? Pepperidge farm remembers...

Still kind of is. But as always, humanity was the real enemy.

Vyrulisse posted...

The show lost me when they abandoned their original idea and did the time skip. It was sold as us seeing the fall and degradation of the remnants of society but it quickly just turned into Walking Dead West.

Fucking thiiiiis.

I was so excited to see the start of the zombie apocalypse, and the first season was great. Then the first half of season 2 was pretty cool too when it was mostly the boat. And thennnn after that it just turned into more regular Walking Dead so I was just like ok sooo.. whats the point?

rexcrk posted...

Fucking thiiiiis.

I was so excited to see the start of the zombie apocalypse, and the first season was great. Then the first half of season 2 was pretty cool too when it was mostly the boat. And thennnn after that it just turned into more regular Walking Dead so I was just like ok sooo.. whats the point?

Even season 1 had the time jump when the military arrived. I wished they wouldve followed a character in the he military at that point instead.

I think part of the problem wanting it to be about the fall is that there's only so much. I thought the first season basically showed how things would go down.

I guess if you just did a 24 style show about how it goes down, maybe you could drag it out a bit, but I'm unsure what else you could have done with the fall of society. I feel like it'd happen in the matter of days or weeks, but not months.

There is a concept of following the government as the nation falls to a zombie outbreak. Unsure if that's been done, probably has.

There is a way they could have made it exclusively about the fall.

Instead of focusing on the Clark family and Travis, have it alternate to other characters. For example that kid who brought the knife to protect himself but also helped Madison with the food. Did he survive? Did he die when Operation Cobalt begin?

What about that person Chris saw reflecting light from a window that was later attacked by the soldiers?

Hell, they could have even had a few episodes involving Chris with those two guys that killed him when he fell asleep crashing the truck.

Some episodes establishing the people from the dock in Season 2, what led them to that point.

Also, what ever happened to Alex?

I would've loved a companion show to hype up the villains for the main series. If each season was the background for a group Rick & Co were about to meet. How did they become the way they are.

I stuck with TWD and Fear til the end. Also watched Dead City. I watched 2 episodes of Daryl's and it was OK but I'm done with it. Never saw World Beyond or Rick's return show.

bfslick50 posted...

I would've loved a companion show to hype up the villains for the main series. If each season was the background for a group Rick & Co were about to meet. How did they become the way they are.

I stuck with TWD and Fear til the end. Also watched Dead City. I watched 2 episodes of Daryl's and it was OK but I'm done with it. Never saw World Beyond or Rick's return show.

You're not missing anything really with World Beyond. It does give a little bit of incite into the CRM, but ultimately that entire storyline goes nowhere.

The One's who Live wasn't bad.

bfslick50 posted...

I would've loved a companion show to hype up the villains for the main series. If each season was the background for a group Rick & Co were about to meet. How did they become the way they are.

I stuck with TWD and Fear til the end. Also watched Dead City. I watched 2 episodes of Daryl's and it was OK but I'm done with it. Never saw World Beyond or Rick's return show.

That'd work if the villains in Fear weren't mediocre.

I only watched Fear because I had seen all the others, but the Rick one and whatever season 2's for the new spinoffs that have aired.

I personally like the 6 episode format more because it's quick and easy to get through, so good or bad, it's fast, plus it leaves less room for blatant filler.

Was thinking about it today, Dakota may have been the best villain in FTWD. They kinda went down the same path as Charlie, but while they redeemed Charlie, they just made Dakota a straight up sociopath instead.

Man, I didn't know it had 8 seasons. I couldn't get through the first. I hated absolutely every single character in that show, the acting was terrible and so was the writing. But then of course I hate lost so, my opinion is mute lol

Tora_Sami posted...

Man, I didn't know it had 8 seasons. I couldn't get through the first. I hated absolutely every single character in that show, the acting was terrible and so was the writing. But then of course I hate lost so, my opinion is mute lol

I completely agree. That's why I made it 2 seasons before quitting. The main cast just fucking sucked. Thankfully they did a soft reboot for season 4 that added a bunch of new characters that helped with that.

I always liked Alecia. She was the best of the original cast but she didn't start to get better until season 2

yusiko posted...

I always liked Alecia. She was the best of the original cast but she didn't start to get better until season 2

Season 4 for me.

I barely remember her in season 1 or 2, but I disliked her in season 3. She had a good ep late in the season, but i never felt like she was her own character until season 4. She goes absolutely nuts for season 4 and 5 and finally became a compelling character.

Does Nick count as a villain? Even if he didn't, he did so much dumb shit that screwed over so many people. He put some evil characters to shame in that regard.

Null_Gain posted...

Does Nick count as a villain? Even if he didn't, he did so much dumb shit that screwed over so many people. He put some evil characters to shame in that regard.

I fully believe that being a true villain requires intent. He wanted to help people, he was just not that smart. I get the feeling that the writing team just didn't know what to do with him anymore when they had that kid shoot him in the back of the head.

Xenogears15 posted...

I fully believe that being a true villain requires intent. He wanted to help people, he was just not that smart. I get the feeling that the writing team just didn't know what to do with him anymore when they had that kid shoot him in the back of the head.

Charlie shot him in the chest while he was playing with a flower after he killed Charlie's guardian/companion.

It's one of the reasons I enjoyed season 4 so much. Actions finally had consequences. Up to that point, these morons kept doing the dumbest fucking shit and kept getting away with it. Season 4 seemingly put a stop to that, for a season or two at least.

Null_Gain posted...

Does Nick count as a villain? Even if he didn't, he did so much dumb shit that screwed over so many people. He put some evil characters to shame in that regard.

I tend to just see Nick as a perpetual fuck up.