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The Walking Dead won’t be back for a sixth season until October 11, but zombie-lovers everywhere can tie themselves over with the new AMC series Fear The Walking Dead, debuting this weekend.
You would think that anticipation would be at a fever pitch for the new series, but in our unscientific polling — i.e. a bunch of friends and favorite bartenders have asked me what Fear the Walking Dead is — it seems that viewers might not be totally clear on what the show is, who it’s about, and how it’s going to fit into the larger Walking Dead universe.
So, here’s your chance to find out what’s going on before the show premieres. Or here’s a rundown of what you’ll need to know so you can survive the inevitable Monday morning watercooler chat.
What is Fear The Walking Dead?
Fear The Walking Dead is a prequel to the popular drama The Walking Dead. It’s going to be set in Los Angeles and will depict exactly how zombies took over America during the time Rick Grimes was in that convenient coma.
Oh, so we’re going to find out more about what happened?
Yeah, we’re going to find out more about what happened. However, Matt Fowler’s review over at IGN suggests that we’re not going to get to see how it all started after all. Apparently, the “sickness” is already in five states.
Are we going to meet any of the same people that are in The Walking Dead?
Nope. These are entirely new characters. Though, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some sort of crossover should the series go on long enough.
So who are these new people?
We’re going to be meeting a high school guidance counselor named Madison Clark. She’s engaged to a high school English teacher named Travis. They both have kids from previous relationships. Madison’s kids are Nick and Alicia, and Travis’s kid is called Chris. Let’s just say they aren’t the Brady Bunch.
Do I know any of the actors? Anyone famous?
Madison Clark is being played by Kim Dickens, who you’ll remember as Detective Boney in Gone Girl. New Zealander Cliff Curtis is playing Travis. Frank Dillane is playing Nick Clark and Alycia Debnam-Carey (whom you might know from The 100) is Alicia.
Wait. Frank Dillane. That sounds familiar. Why?
Eh…he was in the running to play Spider-Man ages ago, but you are probably thinking of his father, Stephen Dillane. You know, Stannis Baratheon.
Oh boy. So Stannis’s IRL kid isn’t getting burned at the stake, but he is going to have to deal with zombies.
Yep. It’s not a vast improvement.
How scary will the zombies be on Fear The Walking Dead?
Eh…not really? I mean…sort of scary? Some of them are kind of hot?
What do you mean they’re kind of hot?
Well, an early sneak peak at the zombies on the show electrified the internet because at this point the Walkers look less like gruesome monsters and more like Karlie Kloss in a halloween costume.
Okay, okay…but are they SCARY?
Like, I don’t know…how scary do you think zombies are in general?
I like them brutal and fast and blood-thirsty and swarming all over things.
Okay, then, it’s not going to be that. This show is going to show the slow decline of a bustling metropolis (and the strain it puts on an already dysfunctional family).
Aw man!
Hey! You know what’s coming! It’s going to get real bad real quick.
How long will I have to wait for it to get real bad real quick?
Well, the first season is only six episodes long. The second season comes back next year with 15 episodes. I would assume that things will be pretty bad by the end of season two, but I’m not in the writers’ room, so don’t hold me to that.
When is it on?
Fear The Walking Dead debuts this Sunday, August 23 at 9/8 C on AMC.
Can I stream it?
Yes! That is, if you have a Sling TV subscription. The streaming service offers a live feed of AMC (and you’ll probably be able to catch it the next day on the service if you click on AMC and see what’s on demand. We can’t guarantee, that, though.) The show will be available on AMC.com and VOD the next day.
Anything else?
I miss The Walking Dead.
Well, it will be back in early October. Until then, you can watch the new show or stream past seasons.
[Watch Seasons 1-4 of The Walking Dead on Netflix]
[Where to Stream Season 5 of The Walking Dead]
Cool. Anything else I should know?
ZOMBIES CAN BE HOT. (Sort of.)
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[Photos: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC]
