What did the world look like as it was transforming into the horrifying apocalypse depicted in The Walking Dead? This spin-off set in Los Angeles, following new characters as they face the beginning of the end of the world, will answer that question.

The first episode of, Fear the Walking Dead, the spin-off series to The Walking Dead, begins in a familiar way, with a person coming out of a stupor and being immediately confronted with the world around him. This world is a little different from the five seasons we’ve seen so far in the smash main series. This is the beginning, when the idea of a zombie outbreak is just whispers and hints.

The first episode’s focus is more on the characters, especially as a family unit, than its sister series as well. The Walking Dead is very much about “family” but that focus is much more on building a new one when faced with adversity. This series instead is about a literal family. The mother, her daughter and drug addicted son. The boyfriend, with a family of his own. How will they react in the face of disaster? The series very much shares that with so many disaster films like 2012 and others. It also asks the much more realistic question of what do you do as a parent dealing with all of that?

There’s also the perspective of coming to grips with reality. We see it from a couple of angles, including a drug addict who’s not sure what’s real and what isn’t. It’s enough to make us question, but we know the truth of it all.

The look of the series is interesting as well. Set in Los Angeles, I expected a much brighter hue and look. Instead we have a visual style that looks to be a cross between From Dusk Till Dawn and 28 Days Later. Browns, oranges, with an almost dusty sheen permeates the color palette and look of the first episode. Visually it stands out from its sister series.

The first episode is about so many small details. A gun on the ground. A bone sticking out. A missing sign on a wall. And the overall look and color palette of it all.

The new series has a lot of pressure on its shoulders. It spins out of a monster of a television series, so expectations are high. The first episode, is a solid debut. It has me intrigued to see what comes next… in the coming zombie apocalypse.

Overall Rating: 9