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Seasons Past, ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Went On Way Longer Than It Should Have

“The Enduring Journey of ‘Fear the Walking Dead‘: How Has It Survived Eight Seasons?”

In recent times, the curtains closed on AMC’s The Walking Dead, marking the end of an era. However, towards the show’s conclusion, it seemed like the creators were exhausting the tired tropes of the horror genre itself. Over the span of more than a decade, with numerous spin-offs and tie-in media, fans have grown frustrated with the expansive universe born from Robert Kirkman’s comic-book mythology.

In 2015, Fear The Walking Dead made its debut under the guidance of showrunner Dave Erickson. Initially, it struggled to capture the heart-pounding intensity of its predecessor. Devotees were promised a pre-apocalyptic exploration that would fill in the gaps before society’s collapse. While it did fulfill this promise to some extent, there were other aspects where it fell short. The limited setting of a fenced-in Californian suburb disappointed those who had anticipated grand-scale catastrophes and the unraveling of apocalyptic times.

Considering the risk of losing momentum in its early days, one wonders how Fear the Walking Dead has managed to endure for eight seasons.

‘Fear The Walking Dead’ Has Been Crowded Since Season 4

Fear The Walking Dead

Fear the Walking Dead: Chasing Its Own Tail for Too Long”

When Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg took over from Dave Erickson in the fourth season of Fear the Walking Dead, they inherited a show that had reached its peak brilliance during the third season, reminiscent of the tone and quality of a series like Breaking Bad. It was a time when Madison (Kim Dickens) embarked on a villainous path, surprising audiences with unexpected character deaths and introducing intriguing individuals like the psychotic Troy (Daniel Sharman) and enigmatic loner Diana (Edwina Findley). The third season was a breath of fresh air, offering innovation and captivation.

In that season, the audience was fully aware they were in for an unpredictable journey when Travis Manawa (Cliff Curtis) was abruptly killed off. Madison, Nick, and Alicia found themselves at Broke Jaw Ranch, entangled in a conflict with the xenophobic Otto family, including brothers Troy and Jake (Sam Underwood) and their father Jeremiah (Dayton Callie). Madison’s manipulative nature shone through her interactions with Troy, Jeremiah, and Qaletaqa Walker (Michael Greyeyes), the leader of a Native American faction.

The third season showcased Alicia’s growth, memorable scenes in the bunker, and the introduction of intriguing world-building elements like trading posts. Troy’s destructive tendencies, including the destruction of his own home, added to the season’s intensity. Unfortunately, the promise of characters like Diana was abandoned by the new showrunners.

After Dave Erickson’s departure, along with the exits of Madison and Nick, Fear the Walking Dead lost its unique identity and became indistinguishable from its parent show. The introduction of new characters, without resolving existing storylines, resulted in an overcrowded narrative. The excessive character influx diluted the viewer’s investment, leading to a lack of care for their fates. Like its counterpart, The Walking Dead, Fear suffered from an abundance of characters, diminishing suspense and leaving audiences frustrated.

With the Season 8 premiere, the series introduced yet another new villain (PADRE), along with time jumps, swamp walkers, and predictable reunions. The narrative now faces the challenge of navigating through multiple backstories, Morgan’s introspective musings, and the perspectives of an overstuffed cast. Let’s face it: the show has been trapped in a cycle, endlessly chasing its own tail for quite some time now.

‘Fear The Walking Dead’ Has Been Going Around in Circles

Fear The Walking Dead

Fear the Walking Dead: Stuck in Repetition, Yearning for Innovation”

As each season of Fear the Walking Dead unfolds, the showrunners have embraced a familiar set of ideas, rendering it akin to an anthology series like Tales of the Walking Dead. In recent seasons, the core characters have encountered consecutive adversaries within a single season, only for their storylines to be hastily resolved. Essentially, the show has been traversing the same narrative territory for four seasons. This constant retreading has become detrimental, both in geographical and thematic terms.

While it may not be fair to compare Fear to a production with a significantly larger budget, the ever-changing environment depicted in The Last of Us adds a scale that Fear will never attain. The latest Big Bad’s attempt to indoctrinate children into a militia feels stale, reminiscent of concepts found in The Girl with All the Gifts or The Last of Us. The Season 8 opener, dominated by the point of view of the newly introduced character Wren (Zoey Merchant), felt nonsensical, highlighting the existence of more compelling entry points into this new world. If this is the last time we see Kim Dickens as Madison in this universe, shouldn’t she receive more screen time? Does the show truly need to dwell on moral complexities and exchanges between characters?

The reintroduction of Kim Dickens for the final season appears somewhat calculated, seemingly aimed at enticing lapsed fans back or boosting ratings. Originally, Dave Erickson planned for Madison to evolve into a post-apocalyptic villain, but she has spent seven years confined and now wishes to be a force for good after realizing her past mistakes. Meanwhile, Morgan’s behavior is inconsistent as he hands his child back to the primary antagonists. It is unclear whether this is part of a long-term strategy by Morgan, lazy writing, or an intentional desire to revert him to his former homicidal self. This repetitive pattern is a reminder of why it’s fortunate that Fear is coming to an end.

Fear the Walking Dead has struggled to establish a distinct identity beyond The Walking Dead, with the exception of its third season. It simply fails to measure up to new dystopian shows like Silo and The Last of Us. Its strongest season was undoubtedly the third, and perhaps the show should have concluded there. Even in its final season, it appears that few risks are being taken. One must question what the showrunners have to lose, given that this is the last hurrah for Fear the Walking Dead. While fans may rejoice at its impending conclusion, it remains to be seen whether audiences can endure another season that mirrors its predecessors, divided into two mini-seasons.

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