When civilization ends, it ends fast. Not so fast, Tobias (Lincoln Castellanos). This episode shows that, with its slow burn approach. Created by Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson, Fear the Walking Dead is the second television Zombie Apocalypse show in The Walking Dead franchise. However, while The Walking Dead is an adaptation of the original comic of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Fear the Walking Dead is instead an original story featuring innovative characters created by Kirkman for the show. Further distinguishing this show from its mother show is its premise and place in the timeline. While The Walking Dead's main plot kicks off two months into the apocalypse, this series showcase the outbreak in its early days, as news reports begin to come in of a strange virus sweeping the country. What follows is the struggle of a Los Angeles family to survive during the ensuing mass hysteria and chaos of the collapse of society as the dead begin to rise. It sounds pretty good, but this companion prequel isn't living up to the hype. It feels more like a crime drug drama, than a horror show. Honestly, this show also had one of the most lackluster show intro ever. It even lacks creepy music to start it off. I really don't get, how chronicling the first weeks of the outbreak could be so dull, but somehow this episode did, just that. This episode was long and boring. Sadly, I don't think, the writers did, enough to impress the fan-base, or the casual viewer with this pilot episode. Directed by Adam Davidson, this pilot tells mostly the story of Nick Clark (Frank Dillane), a drug-addict whom is trying to figure out, if the brutal things that he saw, was a heroin hallucination or not. This episode also features his family, his mother Madison played by Kim Dickens, Travis (Cliff Curtis), her boyfriend, who has an ex-wife and son), his sister Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey), all trying to figure out, if he's telling the truth about the end of days or if it's a drug-trick. All the actors are doing a good job, so far. The supporting cast not so much. They weren't so memorable. Nothing worth noting. They gave so & so performances. After all, the first episode is normally the introduction to the main cast. Another problem of doing a prequel episode is how obviously cliché, and predictable, it can be. I know that a lot of critics might hate these characters for doing stupid stuff, but let's remember, in the setting of this show, nobody ever heard of a zombie. Don't be surprised if they do, a lot of stupid things. It can be frustrating waiting for the character to catch up. Anyways, that wasn't my beef, against the first episode. It's not, even because the episode lacks zombies. It's more about, how the writers miss some really great opportunities in situations that would put all the main characters in potential dangers. The episode really needed some more action. Honestly, they should had Nick tied down on the hospital bed, while the old man besides him turns. That would had work. By the way, what type of nurse, would untied a dangerous patient restraints like that and then leave. It makes no sense. Then acts, like a b*tch and dismissive to Madison and Travis when they come in looking for him. Also, what the hell, happen to Gloria (Lexi Johnson)!? Wouldn't it, make sense, for her to confront Travis at the church? Instead, she just disappears. How did she escape? The church is mostly gated in. Unlike The Walking Dead pilot, there's only a few notable scenes of gore, here in the Fear the Walking Dead pilot. Most of them were somewhat off-screen or view in a far distance shot. It doesn't revel in the horror. The man on the highway getting shot was perform somewhat cheesy. It was a bit laughable. It was also a bit off that everybody would be, watching it on their phone in HD, unless everybody at the school has a death lust. I physically cringed at the same time in response to the dialogue, a sensation I had never experienced before and never hope to again. I really didn't like what Alicia's female classmate said. It's not believable. A young female woman would never have that type of reaction to seeing real-life violence. A young guy, maybe, but not a young female unless she's a psychopath. Just saying. Also, that viral video is little too clear, for what I believe is supposed to set in 2010, but who knows, it can be any year. I like how, they are working in, a bit of social commentary here with the police zombie shootings, but the obvious shades of growing controversy of police brutality was a few years, too early if it set the same time, Walking Dead was. Still, I do like the foreshadowing that Fear the Walking Dead does, not only for next episode, but a few more episodes coming up. Sadly, the ending of Fear the Walking Dead pilot was so anti-climax, compare to the Tank scene in Walking Dead 2010's 'Days Gone Bye', Episode. Being associated with The Walking Dead is a blessing and a curse for the show. I know that the co-branding title, allow Fear the Walking Dead to have the largest TV audience history for a pilot TV show, but it also means, that character driven episode like this, would have to step up to make it, enjoyable. Sadly, I didn't felt like they did. The 2013's Video game The Last of Us gets you more connected to the characters in the opening scene then 90 minutes of this pilot. Fear the Walking Dead has promise in the writing department and I think a few more episodes will either make it or break it. This show has potential. I just wish, the writing was better than what I saw, so far.
Review of Pilot
