Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
"Walking Dead" prequel is bloody, with a much slower burn.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Fear the Walking Dead
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say the show elicits mixed reactions, with some finding it boring and uneventful, while others appreciate its character development and story before the apocalypse. It is generally viewed as a tamer version of its predecessor, incorporating strong themes of violence and drug use, making it more suitable for older teens and adults.
- boring
- character development
- violent
- family-friendly
- mix of opinions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
When a strange, bloody sickness strikes their city, high school guidance counselor Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) and English teacher Travis Manawa (Cliff Curtis) are forced to forget the dysfunction of their blended families and focus on sheer survival as dead bodies inexplicably reanimate and threaten everything they hold dear. With so many unanswered questions, all they know now is to FEAR THE WALKING DEAD.
Is It Any Good?
You don't need to be a big Walking Dead fan to understand this equally gory prequel that explores the early days of the zombie apocalypse. In fact, it might actually be better if you weren't, since one of the obvious problems with a Walking Dead spin-off is that the hit series' loyal followers already know more about killing zombies than its characters do. For some Walking Dead die-hards, it will be painful to watch a noob struggle with a "walker," knowing full well that all he or she needs to do is knock its head off.
So why bother with a Walking Dead prequel at all? For one thing, it's putting down roots for the franchise to grow when The Walking Dead inevitably dies. For another, it lets the show's writers explore how a wholly new set of characters -- including a diverse blended family that's teeming with drama -- handles a survival situation of epic proportions. That alone could make Fear the Walking Dead far more relatable than its predecessor.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Fear the Walking Dead's premise and its take on human nature. How realistic is the series' depiction of people, particularly families, reacting to a life-threatening disaster? How would you and your family function in a similar situation?
What's the appeal of super graphic shows such as Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead? Is it all about the gore, or is there something more? What really keeps people watching?
What's the point of making a prequel to the popular Walking Dead series? Does it do anything differently, or is it just delivering more of what people love about the original?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 23, 2015
- Cast : Kim Dickens , Cliff Curtis , Rubén Blades
- Network : AMC
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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