One thing i don't understand is that the staff behind the main series keep using lack of budget as an excuse as to why the writing went downhill and why there's multiple episodes that re-use settings/props/stages for long periods of time but now they have enough $$ to do a whole new spin off?

I'll watch, I still like the show but it pales in comparison to the comics.

Thanks for he heads up, I didn't know the spin off starts tonight!

It's worth checking out the omnibus edition imo. It has more of a "anyone can die" kind of feel to it and makes it more suspenseful.

That being said I still really like the TV show, it's just a show that to me feels like it'll have 2-3 mediocre/boring episodes that has my girlfriend and I getting sick of it and then it'll throw out a great couple of episodes that has us hooked again. I remember hearing the writers say they had tight budget constraints which is what leads to those dull episodes and saving money for the big ones which is why I thought a spin off was an odd idea. Maybe with Mad Men finished they are going to funnel the cash in to the walking dead I hope.

Yulp most of the actors I felt were subpar have been weeded out and the remaining main characters are all pretty good. Carl's come a long way from the early seasons too, I was initially worried that as he aged and become a more prominent character he'd be bad but he does a good job. It's always hard when a show casts someone young who may never turn in to a decent actor.

I think volume one of the large omnisbus edition takes you up to the prison arc. More happens in the in between parts though than in the show.

This!

Thanks

This show is a great alternate translight / mod opportunity!

Im stoked to see this.....! I read a lot of the comics, so always kind of knew what was going on with the main show....

Whats with AMC.com not showing the show till tomorrow. I use chromecast for all my TV's and our cable box is not even used, in a box someplace. So, I have to bootleg a show that I am already paying for lol.

Show was meh. Not getting that 2010 TWD thrill. Too much character buildup of dysfunctional individuals I normally would not even like in real life.

Agree. But from here on if they can keep it to mass hysteria and hordes of zombies mowing down the city in quick order it will be entertaining

Is Z nation worth watching? I watched the first 4-5 episodes but didn't continue. I have the rest of the first season just haven't gotten around to watching it. Have the strain season 2 to watch too.

I remember that episode, I quite liked that one. I think what put me off z nation a little is my girlfriend didn't want to watch it with me. I'll have to give it another shot when I get a chance. The strains pretty decent too, not great but still watchable.

I like all things Zombie personally. I watched the show and I think it will be interesting as you watch people worrying about normal life stuff and it eventually devolves into only caring about survival.

I thought last night episode was a little bland. The druggy son character was a little annoying to me. I think the next few episodes will be fun to watch.....

Totally agree.

I really liked the series premier. Good primary character and plot development with slight glimpses at future secondary character development. Overall I really think they did a good job in not rushing the apocalypse, instead using a good subtle build up into it.

My only con for the 1st episode is I wish I waited 6 mos before watching it so I can watch all the episodes uninterrupted on Netflix or something

I agree, I hope it doesn't turn into a zombie soap opera drama like It is starting to feel... Zombie Fingers crossed.

Yep, they need to kill a few of the lamer characters. You don't just get over Heroin because of zombies. Its got potential. Time for everyone to ammo up!

Wait... I mean load up their low capacity mags and blow away the zombies 10 rounds or less at a time.

Hopefully this episode was just the beginning of the ramp, and it's all uphill from here.

I'm waiting for the "Zombie's have rights too" protests. This is supposed to be California right?

I have to admit to being disappointed with the first episode. I'm a fan of the original series though, so I'm going to watch the rest of the season, regardless, but it sure started off slow. The druggie son and teen rebellion in general is dragging it down a lot. I already dislike him more than Carl. I suspect the next episode will speed things up though, so I'm hopeful and keeping my fingers crossed. The zombies on this show seem different in looks and are in some regards keeping out of sight for now, so I wonder if they're going to throw some zombie evolution at us.

Remember, this is the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, no one knows what they're dealing with yet. This may be the druggie son's wakeup call!!

Probably spot on.

So... saw the premiere... so so.

It's not that I dislike the slow space - it makes sense to show a gradual shift into chaos.
My concern is that I don't really like any of the characters so far. Hope to be wrong.

I don't know about you guys but I wasn't lead to believe the heroin addict was just ready to stop using. When he was shackled up, sure he said he's quitting for sure 'this time', but even the sister shunned him off like 'heard that before'. And sure enough the heroin addict was back with his dealer a day after getting out of the hospital and got excited when his dealer said he was going to 'hook him up'. I think it'll be a good side storyline with the battle of drug addiction in an apocalyptic setting; will this kid have loyalties to his drugs or his family & survival? Will his survival vs heroin make him stronger to survive a post apocalyptic setting?

I agree with this completely, the characters just seem to be lacking, especially in the likeability department, maybe that will all change, but I've definitely shifted towards the not watching side of the fence. I'll give it another episode or 3 before actually deciding.

Um...he was on his way to get heroin at the end of the episode. Not a big mystery there. The dealer said "you got your works with you?" and then said he'd hook him right up. Of course the dealer had other plans.

Junkies routinely tell family and friends they are quitting.

As far as the complaints that the characters lack the "instant likeability" or "character development" of the Walking Dead characters...don't know what to say except you are all nuts. You've had FIVE YEARS to fall in love with the walking dead folks...when that show started, rick was an idiot, Daryl was a backwoods jerk, Lori and Carl were hated by everyone. I think it's nice that everybody is willing to watch half a season before they bail, that's very courteous of you. to me the show delivered what it promised and looks like it will have a very different feel than TWD. I like the creepy, surreal west coast urban vibe of the debut episode. Reminded me of stuff like They Live. The cinematography of this debut episode was fantastic.

I'll stay tuned in...pretty much this and football is all I will be watching on TV for the next couple months.

This pilot episode was pretty bland and boring overall. I am very concerned about the characters in this one, as I didn't find any of them to be interesting in any way. I will give it time to develop and see where it goes, but man, compare this pilot episode to the pilot of TWD (which is one of the best pilot episodes of any series I've ever seen) and it was an epic failure.

When the episode was over, I sure didn't think "oh man, I can't wait to see the next episode!"

So you won't be watching next week then?

Yes, I will. Like I said, I'm going to give it a chance to develop and see where it goes. But I'm sure not feeling any great anticipation for next weeks episode.

When I watch the original series I keep looking at the clock to see how much more is left in the episode. I don't want it to end. On the new show, I did want it to end. At the very least, when I was watching it I did not care to see what happened in the next 5 minutes. And for me, not one likable character. Hopefully it will be too soon to tell how this will be overall as a show.

That's tragic.

Hopefully in time, these characters will be able to rope you in like all of those Walking Dead characters who were instantly beloved by all.

Me too.

Many of the characters on TWD's pilot episode were instantly interesting compared to what we saw on Fear TWD.

Funny...I didn't see it that way. My first thought was "ah, a 28-days later ripoff," followed by an hour of Rick holed up in a suburban exposition house. The episode was slow, didn't reveal much, and clearly was designed to set the show up for a payoff somewhere down the line.

Kinda like the Fear debut, with less going on of course and a much narrower snapshot of the world.

There is no comparison in my opinion. The pilot of TWD was superb. The build up of tension in that episode was fantastic. The way the story was being told was excellent. The cinematography was top notch. I wanted to learn more about the characters. It was directed by Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) and it showed.

I just watched it. It's pretty hard to build up tension with long commercial breaks every 5 minutes. I agree TWD premier was better, but there was nothing wrong with this. I thought it was pretty decent. Characters are likable and they act fine. I'm looking forward to how this develops. The story can literally take an infinite amount of turns, so what's not to like? I WILL stop watching if they kill off the hot daughter in season one. That would be a blow.

Will TWD start again soon? That's not done is it?

I wasn't expecting much so I really enjoyed it.

I'm looking forward to how the characters and story develops.

Huh?

They had a run early on that must have stretched 20 minutes straight without a commercial.

I watched after the fact online, so it might have been different. But all these shows work much better streaming without commercial interruption. Tension is hard when a tampon or fast food commercial interrupts the drama.

Agreed. I watched it without commercial interruption and loved it.

The amc video player was terrible. 7 commercials of 15-30 seconds every five minutes it seemed. Doubt I will use that again. Really impacted viewing experience.

Watched it on AMC's player online. My deep thoughts:

1) why do all these networks need custom video players in this day and age?
2) why do all these networks' custom video players suck so much in this day and age?
3) why are all the FTWD characters at best really boring, and at worst completely unlikeable?

I give this pilot 7 horrible online video players out of 10; I don't even know what that means.

Commercials are a waste of your life. Find a better way to get your content.

DVR + start it 45 mins after show starts. Otherwise wait a year for Netflix.

i watched the episode commercial free = torrent.

first episode was so so.