3. iZombie (2015 – present)
Based on eponymous DC Comics series, iZombie is a dark comedy TV produced by Rob Thomas, starring Rose McIver as the brain eating living dead psychic, detective and aspiring doctor, Olivia “Liv” Moore. The story begins with a boat party where the drugged mass turns into zombies. Despite not wanting to be there in the first place, the back then medical resident Liv Moore gets caught in the transformation and after being attacked and bitten, becomes a zombie.
Discovering her new appetite for brains and the lack of a pulse, Liv is obliged by the circumstance to give up her job, put off the wedding plans and starts a new (after) life as a coroner’s assistant in a zombie fast food restaurant aka a morgue. Though, working undercover is quite difficult, even for a smart girl and soon her boss Ravi Chakrabarti (Rahul Kohli) finds out what she is. To make things worse for her solitude and better for her remaining human side, Liv also joins the detective Clive Babinaux (Malcolm Goodwin) in solving murder mysteries.
Full zombie
Alone, Liv would have not had the strength or the motivation to go into the depths of her new state, but once she got allies and foes, more she found about zombies. Starting with a clue of what might have caused the disease – the combination between drugs and an energy drink – to discovering more characteristics.
One thing that makes these zombies special is the fact that as long as they feed on brains right from the very first moment of their transformation, they manage to keep their consciousness, but also the memories and personality traits of those whom they ate. Also, they get super strength and are immune to some things that might harm normal humans. In case they get startled, they do go on full zombie mode and lose control for a while, but these pale white haired creatures can be peaceful.
Growing stronger
When we first mentioned iZombie in our article about Best Horror TV Series, it was still at its beginning, a sprout in the dark comedy subgenre. From the first rather generic episodes of iZombie, episodes following Liv, Clive and Ravi solving cases, finding the least suspected people as the real killers with various reasons, the show went to extent of developing more and more the characters while still keeping its path as a crime series. With each new episode brining a new mystery, it was still possible to introduce in the story line a new love interest for Liv, a charming zombie, an arch nemesis, Blaine DeBeers (David Anders) and drama – lots and lots of drama!
2. Z Nation (2014 – present)
Another Syfy production, this time by Karl Schaefer and Craig Engler, Z Nation or Zombie Nation is a horror comedy drama set in a post-apocalyptic world. Three years after an epidemic of a zombie virus has taken over the country killing its residents and almost destroying its entire community, a group has to take the sole infected human who did not turn into a zombie to a research lab and to discover whether or not he might hold the key to a cure.
The patient, Murphy also known as Patient Zero, is portrayed by Keith Allan, the National Guard member Roberta Warren by Kellita Smith, Citizen Z, the sole remaining employee of Arctic’s Northern Lights, by DJ Qualls, Mack Thompson as Michael Welch and Addy Carver by Anastasia Baranova.
Which nation?
Z’s, Puppies and Kittens, Them, Deadhead, Braindead Freak, Resurrected or Blasters, they come in many names and forms – human, canine, bear, reptile, primate and ungulates, but they all are the same: zombies. Lacking their own brains, these infected creatures are hungry not only for living brain, but for human tissue in general.
No cure is known so far, though Murphy is being under research, but the virus was identified as ZN1 or Red Dead as named by its creator Dr. Walter Kurian. With the story just at its beginning, we expect more about the disease to come in the future.
Horribly good
It might suffer because of the same “anxious fans syndrome” which attacked Fear the Walking Dead. Somehow, it always ends being compared to The Walking Dead and in a bad damaging way. But this time, fans really took matters in their own hands and made things clear – it is not the same. Starting with the fact that it is a very funny show, watching it being a great way of spending your Friday afternoons before getting ready to go partying, the characters are diverse, unique and individually designed seasoned with great acting and what is better – it is not afraid of mocking the zombie subgenre. Because this is what comedies do. And this is what zombie fans actually like.
1. The Walking Dead (2010 – present)
Here comes the queen! Developed by Frank Darabont and based on Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard’ s comics, this zombie drama brings to attention the destiny of Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln). Stuck in a coma for a while, Grimes awakens only to discover that his entire world has crumbled.
Afraid of what might have happened to his family, he sets off to Atlanta to find his wife Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and son Carl (Chandler Riggs). But while the zombie disease is spreading faster and faster, Rick finds himself obliged by the circumstances to join other apocalypse survivor like Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal), Andrea (Laurie Holden), Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun), and Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) and to hope for a cure.
Many types, many names
“You all know how this shit works. You get a bite, you get any kind of wound from these things, something from them gets in you… and you fucking die.” This is how it works in the universe of The Walking Dead.
The zombies go by many names and are of various types as designed by the main characters: the walkers – those very active zombies who are dominating the world, the roamers – those who are like bears waking up from hibernation and constantly looking for food, the lurkers – are like little brother who play pranks on you, pretending to be asleep or dead in the zombies’ case, only to attack you when not prepared, the biters – the name says it all, the herd – those who hang in groups like teenagers, the floaters – those who stayed too much in the water, lame-brains, geeks, monsters, meat puppets, empties, deadies, creepers, swimmers, dead ones, eaters, ghouls, psychos, wanderers, abominations, creepy-crawlers, goons, infected and more. But we are going to let you discover what exactly are all of them and also let you discover others.
The Champion
Declared by Rotten Tomatoes as Certified Fresh (which is very good in case you are not into this website), which also stated that “Blood-spattered, emotionally resonant, and white-knuckle intense, The Walking Dead puts an intelligent spin on the overcrowded zombie subgenre” and that “Thanks to a liberal dose of propulsive, bloody action and enough compelling character moments to reward longtime fans, The Walking Dead ’s fifth season continues to deliver top-notch entertainment.”
What is incredibly awesome is that The Walking Dead has been nominated 86 times and has on its shelf 26 awards, including 2 AFI TV Programme of the Year, a Most Bingeworthy Show award from Critics’ Choice Television Awards, 3 People’s choice Awards, 2 Primetime Emmy Awards and many others, not to mention that others will most probably come.