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Originally posted by GWEK:
Although I agree with your general assertions -- that FEAR THE WALKING DEAD isn't good and that KEVIN FROM WORK is -- I have a slightly different take (or at least different focus) on what went wrong with FTWD.

The lack of use of technology DOES bother me, but I don't find it as gutting as you indicate. The show is not set now, after all, but 5 or 6 years ago. That may not seem like a lot, but with something like this, it's a lifetime. For example, in 2009, selfies (as we know them now) barely existed and wouldn't gain widespread popularity for a few years.

Also important to note that FTWD's sin is nothing new in TV or movies. Perhaps because writers haven't caught up yet, or perhaps because it's just easier to tell stories without it, modern technology, especially social media, is often pushed to the side. Shows like KEVIN FROM WORK and MODERN FAMILY are the exception rather than the rule, and even shows that make use of a lot of high technology (eg, THE FLASH and ARROW) tend to so in the traditional "Star Trek communication" manner rather than making full use of modern technology.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying that's not an issue, just that it's not one of the biggest ones. As you indicate, the characters are largely unengaging, and that's a HUGE problem. Even Strand, who stands out as interesting, seems largely contrived just to stand out.

Which leads to what I see as the biggest problem with the show:

Unlike WALKING DEAD, FTWD doesn't respect the intelligence of the audience. In so many ways. To me, the single biggest issue is that they seem to make the assumption that we have both seen and not seen WALKING DEAD. Many of the false starts and much of the "tension" plays on the fact that we're used to certain things from WALKING DEAD. Without the context of that show, a lot of the story doesn't hold together, or at least hold ironic tension. But, at the same time, the pacing and intensity is so slow and and so low that it cannot compete with something like WALKING DEAD (consider where both shows were at the end of one episode, two episodes, six episodes -- it's the difference of brilliance and mediocrity).

Ultimately, FTWD isn't terrible (it gets somewhat better by episode 6), but for me it falls into a rare category of "Things that I wish didn't exist because they make other stuff worse" (along with THE SHEPHERD'S TALE, which is so poorly told that it makes me wish I didn't know Book's secrets).

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Originally posted by GWEK:
The truly insane thing about this half-season of TWD is that I think it will all basically take place in a single day.

Although there were flashbacks, the first episode started in the morning. In the most recent episode, the sun has FINALLY set... but next week's episode looks to be an overlaps dealing with only three characters, and I suspect the week after will also be an overlap dealing with only 2-3 characters. That leaves just the mid-season finale to bring everything home, and I wouldn't be surprised it just covers the few hours leading up to dawn.

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Originally posted by Jongsstraw:
FTWD was lame. I wasted six hours of my life watching and waiting for a story I liked or a character I cared about. But that never happened. The stories were hopelessly aimless and contrived. The characters were very forgettable and uninspiring. I can't even remember any of their names.

OTOH, Season 6 of TWD has so far been an unrelenting adrenaline-pumping thrill ride.

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