Warning: The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead spoilers will be found below.

In the back of the final issue of The Walking Dead comics, which ended their run last week, Robert Kirkman delivered a message to the fans. In reference to why he ended the series so abruptly and without notice, Kirkman wrote:

The Walking Dead has always been built on surprise. Not knowing what’s going to happen when you turn the page, who’s going to die, how they’re going to die … it’s essential to the success of the series. It’s been the lifeblood that’s been keeping it going all these years, keeping people engaged.

The thing is, even after the death of Rick on The Walking Dead, the parent series still managed to deliver some huge surprises, whether it be the surprise death of Jesus (RIP) or the series of heads placed on pikes by Alpha and The Whisperers. There’s still a lot of shock value left in The Walking Dead.

As for Fear the Walking Dead? Well, we’re six episodes into the season, and there have been no major deaths. There hasn’t even been a minor death. In fact, the last good death that the series delivered was the brewer, Jim Bob, back in season four, and he had only lasted four episodes. The front half of season four delivered a couple of whoppers: Madison and Nick. Travis’ death was a huge surprise in season two. The third season was littered with great deaths.



Lately, however, Fear the Walking Dead has felt like a zombie series written for a young adult audience. The violence has been severely restrained. There have been big sentimental speeches. There was an entire episode devoted to what was essentially a brief romantic liaison between Althea and Isabel. This whole half season has been about saving a bunch of kids. Hell, there was an episode named after a cat! And another one named after a children’s book! Where’s the mayhem? The chaos? The death? Where’s the fear in Fear the Walking Dead?

Instead of killing off characters, Fear the Walking Dead has been adding them. This season has seen he addition of Dwight and Grace, plus the three kids (and their larger group). June and John are out having Old West adventures (admittedly, that episode was fun). Right now, Fear the Walking Dead is not scary or intense, and it’s not funny enough to make up for that lack (it is, in fact, not funny at all).

How many speeches and pep talks were delivered in this week’s episode, “The Little Prince”? It opened with a big speech from Morgan that sounded like something out of Bad News Bears meets the apocalypse. June gave Anne a mawkish speech about “wanting to run.” John gave Dwight an aw shucks speech about how much easier it was to find June when he joined up with folks and “had an extra set of eyes.” Sarah gave Victor a pep talk about “finding a way.” June gave Althea a speech about being there if Althea needed someone to speak to “off the record.” Dwight gave John a speech about needing some of his luck. Alicia gave Anne a speech about not staying behind, and Anne gave Alicia a speech about why she has to stay. Morgan even gave Grace a big speech about his damn stick!