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I mentioned before that I'm a fan of Stephen King, and this series really reminds me of his writing. It is silly on the surface, but it treats itself seriously and you cannot help but be sucked in by its persistence that "this shit is scary, yo." I really do respect it for it. But I also think that it would be nice to have a subtle horror series ... that wasn't The Twilight Zone. You know, for variety's sake. That's where Channel Zero comes in.

Syfy

Like a secret family from northern Canada.

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You might remember when the series was first announced and how it was meant to be based on "creepypasta," i.e., internet campfire stories. I immediately checked out when I read that, but you shouldn't, because the show actually makes this dumb idea work. It's just one of the many ways it reminds me of AHS: On paper, it sounds like the worst thing that has ever happened to televisions.

The first season of Channel Zero centers on a weird-ass TV show that only kids seem to be able to see and is connected to the disappearances/deaths of a few local children. And ... that's it. The series uses this simple plot point to explore the evil sides of humanity. Past secrets, murders, lack of trust -- those are the things to be scared of in Channel Zero.

Syfy

Plus the freaky tooth monster.

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But you can find all of that stuff in Super Serious Critically Acclaimed Prestige Drama Of The Season #142. What makes it a horror show? See, there's still plenty of supernatural elements to piss your pants over in this show as well. It's just, the paranormal is a BIG thing here. You are never asked to just accept that otherworldly stuff happens. During many scenes, the characters are as freaked out about the unexplained as you should be, and that's what makes Channel Zero so good at being scary: It leads by example.

Cezary Jan Strusiewicz is a Cracked columnist, interviewer, and editor. Contact him at c.j.strusiewicz@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter.

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