If you're skeptical of any new television series about the "Z" word and/or you're a fan of Veronica Mars, then iZombie is made for you. The lighthearted show is based on the comic of the same name by writer Chris Roberson and artist Michael Allred. The comic and TV show explore the same basic concept: A girl is turned into a zombie but as long as she ingests a steady diet of brains (she goes after brains of only deceased people), she doesn't become a mindless, Night of the Living Dead zombie. Consuming the brains gives her the ability to experience some of the deceased's thoughts and feelings.

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Rose McIver in iZombie

Based on the pilot, the general concept is about all the show has in common with the comic (I've read the first couple of trades). Actually, the tone from the comics translates, too. iZombie is told from the perspective of Olivia "Liv" Moore (Rose McIver). She's smart, she's sassy, and she's surviving as a member of the undead legion - if there is a legion. Given the first-person perspective and the fact that Rob Thomas is on board as executive producer, it's natural to think of Veronica Mars and the similarities are definitely present.Liv is cynical like Veronica but also wants to help people like Veronica. No, they're not exactly alike but it's close enough you can't help but make the comparison. And frankly, that's fine. It works. The vibe may be familiar, but it's not what you normally see in a supernatural series. The casual take on zombies makes it fresh.McIver (Power Rangers RPM, Once Upon a Time, Masters of Sex) shines as Liv. We see the character before she becomes a zombie and after the change, and McIver does a deft job of making the different versions of Liv distinct while also infusing bits of human Liv into zombie Liv when necessary. One reason why Liv is so interesting is because she's gone through something horrible but you don't necessarily feel sorry for her. Your pity is tempered because the transformation didn't prevent her from leading a somewhat normal life. I'm more curious about her being a functioning zombie. Luckily, she decided to change career paths and work in a morgue so she has access to brains in a way that's believable.The pilot delivers a hefty amount of exposition via flashbacks and via Liv telling her curious co-worker Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti (Rahul Kohli) about her condition. Making him totally accepting of Liv's undead aspects might seem a touch on the nose, but again, it fits within the framework of him being doctor. We learn a little about his background in the pilot, and while it was just a few lines of dialogue, it explained his attitude.A handful of other characters are introduced: Liv's roommate, her family, and her ex-fiance. For the most part, they didn't make an impression. Her ex is nice and cute, but we don't see enough of him or his relationship with Liv to root for them. Everyone knows Liv's changed but not why, and they all want to fix her. The dynamics there aren't engaging. Not yet.But then there's Detective Clive Babineaux (Malcolm Goodwin). He's a new detective in the department that works with Liv's morgue, and he's an intriguing mix of old-fashioned and open-minded. As mentioned, Liv gains visions when she snacks on brains and learns she can use those visions to give the detective an assist. He accepts Liv's cover story and quickly comes to trust her. That was a welcome change from how those situations normally go down in television. Their work together sets up a formula for the series, but I'm curious about how long Babineaux will be clueless about Liv's real story. It can't be stretched too far or too often.Besides eating brains and using her newly acquired skills to help others, there's a hint of mystery. Why did the zombie attack on the boat happen? Are there other undead among the general population? Hopefully the series will balance answering those bigger questions with the case of the week format.