When it comes to TV shows about zombies, there’s no point in arguing against the importance of a show likeThe Walking Dead. Released in 2010, created by Hollywood’s horror master Frank Darabont, and based on the comic book by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, the show completely changed the TV landscape after fan favorites likeLostandPrison Breakhad come to an end. Suddenly, a new show had arrived, and though it was based on a horror subgenre that most people didn’t seem to connect with, it presented a dramatic backdrop that was worth grabbing ourselves onto.Those that came after, spin-offsand others completely unrelated, didn’t matchThe Walking Dead, even when it started fizzling out.
However, in the small universe of zombie TV shows, there’s one that, in retrospect, could giveThe Walking Deada run for its money. And it isn’t exactly a huge production. Itself a spin-off of a show calledZ Nation,Black Summeris a riveting drama show that takes the zombie apocalypse premise and puts it on steroids. Produced by Netflix in 2019, the show was a sensation among zombie culture fans, with horror author Stephen King praising it: “Just when you think there’s no more scare left in zombies, this comes along.”
Black Summer
Yes,The Walking Deadremains the go-to for this sort of conundrum, but if you don’t want to navigate its multiple seasons, or in the case you got tired of all its drama and took it off of your watchlist, there’s a solid option inBlack Summer. Here’s what this underrated Netflix horror show has to offer, and which in some ways is infinitely better thanThe Walking Dead.
What Is Black Summer About?
The premise ofBlack Summeris incredibly simple, and perhaps that’s the best thing about it. It doesn’t do much to expand the reasons for the apocalypse. Not even when it takes a break from all the action and increases its drama element. The chaos you feel from the beginning is kept throughout the entire run, and contrary to how it feels in otherzombie moviesand TV shows,Black Summernever feels out of control and with too much filling.
Black Summeris told from the perspective of Rose (Jamie King), a mother and wife who sees her world shattered amidst a crisis that has put the military on the streets of American suburbia. Rose is set on reuniting with her daughter, Anna, and to accomplish this, she will have to turn into someone else, as America is going through a disaster in which flesh-eating ghouls have taken the streets.
This makesBlack Summera mother’s journey with all the drama you can imagine. However, the show also takes its liberties and focuses on secondary characters with their own unique storylines that will find a way into Rose’s path. Trust us when we say nothing inBlack Summeris a random script decision, and everything will make sense, even if it’s just through a poetic coincidence.
Related:10 Anime Series to Check Out if You Love Zombie Movies
Black Summerdiffers from its peers by presenting its set of characters with a slight sense of unpredictability. Even though it’s definitely Rose’s story, the one leading up to the conclusion, every part of the plot becomes relevant because, in this world, there aren’t any heroes. This adds to the sense of realism the show has, which shows of this natureshouldhave. This is one of many things that it does better thanThe Walking Dead: you believe in these people, and you believe in their quest, which is anything but fancy.
Of course, the realism wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for theshow’s groundbreaking performances. Survivors played by King, Justin Chu Cary, Christine Lee, and Kelsey Flower give life to their characters by playing victims of something they can’t comprehend, and they don’t play the typical TV characters whom we aren’t supposed to ask much about.
While inThe Walking Deadthe show led to an inevitabledevelopment of the charactersbecause the drama had to counterbalance the horror aspect, inBlack Summerthere’s simply no time, and we’re only left with a random set of events that will offer the substance they need to understand how regular people came to be in his situation.
Blurring the Line Between TV and Cinema
One thing aboutThe Walking Deadthat will always make it shine above other shows of its genre is that it puts zombie culture aside and puts the survivors' stories at the forefront of the apocalypse. The makeup effects are outstanding, and the show gets scary enough at some point that it could run along with other zombie films that present the premise of the undead. However, it’s the drama of the survivors that makes the show interesting. And even though it showed to have a limit that was surpassed in recent seasons, it was a risky take by showrunners.
In the case ofBlack Summer, we don’t need drama because the horror content is fierce enough to make a crack in the genre. The cinematography and editing work are extraordinary and feature the best visuals in the underworld of horror television. When you think of good zombie films, none of them feel fancy, but with Black Summer, you will probably change your mind. The irony lies in the fact thatBlack Summeris a television production, a medium typically associated with lower quality.
It may not have the influence that it should have in other shows, but in themicrocosmos of zombie television, there’s nothing better than the horror in Black Summer and how it presents the threat of zombies.
Related:Robert Kirkman Explains Why The Walking Dead Doesn’t Use the Word ‘Zombie’
Is it Worth Watching Black Summer Over The Walking Dead?
The Walking Deaduniverse is vast and rich,and it seems to offer something for everyone. We won’t actually deny that it still has a place in modern television, with its countless characters and the way it seems to “reset” itself every now and then. It has a following, and that’s great for the dynamics of horror television.
However, if you’re intoshorter TV seriesthat you can binge on without spending hundreds of hours in front of your TV, then there’s no better choice thanBlack Summer. In terms of characters, the stories click, and there’s not much to do in that space, but in terms of its horror display, it will give you the creeps while keeping you on the edge of your seat with outstanding visuals and the best camera work on lesser-known television.
It’s uncanny how it only lasted two seasons, but perhaps it was for the best. Some things are not meant to last long, which is usually said aboutThe Walking Dead, and which actually worked forBlack Summer.
In the case of The Walking Dead being your thing, here’s a video explaining how the actual virus in the show came to be:
