In the Flesh

Rarely does a drama come along which is original as In the Flesh. I fear that when most people hear it's about zombies they imagine it's a poor man's Walking Dead but actually the two shows have few things in common. The show is all about what happens when zombies are cured and brought back into society.

One of the one hand it is a good supernatural drama. "Rotters", as they tend to be known in this world, actually play a bigger part in the second series. There are rotter attacks and a mythology about a second rising. The whole concept is unique and the writers continually add the the actually pretty small mythos.

On the other hand though the "partially deceased syndrome" sufferers play a very real-world role. They are symbolic of any race or group of people have been segregated and made a prejudice by the majority due to fear and lack of understanding. The key point is that the undead only cause trouble when they are provoked. There are also lots of other issues appearing in the show, like extreme politics and the effect of religion.

A supernatural drama which brilliantly reflects on real world issues, In the Flesh is brilliant. The first series was good but the second series totally eclipses it. I really hope that it will get a third series.

In The Flesh did something most series or movies can't do to me: it actually caught my attention, it motivated me to stay with my eyes glued to the screen and even go back when I didn't pay attention for a minute.

The thing I like most about this series is that it doesn't portray "zombies" as other productions. They're not the cruel creatures that come to kill you, even though they can be like that in their most primitive stages. Those who have the so called PDS are as rational or emotional as anyone who hasn't died before.

The fact that the protagonist is one of the "zombies" makes it more interesting, for we see their suffering from their own point of view, we feel their struggles to overcome the prejudice that targets them and to deal with the bad they involuntarily did.

With its moral questions, innovative plot and entertaining production, In The Flesh is definitely a must see. The only reason I didn't give it a higher rating is that it hasn't yet answered many questions I have, but I trust that new seasons will come and bring the required information.

When you see a new drama previewed on BBC Three you can be sometimes forgiven for thinking 'its on a channel for kids and student types -must be rubbish' and then forgot all about it. I remembered Id seen the trailer and decided to give it a go-not expecting much...after all its on BBC Three.

So I gave it a go and I wasn't disappointed. In the Flesh is a brilliantly written and acted, realist, British 'kitchen sink drama' take on the Zombie apocalypse that gives the viewer lots to think about on Life, Death and Love.

With standout performances from Ken Loach stalwarts Ricky Tomlinson and Steve Evets and newcomers Luke Newberry and Harriet Cains In the Flesh delivers as emotionally driven drama and a horror

This is probably the best show I've ever seen - dramatic and passionate and soul crushingly bittersweet...

It's disappointing it was cut too short, this would have been a perfect series of 3 or 4 seasons, to finish the story...

I happened to stumble upon "In the Flesh" by sheer random luck while browsing zombie titles on Amazon. And the synopsis really had my interest peaked. And of course, anything just even remotely zombiesque does catch my interest.

And as the first episode was coming to an end, it was clear that this was going to be a hidden gem. And it took very little time to sit through both seasons of the series. Mainly because there were only three episodes to season one and six episodes to season two, but also because the series was just so captivating and interesting that you simply keep watching episode after episode.

I thoroughly enjoy the approach that they took upon the zombie genre. It was a much needed take on the genre, and it was somewhat of a gamble I assume. But it was a gamble that was well rewarded. It was really good to see the end of a zombie outbreak and to see what could essentially happen in the wake of such a horrid event. The thing with the formerly risen (aka zombies or infected) to be medicated in order to reproduce brain activity and brain cells, and thus in turn return to their former humanity and start the progress of being reinserted back into society was really thought provoking and interesting.

And the thing about referring to the returned as PDS sufferers (Partially Deceased Syndrome sufferers) was a stroke of genius, especially as it would be likely to happen, as society and law need to slap a label on just about everything.

There are so many different angles to the storyline in the series that it would be a shame to even just attempt to delve into detailing these. I will say that "In the Flesh" should be watched and experienced to be fully appreciated and taken in, talking about it hardly do it any justice.

One thing that really made "In the Flesh" come to life, pardon the expression, on the screen was the fabulous ensemble of acting talents. There were a lot of really good actors and actresses in the series. I was especially impressed with Emily Bevan (playing Amy), Emmett J Scanlan (playing Simon), Luke Newberry (playing Kieren) and Steve Evets (playing Bill). Even though some of these people play characters that you will dislike, it is hard to ignore the talent that the actor or actress possess in bringing such a character to life (or unlife) on the screen.

The special effects team did a great job in bringing the PDS sufferers and the PDS sufferers in their untreated condition to life (or unlife, as it is) on the screen.

Don't expect this to be a run-of-the-mill addition to the zombie genre, with heaps of blood, gore and vicious dismemberment. If so, then you will be sorely disappointed. Instead, expect a clever, thought provoking series that delves deeper into the zombie genre than previously seen. And expect a series which is fueled by a myriad of different aspects and angles to the storyline.

I can more than strongly recommend that you take the time to sit down and watch all 9 episodes of "In the Flesh", because it is really a gem in the zombie genre. I am rating it a solid eight out of ten stars without hesitation.