In the Flesh

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.

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...

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.

Just watched "In The Flesh" and thoroughly enjoyed it. An interesting take on Zombie apocalypse, playing with our preconceptions of Zombie rules and presenting a tense personal drama. Many plot lines and complex relationships with plenty to make you think about in between episodes.

Disappointed to see one (spectacularly) bad review for this mini-series but I think all of the other positive reviews speak for themselves. If you want to see some Zombie carnage (which I do like) then this is not it. However, given that almost all Zombie films/series feature brains and blood letting action, I think there is room for something a bit more contemplative, gentle and thought provoking.

\Going into this series i knew only one thing about this show and that was it had zombies in it and I needed something to tie me over until the next season of Walking Dead arrived. What i got was an emotional roller coaster which not only takes the typical zombie gore fest in a new and less mindless direction but provides an inescapable emotional roller coaster ride which i would highly recommend.

The series focuses on Kieren Walker a recovering zombie who is placed back with his family and has to deal with his new condition as well as the prejudice and hate that comes from the accepting community around him. The concept itself is very interesting and many of the subjects it touches upon has real world and often very relative implications.

In The Flesh is not a TV show to watch for mindless entertainment, it looks deeply at real world issues and can get quite dark, looking at ideas of prejudice, suicide, sexuality and extreme religious views. What ever you do don't watch In the Flesh for loads of gore or violence because you wont get much, however this I think serves the show well and its sparing use of violence and gore even more impact when situations do escalate to deadly results.

Visually the show is a treat and beautifully shot, with excellent locations and a diverse range of settings its hard to falter the production values of this show. Acting is top notch and every cast member gives memorable performances and I think this is what really brings in the flesh to life. It creates these living breathing characters that you feel for and understand, which makes their problems even more relatable and interesting.

I have to warn you though that this is not a feel good tap your heels and skip off into the sunset type of show and I often tell people that if you get into this show there will be more than a few tears shed by the end. To me this show has positioned itself quite comfort next to some of my favourite TV shows. Well worth a check out. Bring on Season 2 is all I can say!