Black Summer

I was quite impressed with this show.

It's centered around the early days of a zombie apocalypse, and those who have to live through it. It adopts an almost documentary style that I found to be particularly effective.

I really enjoy the fact that the characters are always on the run and that no place is safe. The zombie menace is omnipresent and the zombies are actually, you know, deadly and aggressive. Even a lone zombie can be a real handful. It almost feels like a war movie. The characters are clearly shell shocked as the world they used to know collapses around them. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I enjoy the fact that the dialog is minimal, as it better represents the horror these people are living through. In other zombie shows, they'd be drinking lemonade at a farmhouse whilst spending 3/4 of the season endlessly talking about their feelings.

Now granted there is some "cheese", some questionable decision making by the characters, but you can't have a zombie show w/o some of it.

I sincerely hope this continues. It's better than Z-Nation, and miles better than TWD (which I used to love). I have no way of knowing, but appears there's some review "brigading" going on. I'm guessing it's the devoted fans of TWD.

Why can't soneone write a zombie apocalypse story where most people are of average intelligence or higher? Instead the writers always seem to think the only way to create tension is to make 95% of the main characters as dumb as a box of hair.

I get it that people panic and make wrong or silly decisions at times, but to never learn to close a door behind you, or to have 6 people mow down a single zombie with about 100 rounds and not one is a headshot, even though they've seen that this won't stop them. I mean COME ON.

I had average expectations but was gripped from start to end. Cleverly shot with a real time feel, the characters are fascinating and acting to match. Looking forward to S2!

Don't let the bad reviews put you off, this is a decent zombie watch! I was entertained throughout and it left me wanting a second season for sure.

It follows a group of strangers through the beginnings of a zombie apocolypse, their individual stories, interactions and ultimately connected stories.

Like many reviewers before stated - the production is good, the acting too, and it got some really suspenseful moments, but, and this is almost pretty standard these days, the behavior of the people is sometimes too stupid to believe (for example standing in the middle of a road and screaming for help in the middle of nowhere will not help your matter, I take any bet), and last but not least, to cite Lord of the Flies is an overused and boring approach these days, just saying. Anyway, Black Summer is solid and sometimes even good and beats easy everything TWD and FTWD delivered over the past few years/seasons. If you (still) like to watch zombies (like I do), Black Summer will be a really pleasant surprise and experience.