Fear the Walking Dead (2015) is a post-apocalyptic horror drama television series created by Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson. It serves as a prequel and companion series to the highly successful The Walking Dead, based on Kirkman’s comic book series. Set at the dawn of the zombie apocalypse, Fear the Walking Dead follows a group of survivors as they navigate the collapse of civilization.

The series begins in Los Angeles, where high school guidance counselor Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) and her family—her son Nick (Frank Dillane), who struggles with drug addiction, and her daughter Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey)—witness the early stages of society’s breakdown. As news of violent outbreaks and mysterious deaths spreads, they quickly realize that these are not isolated incidents but the beginning of a global catastrophe. Together with Madison’s partner, Travis Manawa (Cliff Curtis), his son Chris (Lorenzo James Henrie), and other survivors, they attempt to flee the chaos as the undead—called “walkers”—begin to overrun the city.

As the series progresses, Fear the Walking Dead evolves from a story about the onset of the apocalypse to one about survival in a world overrun by walkers. The group travels across different locations, from California to Mexico and later to Texas, encountering various factions of survivors, from peaceful communities to violent warlords, all while battling their own inner demons.

What sets Fear the Walking Dead apart from its parent series is its focus on the initial collapse of society. While The Walking Dead drops viewers into an already established post-apocalyptic world, Fear explores the societal breakdown in real-time. This allows for a slower build-up of tension and character development, showing how ordinary people adapt (or fail to) in the face of unimaginable horrors.

Over time, the series introduces new characters and shifts focus, with fan-favorite Morgan Jones (Lennie James) from The Walking Dead crossing over to become a central figure in later seasons. Themes of trust, community, and human resilience remain core to the story, but the characters are constantly tested by both the relentless undead and the often more dangerous living.

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