6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
What did the world look like as it was transforming into the horrifying apocalypse depicted in "The Walking Dead"? This spin-off set in Los Angeles, following new characters as they face the beginning of the end of the world, will answer that question.
Starring: Kim Dickens, Lennie James, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam-CareyHorror | 100% |
Supernatural | 58% |
Melodrama | 23% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.00:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
Digital copy
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The other day I reached into the pile of long overdue reviews and pulled out Patch Adams for the review du jour and, being the Trekkie
that I
am, just about fell off my couch as the credits began to roll, hearing the theme song from Star Trek: Enterprise: a different version to be sure but certainly the
same song. That song begins with the lyrics, "it's been a long road, gettin' from there to here." Indeed, such is certainly true of Fear the Walking
Dead, a show that debuted back in 2015 as the first spin-off of the then wildly popular (and still loved) The Walking Dead that was dominating the ratings, selling tons of
merchandise, and was the talk of the Internet, water coolers, and even classrooms for years on end. Fear promised something great in its
first
season but kind of fizzled, and that's not a complete surprise: it was trying to live up to gargantuan expectations. Slowly, the show rose in stature
and
continued through an ebb and flow of being good and being mediocre and being downright bad. Indeed, it's been a long, and also winding, road,
getting from there to here. Now, in the final season, the show reaches its end by continuing the story,
but in
something of an unorthodox fashion, following up on season seven by taking place seven years after. It continues to be a long road, a difficult path,
and a troubled way that leads to a very lackluster final destination.
As is always the case with a show this deep into its run, readers are encouraged to catch up on Blu-ray before dropping in with season eight. Every
season is available on Blu-ray and linked below:
Lionsgate releases the eighth and final season of Fear the Walking Dead with a wonderful 1080p transfer that is up there with the very best that the show, and even the larger Walking Dead universe on Blu-ray, has to offer. The presentation is very faithful to its source, offering a wonderfully organic, nicely textured, and film-like look that is striking from start to finish. The picture offers abundantly sharp details, with faces always complex, tattered clothing tactile, and environments tangible, whether natural locales or manmade interiors and exteriors. Of course, zombie gore looks tremendous in terms of its clarity; the Blu-ray certainly allows gore fiends the opportunity to pause and examine with nearly lifelike accuracy. The color palette is exceptional, too. While there's a mild tonal depression in play, at times, to help with the show's grungy postapocalyptic aesthetics, there is an abundance of colorful blood reds or various hues, brilliant natural greens, and satisfying push to clothing and other colorful elements, but to be sure there are a lot of earthy colors at work as well, and such browns and beiges often dominate, for the most part. Black levels satisfy for depth and accuracy. Whites are not absolutely brilliant, but they are bold and vivid enough. Skin tones look great. The elements are in good shape and the encode raises no alarms. This is a top tier image from Lionsgate.
Fear the Walking Dead's eighth season arrives on Blu-ray with the series' tried-and-true Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack handling audio output needs. The presentation is quite satisfying, offering a well-balanced and immersive presentation that might lack the total engagement of a 7.1 or Atmos-style mix, but even with 5.1 channels the presentation delivers immersive environmental cues, robust action, and healthy dialogue. Listeners will always feel engaged with the world and the specific locations of any given episode's shots, scenes, and sequences. Blowing winds, rolling waters, and even (and of course) background zombie moans and groans effortlessly present through the full channel spectrum to create a realistic, and oftentimes chilling, atmosphere. Action effects are nicely prominent, including close-up zombie sound effects, squishy gore, hard hits with blunt weapons, and gun shots, which are always prominent but perhaps not prodigious. Musical engagement is very good, with wide front spacing and a well balanced surround usage. The subwoofer is never overbearing but it does work to add body to sound cues and music alike. Dialogue checks all the right boxes for clarity, placement, and prioritization. There's not much room for complaint with this one.
This three disc Blu-ray release of Fear the Walking Dead - The Complete Eighth Season includes four commentaries covering three episodes.
No other extras are included. This set does ship with a digital copy voucher but does not ship with a slipcover.
Disc One:
And what a long road it has been. It's well time that AMC put this show to bed. It just never found its footing, at least consistently, and it had become reduced to overwrought drama and cliche, empty stories, and bland characters and situations, and season eight is really no different. There are spurts of entertainment value, world building, and worthwhile drama and action here, but from episode one through the finale of season eight there's just been no real sense of attachment. Fans will nevertheless want to check out this Blu-ray, which does offer top quality video and audio along with a few scattered commentaries. For hardcore franchise fans only.
2015
Special Edition
2015
2015-2023
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020-2021
2022
2017
2010
2018
Slipcover in Original Pressing
1990
2019
2005
1997
2012
2010-2022
Ben & Mickey vs. The Dead
2012
Collector's Edition
1985
2015
Ultimate Undead Edition
2009
Les Raisins de la Mort
1978
1978
50th Anniversary Edition
1968
2018
2016
1994
2018