6.8 | / 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 | 59% |
Melodrama | 23% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
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
Four-disc set (4 BDs)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
With Fear the Walking Dead's fourth season, the show began to more closely resemble its superior big brother, and it was no surprise, then, to see the show's fortunes improve as
well.
The subtraction of most of the major characters from the outset and the addition of The Walking Dead's Morgan Jones (Lennie James) both
rejuvenated the show (in some circles) and allowed it to escape the shadow of its early series mediocrity. Some might understandably find the more
familiar surroundings and styles
off-putting, in a way the folks behind the show surrendering on the opportunity to explore the zombie-infested world from a different perspective. With
season five, things start strong but struggle to maintain excellence and completely fall off the cliff by
season's end even as it plays with so many of the
same pieces and principles that made season four the finest yet.
Newcomers are encouraged to start back at the beginning (which wasn't very good) and work their way through subsequent seasons (which improve)
until lading here (poor). Every season is available on Blu-ray and linked below:
The fans demand chaaaaaange.
In classic franchise styling, Fear the Walking Dead's fifth season takes on a gritty, grimy, desaturated, tonally depressed look. Certainly some of the more intensely bright tones -- a fire seen right out of the gate to start the season -- offer some contrast to the pervasive dreariness, but much of the show is bound to earthen beiges and browns and grays. It's consistent and satisfying in its stylized reproduction of a downtrodden, physically and emotionally devastated, world. Skin tones are reflective of that approach while black levels are pleasantly deep and rich in appropriate shadow detail. Texturally, the show holds fast to a pleasantly film-like, grainy-looking appearance. Object sharpness is a high point as even within the show's limiting aesthetics facial and clothing clarity remains high while gore effects -- practical and digital with particular emphasis on zombie wounds and deterioration -- present with enough ooey-gooey clarity to satisfy gorehounds and make the squeamish just a little more uncomfortable. Likewise, environmental detail, both natural and manmade, hold impressive definition both in close-up and at medium distance. Artifacts are few and rarely troublesome. This season looks majestic on Blu-ray.
Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack generally plays well, with a few exceptions and limitations. The track is fine in the aggregate, offering a solidly designed sound field that offers oftentimes immersive action effects and various zombie moaning and groaning playing in scattered, but identifiable and true, placement and definition that recreates not only position but distance as well; it's always easy to tell how far away a zombie may be from the listener. While general action, such as gunshots, splattering gore, and the general din of frenzied battles with the walking dead play well for stage stretch and surround interaction, a few action effects lack the dynamic might one might expect to find; the plane crash to start the season, for example, could have benefited from a substantial boost in presence and depth. Driving rain towards the end of episode one has a very flat signature and a front-heavy presence, and examples such as these may be found scattered throughout the season. Music plays with impressive detailing and front-side engagement but doesn't challenge the back channels to output a significant amount of material. Dialogue is clear and center focused. It is always well prioritized above competing elements.
Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season contains three commentary tracks scattered throughout the set. A digital copy voucher is
included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.
Disc One:
It's almost not worth mentioning because in the long run such things mean almost nothing, but the show was so poorly received that it earned a page on Change.org petitioning AMC to can Showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg. Nine months in and the petition hasn't reached its measly 5,000 signature goal, but it's emblematic of the disappointment that's following this season. AMC has renewed for a sixth season, with Chambliss and Goldberg back at the helm. Here's hoping some shelter in place free time has allowed them to more finely hone the content for the season to come. Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season's Blu-ray does deliver rich video and enjoyable audio. Sparse audio commentaries are the only extras, unsurprising given the poor reaction. For serious Dead aficionados only.
2015
Special Edition
2015
2015-2023
2016
2017
2018
2020-2021
2022
2023
2017
2010
2018
Slipcover in Original Pressing
1990
2019
2005
1997
2012
Ben & Mickey vs. The Dead
2012
Collector's Edition
1985
2015
Ultimate Undead Edition
2009
1978
1968
Les Raisins de la Mort
1978
2016
2018
1994
2010-2022
2018