6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
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 | 60% |
Melodrama | 24% |
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
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (4 BDs)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Some indirect spoilers are included in this review.
While it's smooth sailing for The Walking Dead, it's choppy waters for Fear there Walking
Dead. It's the show
that just can't seem to get over that hump, even as a show that came in riding the blazing-hot coattails of one of the most consistently excellent,
engaging, and beloved shows on television. But for a number of reasons -- and a few obvious ones in particular -- there's a disconnect, an inability to
not
necessarily capture the same magic and regurgitate the same ideas and scenarios as its elder companion show but rather take that same essential
center and make it, again, a richly realized world populated with cherished characters (heroes and a large gray-area contingency)
feverishly fighting to maintain their own moral centers in an ever decaying world, where it's not the rotting flesh of the animated dead but rather the
rotting human condition that's truly swirling the world around the drain.
Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Third Season ambles onto Blu-ray with a generally high-yield 1080p transfer. Low-light noise is commonplace, and it's not unheard of to see it buzzing about during more brightly lit scenes as well, but rarely is it bothersome in any lighting condition. This is, overall, a positive image experience, one that boasts nicely defined textural complexities such as frayed and worn clothes, weathered and bloody faces, crisply shaped environments, and of course various gory zombie makeup and prosthetics. Of particular highlight are some impressively presented textural wonders on worn-down city streets early in episode four, which also offers some highly agreeable color depth and density. Colors are even and well saturated as a rule. Red blood is richly vibrant, variously colored clothes dazzle, and any number of environments -- though many are fairly earthy as they are -- are accurately portrayed. Black levels are pleasantly deep and true with only the occasional burst of paleness or noise peering through. Skin tones across the show's diverse spectrum appear true to any given actor's complexion. Beyond some trace examples of banding and the aforementioned noise, no troublesome source or encode issues are immediately apparent.
Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Third Season's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack generally hits all the right notes. The track provides well-rounded (literally given the surround parameters) and nicely defined world ambience, whether considering environment-essential details like insects or wide, booming, striking thunder in episode four or briefly heard but scene-critical details like dripping water in a chilling torture chamber or angry chirps and beeps in a damaged helicopter. No matter the support sound, the track does a good job of spacing things out and delivering clear, accurate cues that draw the listener into various locales. Core action effects are a little more hit-or-miss. Zombie groans can range from throaty to screechy with impressive definition, but gunshots usually fail to offer any kind of serious depth or engagement. Music is well integrated, nicely defined through the entire range, positively spaced, and enjoying a good flow and feel to its placement throughout the speakers available to it. Positive low end engagement is a regular aid, which includes some very good percussion beats early in episode two. Dialogue is always well defined from its consistent front-center locale.
Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Third Season contains three commentary tracks and deleted scenes for select episodes.
Disc One:
Spinoff TV is tricky business. For every Better Call Saul -- which, at this point, might be better than its parent show, Breaking Bad -- there's a Fear the Walking Dead, a second-rate show that has never, save for a few isolated scenes and brief story arc details, come anywhere close to the excellence of The Walking Dead. The show handles essential drama well enough but struggles to take command of its emotional center, build a convincing world, or shape its characters with a fine-point chisel. It's solid enough entertainment, but it cannot -- and at this point seemingly will not -- reach that summit where The Walking Dead has long been perched. Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Third Season delivers solid video and audio along with some scattered commentaries and deleted scenes. Worth a look.
2015
Special Edition
2015
2015-2023
2016
2018
2019
2020-2021
2022
2023
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