Okay, I think I’m done guys. I’ve been trying to convince myself that this show was worth a damn, that it was better than the worst of THE WALKING DEAD, or that there was anything remotely interesting happening. But it’s just not true. It’s not awful but it’s so incredibly mediocre that forcing myself through an episode right now is an insanely difficult task. I just don’t think I want to watch this show anymore.
Why now? You might ask. Why am I realising how much I don’t enjoy FEAR THE WALKING DEAD after this particular instalment? It was nothing really that this episode did, it wasn’t particularly egregious, it just wasn’t good. TV is in an incredibly fruitful place right now. There is so much quality to be found, so much choice, options to be had with traditional channels and on demand streaming services, that watching a show like this, just seems like a colossal waste of my time. Our time is precious, there is no way you can enjoy all that is out there, all of the fantastic, well written shows, old and new, but you could watch an hour more of one of these shows by just admitting that FEAR THE WALKING DEAD doesn’t work, and then moving on with your life.
I think that’s what I want to do. Moving on seems like the best choice. Just thinking about quitting puts a smile on my face. I mean, really? I don’t have to put myself through this anymore? Oh wow… how exciting! We have to learn to give up on content that just isn’t reaching the heights. By continuing to watch a show that is bad, or just not good, you give the creators of that show licence to keep on churning out the same, run of the mill, half assed, mediocre content. If we keep watching these shows, there’s no incentive for them to be made better.
Complacency in television, and in movies, is a very real issue, and we are the ones hurt by it, but the wounds we receive are self inflicted. Look at shows like TRUE BLOOD or even THE WALKING DEAD. Shows that started off incredibly well, of tremendous quality and originality, wonderfully popular, but then just dragged their feet. These shows relaxed, they stopped striving for full marks, for perfection, they got satisfied with the results because we kept watching even after things turned sour. There has to be repercussions in life, with a movie you can vote with your wallet. If a film isn’t good, don’t go and see the sequel, deny them of your money. In TV, we have to vote with our eyes, with our time. In a world where we are spoiled for choice, we need to know when enough is enough, and take our time elsewhere. There’s plenty of competition, lets actually make these shows compete. Competition causes progress, an audience that just swallows whatever you feed it, because of some kind of brand loyalty, well, that just encourages average to bad entertainment.
FEAR THE WALKING DEAD isn’t bad TV, but I’m afraid bad and mediocre aren’t actually that different, at least not in terms of effect on the viewer. FTWD is so mediocre, that it may as well be bad. Because if in 2016, if your show isn’t great, if your show isn’t “oh my god, I need more of this right god damn now”, then you may as well be the worst show anyone has ever seen. I’m still not excited, I’m still not engaged, I still don’t care, and I’m still bored. If there are options out there that make me want to reach out to friends and family and discuss every plot point and character decision, then why am I going to watch your show when it all does is make forty odd minutes seem like an eternity. I don’t want to sound mean but I’ve got to be honest. There is no point in me writing these reviews, or writing at all, if I’m not honest. And the truth is, I don’t like this show. I wanted to, I really wanted to convince myself it was better than what TWD had become, but it’s not. It’s just not.
I don’t even want to watch the season finale next week. I think this it. I’ll find something else to review, something else to watch. Preacher starts soon. That sounds fun. I’m sorry for the lack of review in this FEAR THE WALKING DEAD review, but there were far more important things to say about this show and about TV, then whatever was going on with this latest episode. To those that enjoy it — I’m sure there are some — good for you, but it’s not for me. I’m done trying to convince myself that this is worth my time. Catch you soon.
