Fear The Walking Dead season 5 is the apocalypse amplified

The Fear The Walking Dead group is an unstoppable apocalypse squad fighting to hold onto hope in season 5.

I’m not sure what I was expecting in Fear The Walking Dead season 5 but what I’ve seen in the first four episodes left me wanting to see more episodes immediately. After the huge changes that the show made last season, the new changes in season 5 are subtle but will make a big impact.

In season 5 of Fear The Walking Dead, the group is more confidant in themselves and in each other. The cohesiveness they were starting to find last season has been fully realized and now they have no doubts about each other.

There’s a palpable sense of capability when they are together that is every exciting. This crew knows they can survive anything together and they are willing to go down fighting for each other if they have to.

Their fighting skills are impressive, especially Alicia’s. She is even stronger and more powerful than last season but her reactionary tendencies are gone. They’ve been replaced by a careful measured response much like Madison always had. Alicia is a lot like her mother, except for one thing — she’s much more of a fighter, and has a much higher walker kill count, especially this season.

But there’s no doubt Madison would be proud of her girl. The friendship that Alicia has with Morgan is wonderful to watch because they have bonded over their experiences of loss. But, Alicia is undeniably the leader.

Despite their individual and group ability to survive, they are still all wrestling with their own regrets and ghosts. They’re fierce in their fight for survival but still grieving those they have lost. There are some intensely emotional characters moments that are deftly handled and provide character development without being too distasteful.

Darker and grimmer

It took me a few days to really put my finger on what is so different about the look and feel of season 5. It has the same unique opening credits that contain a tease about the episode that season 4 has but it also has a darker and grimmer look than The Walking Dead ever had, even during “All Out War.”

The Walking Dead veteran and one of my favorite directors, Michael E. Satrazemis, who has directed some of the darkest episodes of both shows, directed the season 5 premiere.

In The Walking Dead, the group was always trying to keep the horror, blood, death, and darkness of the apocalyptic world at bay. But on Fear The Walking Dead, the characters don’t shy away from that darkness or grit. They jump right into it swinging. It gives season 5 an exciting sense of lingering doom.

The character moments stand out in sharp relief against that darkness. There are some wonderful John and June moments that are a perfect reminder that true love exists, even in the apocalypse. Their relationship is healing to watch. The friendship and love between the core members of the squad is also a nice balance to the constant danger and death of the world around them.

Previously, they were still figuring out if they could trust each other. Now, they’re sure of each other and that’s reassuring for all of us fans.

A few minor issues

Overall I was thrilled by the first four episodes of Fear The Walking Dead season 5 and I’m really looking forward to seeing more. But I had the advantage of streaming them all back to back and with no commercials.

When the episodes air week to week, instead of one right after another, I think the pacing of some episodes might feel slow as the story builds. Once all the pieces come together, viewers will be excited to see what comes next. So, Fear fans, be patient, the payoff is coming.

The apocalypse amplified

If I had to pick a word to sum up Fear The Walking Dead season 5 based on what I’ve seen it would be amplified.

The intensity of the apocalypse, the relationships between the characters, even their personal struggles all seem amplified compared to previous seasons or even compared to The Walking Dead.

The walker kills and the walkers themselves are amplified too. When it seems like the episodes are slow, that’s the time to breathe. Once it all starts to come together, you will be using all your breath yelling at the screen.

Check out our full coverage of this season of Fear The Walking Dead with reviews, live stream info, and more. Fear The Walking Dead season 5 premieres Sunday June 2 and you won’t want to miss it.