6 things to expect from Fear The Walking Dead season 6

Fear The Walking Dead returns this Sunday with some changes that elevate the show to where it should have been all along.

If you’ve been on the fence about Fear The Walking Dead you’re not alone. The show has made some missteps in the past and struggled a bit to find a clear identity. The change of showrunners and addition of a slew of new characters gave the show a little more focus but losing series originals Kim Dickens and Frank Dillane in season 4 took the show on an unexpected turn.

But now is the time to return to Fear The Walking Dead. The season six premiere, “The End Is The Beginning,” resolves what happened to Morgan Jones after he was shot by Virginia in the season 5 finale and sets a new tone for the rest of the season.

Episode 602, “Welcome To The Club”, gives a little more insight into what life in Virginia’s Texas colonies are like and what the social hierarchy is within those colonies. It’s a fascinating look at this new world that the survivors have been pushed into.

There are some big surprises in episode 603 “Alaska” as well some very interesting larger narrative arc development that could hint at connections between The Walking Dead and the latest spinoff TWD World Beyond. Without spoiling any of what’s coming these are a few of the things that you can expect from Fear TWD this season:

1. It’s More Cohesive

One of the biggest criticisms that have been levied at Fear TWD over and over again is its lack of consistency. It’s normal for a series to have some seasons that are stronger than others but Fear The Walking Dead has often had inconsistencies in the story and other factors within the same season. The shifting locations of the seasons and the time jumps didn’t help the show feel more consistent.

However, season 6 is the most consistent the show has been to date, at least for the three episodes that have been released to critics. The quality, the look and feel of the episodes, and the pacing of the episodes have a consistency that wasn’t there before and make season 6 stand out.

2. They Were Not Kidding About It Being Dark

Fear TWD has the advantage of having writers and directors who do dark extremely well, like Michael Satrazemis, although in the past there’s only been the occasional truly dark episode.  That’s not the case this season.

Every episode that has been released for reviewers has some surprisingly dark elements which are so well done they give the show a sophistication that it’s been lacking a bit in previous seasons. Get ready to get very dark in season 6, in both the story and the effects.

3. No More One Note Characters

One of the most exciting things about the episodes I’ve seen of season 6 is that the characters fans have been waiting to see have a lot more depth and development this season. No one more one-note catchphrases or blind adherence to beliefs that aren’t working in that apocalypse world.

These characters are on the edge, separated, and having to figure out what survival means when they’re not calling the shots. And it’s fantastic to see them portrayed as three-dimensional characters struggling to figure out how to get by in Virginia’s world while at the same time figuring out who they really are. By putting them in situations that are out of their comfort zones they are more authentic and real.

4. The Character Focused Format Really Works

When it was announced that the format of season 6 would be slightly different and instead of each episode focusing on the larger group the episodes would focus more on individual characters and their stories some people naturally complained. However, this format works exceptionally well for this show.

It allows each episode to dive deep into one or two characters and tell a complete story rather than just giving fans pieces of several different storylines. But, there are also moments that will connect the characters to each other and connect each smaller story to the larger narrative arc. So don’t worry, it’s not going to be just a series of bottle episodes. There’s a plan, and it really works.

5. There’s No Plot Armor

If you think that your favorite characters can’t get hurt, mess up, hurt others, or in other ways behave like real people and take real consequences for their actions think again. No plot armor this season, for anyone.

6. Virginia Is The Most Interesting Big Bad So Far

To say that Fear has struggled to create a true villain in the first five seasons would be an understatement. But Virginia is the most interesting and complex villain the show has created. Viewers are still learning about the world she’s created and they’ve barely scratched the surface of her story. She’s cunning, intelligent, a true believer in the work she’s doing, and absolutely ruthless. It’s going to be very interesting to see the rest of this season play out.

This Is The Show It Always Should Have Been

I didn’t like the first two seasons of Fear The Walking Dead and I’ve always been very vocal about that. I really liked season three, and I’ve liked seasons four and five with the exception of a few episodes here and there.

But based on the first three episodes of Fear The Walking Dead season 6, I’m totally comfortable saying that the show has finally reached the level where it should have been all along.

The storytelling is even and taut, the characters and the relationships between them finally feel authentic, and the look and feel of the show have gotten serious upgrades. The effects are fantastic and there’s a grittiness that’s been missing since the beginning.

Fear The Walking Dead season 6 premieres this Sunday, October 11 at 9 P.M. on AMC and you definitely don’t want to miss it. Live tweet with us @SonyaIryna and @CulturessFS on Twitter during new episodes of The Walking Dead universe shows each week.