If you are a fan of zombie thrillers, you might have heard of two shows that share the same universe: Black Summer and Z Nation. But how are they related and what are the differences between them? Here is a guide for you to understand the connection and the contrast between these two series.
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Black Summer: A Gritty Prequel to Z Nation
Black Summer is a Netflix original series that premiered in 2019. It follows Rose, a mother who is separated from her daughter during the earliest and deadliest days of a zombie apocalypse. She joins a group of refugees who have to survive in a hostile new world and make brutal decisions.
According to Wikipedia, Black Summer is a spinoff of Z Nation, another zombie series that aired on Syfy from 2014 to 2018. Z Nation is set in the middle of the zombie apocalypse, four years after the outbreak, and follows a group of survivors who have to escort a man who is immune to the zombie virus across the country.
Black Summer is set in the first summer of the zombie apocalypse, three months after the outbreak, and can be seen as a prequel to Z Nation. However, it is not a direct origin story of the characters or events from Z Nation. In fact, it has a very different tone and style from its predecessor.
Z Nation: A Campy Spin on the Zombie Genre
Z Nation is a show that mixes horror, comedy, and action in a zombie-filled world. It has a lot of dark humor, quirky characters, and absurd situations that make it stand out from other zombie shows. It also explores some themes and concepts that are unique to the genre, such as zombie babies, zombie animals, zombie plants, and even zombie cheese.
Z Nation was created by Karl Schaefer and Craig Engler, who also produced Black Summer along with John Hyams. Hyams is the main writer and director of Black Summer, and he wanted to do something very different from Z Nation.
In an interview with Syfy, co-executive producer Jodi Binstock explained that Black Summer is not tongue-in-cheek at all. It is as realistic as any television she has ever seen. She also said that one realistic zombie is far more terrifying than a horde of them coming at you, and that Black Summer explores the real grittiness of what would happen if your loved ones turned into zombies.
Should You Watch Both Shows?
If you are looking for a realistic, intense, and suspenseful zombie show, you might enjoy Black Summer more than Z Nation. If you are looking for a fun, humorous, and adventurous zombie show, you might prefer Z Nation over Black Summer. However, both shows have their merits and appeal to different audiences.
You don’t need to watch one show to understand or appreciate the other. They are standalone series that happen to share the same universe. However, if you are curious about how the zombie apocalypse started and how it evolved over time, you might find it interesting to watch both shows and compare them.
Black Summer has two seasons available on Netflix, with eight episodes each. Z Nation has five seasons available on various streaming platforms, with 13 to 15 episodes each. You can binge-watch them at your own pace and decide which one suits your taste better.
Is Black Summer related to Z Nation? Yes, but not in the way you might expect. They are both zombie shows that offer different perspectives and experiences of the same apocalyptic scenario. Whether you like one or both or neither, they are worth checking out if you are a fan of the genre.
