If you are a fan of zombie apocalypse shows, you might have heard of two popular series on AMC: The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead. But are these two shows related? Do they share the same characters, timeline, or universe? In this article, we will answer these questions and more, based on the information available from the official sources and the shows themselves.
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The Walking Dead vs Fear the Walking Dead: What’s the Difference?
The Walking Dead is based on a comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. It follows a group of survivors led by Rick Grimes, a former sheriff’s deputy, as they try to survive in a world overrun by flesh-eating zombies, or “walkers” as they call them. The show premiered in 2010 and has aired 11 seasons so far, with the final season set to air in 2022.
Fear the Walking Dead is a spin-off series that was created by Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson. It focuses on a different group of survivors, mostly from Los Angeles, California, as they face the onset of the zombie outbreak and its aftermath. The show premiered in 2015 and has aired 7 seasons so far, with the eighth and final season set to air in 2022.
The main difference between the two shows is that Fear the Walking Dead is set earlier in the timeline than The Walking Dead. While The Walking Dead starts several weeks after the outbreak has already decimated most of the population, Fear the Walking Dead shows how the outbreak began and how society collapsed. However, as the seasons progress, Fear the Walking Dead catches up to The Walking Dead’s timeline, and even features some crossover characters from the original show.
How Are Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead Connected?
Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead are connected by sharing the same universe and some of the same characters. However, they are not directly related in terms of plot or location. They are separate stories that explore different aspects of the zombie apocalypse.
The first connection between the two shows was established in Season 3 of Fear the Walking Dead, when a character named Abraham Ford (played by Michael Cudlitz) briefly appeared in a flashback scene. Abraham was a main character in The Walking Dead from Season 4 to Season 7, and his appearance in Fear the Walking Dead was a nod to his backstory in the comics.
The second and more significant connection between the two shows was established in Season 4 of Fear the Walking Dead, when a character named Morgan Jones (played by Lennie James) joined the cast as a regular. Morgan was one of the first characters introduced in The Walking Dead, and he had a close relationship with Rick Grimes. He crossed over from The Walking Dead to Fear the Walking Dead after the events of Season 8 of The Walking Dead, which marked a time jump of several years for both shows.
The third connection between the two shows was established in Season 5 of Fear the Walking Dead, when three characters from The Walking Dead made guest appearances: Dwight (played by Austin Amelio), Sherry (played by Christine Evangelista), and Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln). Dwight and Sherry were former members of a villainous group called the Saviors, who had a conflict with Rick’s group in The Walking Dead. They crossed over to Fear the Walking Dead after leaving The Walking Dead in Season 8. Rick Grimes did not physically appear in Fear the Walking Dead, but his voice was heard on a radio that Morgan found. Rick’s fate was left ambiguous in Season 9 of The Walking Dead, when he was presumed dead after blowing up a bridge full of walkers. However, it was later revealed that he was taken away by a mysterious helicopter group called CRM (Civil Republic Military), which is also connected to another spin-off series called The Walking Dead: World Beyond.
The fourth connection between the two shows was established in Season 6 of Fear the Walking Dead, when another character from The Walking Dead made a guest appearance: Negan (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Negan was the leader of the Saviors and one of the main antagonists in The Walking Dead from Season 6 to Season 10. He crossed over to Fear the Walking Dead after escaping from prison in Season 10 of The Walking Dead. He encountered Morgan and helped him fight against another villainous group called The Pioneers.
Conclusion
Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead are related by sharing the same universe and some of the same characters. However, they are not directly related in terms of plot or location. They are separate stories that explore different aspects of the zombie apocalypse.
According to Cinemablend, one major difference between Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead is that the former is set in an urban environment, while the latter is set in a rural environment. According to TV Guide, another major difference between the two shows is that Fear the Walking Dead shows how the outbreak began and how society collapsed, while The Walking Dead shows how the survivors cope with the aftermath. According to Vulture, Fear the Walking Dead retains much of the creative DNA of The Walking Dead, as they share many of the same producers. According to Distractify, Fear the Walking Dead is ending so that the creators can focus on more Walking Dead endeavors.
If you are a fan of zombie apocalypse shows, you might enjoy watching both Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead, as they offer different perspectives and experiences of the same world. However, you do not need to watch one to understand the other, as they are independent stories that can stand on their own.
