In the Flesh Season 1

I finally watched this show after seeing many positive reviews from Tumblr. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. I haven’t been so captivated by a show since I discovered the BBC’s Sherlock. In the Flesh takes zombie norms and cliches and throws them out the window for an entirely new play on the genre. The actors truly make the characters shine, most notably Kieren Walker (Luke Newberry) and Amy Dyer (Emily Bevan).

And I have to applaud In the Flesh for featuring tough issues, such as sexual orientation, self hatred, family struggles, and mob culture. This is so much more than a mere zombie show. I like The Walking Dead, but for me the plot is predictable and slow. Not so with In the Flesh: this show will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what happens next.

I urge you to give this show a try. You can watch it on the internet, but why not show your support for the show and buy the DVDs?

-Kelsey D.

So, this is quite a unique show. In the best way possible, I should say.

It’s unique both aesthetically and story-wise, with an emphasis on character development and exploration rather then action, which for a show centered around zombies, more or less, isn’t the norm.

The acting feels very real and the show in general is immersive, but not jarringly so. I found myself going “okay just one more episode…” many times, until I watched the series and then restarted watching it again.

The major downside for this series is that it was canceled January 2015 despite it’s acclaim, and is unfinished. If you can’t stand watching something that is NOT finished, and may never be finished, then consider not watching it if that’s going to disturb you. For me, it’s fine because I have [maybe unrealistic] high hopes it will be either picked up by the BBC again or by a streaming service. [Hint, hint, Amazon.]

There aren’t a lot of shows with supernatural elements that have queer main characters (with mental illness, also) at least I’ve found. While that is one reason I watched it [besides I like horror, which this really isn’t except for gore, which was well done.] it’s not the ONLY reason to watch it. While these things are part of these characters stories, it’s not the main focus and honestly is the best way I’ve seen queer characters handled; it not BEING the main focus of that particular character, and not the only noteworthy trait of that character. So if these two traits are not 100% relatable to you, don’t fret too much, you may still enjoy the show.

TL;DR

If you like: Small town dynamics, dreary settings, family issues, queer characters, realistic characters.

If you tolerate: Gore, violence, self harm, suicide, vomit, romance, character death, drug use, ableism [specifically towards mental illness], moderate sexual situations, religion discussion.

Basically I 100% think it’s worth watching and supporting, so buy it? Maybe if enough people buy it and watch it, it’ll get picked up again.

Anyways, the first season gives you a good feel for series as a whole, and it’s only a few episodes.

-R. Pinkston

Did you like Fido? Sean of the Dead? The Returned? Warm Bodies? Well then you will like this. If doesn’t have all the humor of some of those other movies,and it is significantly more gritty (which is to its credit, I think) but what it does have is a unique way of looking at zombies. I like this new take on zombies as merely diseased humans- who can be cured! Yay! But this sets up all sorts of social tensions. Do we really want the zombies back after they’ve eaten our mates? Do we trust them? There are all sorts of ways you can see this series as an allegory for real things going on in the world today- which is, of course, how Romero saw his original zombies (because parts of those movies were quite clearly social commentary). I bought this, and I am really glad I did, and I am looking forward to more episodes, because it’s thoughtful, well acted, entertaining, and I can’t always predict where it’s going to go- and I like that. There are some genuinely moving scenes in this as well (when you see the father and daughter zombies- I found them deeply moving in a way I would not have anticipated- one does not expect to be reminded of some of the deepest human relationships in a zombie series).

– Love to Cook