The seventh season of Fear the Walking Dead has upped the ante, with Morgan Jones’ conflict against Victor Strand taking the show to new heights. Still, some fans also enjoyed the original premise of Madison Clark’s family surviving the zombie apocalypse. Fortunately, there are alternatives for viewers who enjoy both styles of storytelling.
Whether it’s another zombie-themed series or a science fiction centering around alien invasions, aspects like the theme of family, survival, and tensions within the community, among others, can all be found in these shows. It’s also interesting to see just how many shows take a spin on the genre and add in a level of originality distinct to them.
Z Nation (2014) - Stream On Netflix
Considering among the best zombie TV shows in recent times, this series has an interesting spin on the genre. It focuses on a group of people in the zombie apocalypse that seek to protect one member who’s mysteriously immune to the virus and is seen as humanity’s last hope.
The nomadic element is what Z Nation to Fear the Walking Dead, as the latter show’s fans will find it easy to immerse themselves in the Z Nation universe because of the similar template. It also has characters with strikingly different personalities and their inner conflicts make up much of the drama in the series.
The Stand (2020) - Stream On Paramount+
There are plenty of ’s cast and this level of familiarity should let new viewers feel welcome. Based on the story by Stephen King, it centers around the outbreak of a lethal strain of influenza, with the surviving people divided between following Randall Flagg and Mother Abigail.
Fear the Walking Dead fans are currently following the divide between Morgan and Victor, which is similar to the premise of The Stand. The backdrop of the latter series takes on a bigger scale because a lot more people’s lives are at stake, so viewers should feel a heightened intensity watching this miniseries.
Kingdom (2019-) - Stream On Netflix
Set in the medieval ages in Joseon (present-day Korea), Kingdom is about protagonist Lee Chang’s search for a cure to a deadly illness that has progressed into a pandemic. The beginning of massive political conflicts that attempt to destroy Lee Chang’s claim to the throne also make up problems for the hero.
Although it leans more toward large-scale battles compared to Fear the Walking Dead, Kingdom’s political aspect and the power grab storylines will feel familiar to fans. The theme of placing trust in certain individuals is another aspect that is similar in both shows and viewers will get a kick out of the medieval aesthetic found in Kingdom.
Into The Night (2020-) - Stream On Netflix
A change from the norm of TV series centered around plane crashes, this one has the action primarily taking place inside the plane. The story is about a group of survivors who have to keep the aircraft away from the sun due to the deadly effects on anything that touches sunlight.
The primary conflict is from the harsh survival conditions within the flight and the struggles that come along with it are what Fear the Walking Dead fans will like to watch. Into the Night carries a fast-paced style that keeps the action at a high level throughout the story, which already has an interesting premise whose mystery adds to the entertainment.
All Of Us Are Dead (2022-) - Stream On Netflix
In many ways, redefines horror tropes, such as the presence of highly intelligent protagonists, a twist in the cause for the outbreak, and the use of realistic weapons. Fear the Walking Dead fans can see it as a high-octane spin on the zombie genre where people die left and right.
The outline of the series is about the rise of the virus at a high school that forces everyone to try whatever means necessary to survive. Fear the Walking Dead has previously brought younger antagonists and there are more than a few to find in All of Us Are Dead, as well.
The Rain (2018-20) - Stream On Netflix
Fear the Walking Dead features a lot of dramatic elements through the group’s struggles to coexist and that’s what The Rain offers as well. Set years after a pair of siblings take shelter from the rain that carries a deadly virus, the protagonists leave their shelter and head out to search for their missing father.
The Rain frequently brings in new characters that the siblings interact with, which is along the lines of Fear the Walking Dead and how the arrival of people in a group shakes things up. The premise of a deadly rainfall carries an appeal of its own for how unique the “villain” is supposed to be.
Them (2021) - Stream On Amazon Prime Video
Set in 1953, Them focuses on the Emory family after they settle in a new neighborhood. Their lives begin to take a horrifying turn when their house becomes an epicenter for evil forces that threaten them - the suspicious involvement of their neighbors adds to the tense backdrop.
While it doesn’t have zombies or the nomadic style that Fear the Walking Dead does, Them has the protagonists’ bond that has them band together to defeat the evils. The distrust that forms between the main characters and the neighbors is also reminiscent of Fear the Walking Dead, much like the breakdown of the relationship between Morgan’s and Victor’s factions.
Falling Skies (2011-15) - Stream On HBO Max
Six months after a global war between humans and aliens from outer space, survivors band together to try and figure out how they can free Earth. Falling Skies has the group element of Fear the Walking Dead, while the intrigue it brings through the mystery behind the aliens’ arrival is entirely its own.
There are various twists and turns to the story, including the presence of a different alien species and tensions within the humans themselves. Like Fear the Walking Dead, viewers are encouraged to root for the heroes to bring down the cruel regimes of the antagonists.
Black Summer (2019-) - Stream On Netflix
The first few seasons of Fear the Walking Dead dealt with the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, which is what viewers will find in Black Summer. The features protagonist Rose setting out to search for her daughter during the early days of the virus as she encounters the undead and other dangers along the way.
As in Fear the Walking Dead, Black Summer injects drama and excitement into the proceedings with new characters that Rose’s journey. Interestingly, the series places focus on the hostile environment as much as it does on the antagonists, so there’s a new kind of threat that fans will get to check out here.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2020-21) - Stream On Fubo TV
Set 10 years after the outbreak began, The Walking Dead: World Beyond is about the generation that grows up in the zombie apocalypse. It also brings invaluable information about the cause of the outbreak and the status of The Walking Dead characters like Jadis.
Fear the Walking Dead is a spin-off of the flagship series, which should mean that fans will find a similar experience with World Beyond. Similarities include clashing ideologies, evil authoritative figures, and exploration of the larger world. Watching this series essentially completes The Walking Dead experience.