In the days when The Walking Dead was dominating the world as the go-to source for everything zombies, SyFy’s innovative series faced challenges. Z Nation emerged as another zombie series during this time, presenting a tonal shift from the more realistic approach on AMC. The SyFy series follows Murphy (Keith Allan), a former prisoner who, in the early days of the zombie apocalypse, was used as a test subject. He was one of three prisoners given a vaccine, and when society collapsed, he discovered he was the only person capable of surviving a zombie bite.
Such narratives are also found in other media, such as The Last of Us, but Z Nation takes a sharp turn with its storyline. Although Murphy survives the bite, he is not left unscathed. The series leans more towards a hard supernatural genre as Murphy transforms into a kind of human-zombie hybrid. Over time, he sheds his human skin while the layer beneath turns blue. He can also mesmerize zombies, which proves to be quite useful. Despite his changing appearance, he retains his humanity and does not fully become a zombie. This contrasts sharply with other more serious horror narratives, making Z Nation a distinctive experience.
‘Z Nation’ Is the Perfect Antidote to ‘The Walking Dead’
It is nearly impossible today for any zombie series not to be compared to Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead. The humble series based on the graphic novel grew so large that AMC is now entirely focused on The Walking Dead franchise. However, for those who have become fatigued with the series after over a decade of content, Z Nation is an ideal choice. Unlike its predecessor, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is refreshing. Z Nation embraces the B-horror movie vibe with full self-awareness.
As Murphy undergoes his transformation, a group of mismatched survivors strives to transport him from New York to California, where humanity’s last stronghold exists. They are determined to develop a cure using Murphy’s antibodies derived from the mysterious vaccine. This isn’t merely a desperate attempt by a zombie series to stay relevant. The quest for a cure is integral to the show’s premise but presents its own challenges. Finding a cure for the zombie apocalypse is not straightforward, unlike Ellie (Bella Ramsey) being immune to every Infected bite. Murphy’s condition raises more questions than answers, which is essential for any decent show.
This perspective on zombies has never been approached in quite this way before. Even the marketing seemed aware of this tone as SyFy promoted the role of Lost’s Harold Perrineau, despite his character not surviving past the first episode of the show. Fellow Lost actor DJ Qualls also features in a more permanent role and is known for his more outrageous and humorous performances, such as his portrayal of Garth in Supernatural. After experiencing zombie fatigue, Z Nation would be an excellent series for fans to revisit or even discover for the first time. Viewers can now stream this series for free in its entirety on Tubi.
