by Catherine Wignall
Let’s be real here. Does the world really need another zombie TV story? Haven’t we reached zombie saturation point now? Can we really say zombies aren’t heading the way of the sparkly teen vampire? Well, no, actually. Despite the plethora of zombie media ravaging our screens at the moment it has all managed to stay decidedly male. Rob Thomas (creator of cult hit Veronica Mars) and Diane Ruggiero-Wright have decided to finally fill that girl-shaped void with iZombie, and it’s about time too.
Let’s be real here. Does the world really need another zombie TV story? Haven’t we reached zombie saturation point now? Can we really say zombies aren’t heading the way of the sparkly teen vampire? Well, no, actually. Despite the plethora of zombie media ravaging our screens at the moment it has all managed to stay decidedly male. Rob Thomas (creator of cult hit Veronica Mars) and Diane Ruggiero-Wright have decided to finally fill that girl-shaped void with iZombie, and it’s about time too.
Based on the Vertigo comic of the same name, iZombie tells the story of Olivia Moore (Rose McIver), a bright young thing with a brilliant medical career in her future and a perfect fiancé on her arm. That is until her fiancé, Major Lilywhite (Robert Buckley), suggests she attends a boat party with a colleague, asking “What’s the worst that could happen?” Cue a fiery zombie attack during the party and poor Liv wakes up zombiefied in a body bag.
Flash-forward five months and Liv’s broken up with her fiancé and is working in a county morgue, supping on the brains of murder victims who end up there, mixing them in with hot sauce and spicy chicken noodles. It’s not all bad though: each brain she eats bestows the memories and talents of the dead person, allowing her to accompany Detective Clive Babinaux (Malcolm Goodwin) on a case and help solve the murder of a Romanian callgirl, all while pretending to be psychic. It sounds crazy, but it works.
Frequently pilots can be hit and miss, buoyed by their shiny new premise but dragged down by establishing the rules of the show’s world. iZombie deftly sidesteps this issue, easily setting up the rules and placing us firmly in the territory of a fast-paced zombie procedural. The dialogue is smart and quippy, and the chemistry between the characters flies. Of particular note is Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti (Rahul Kohli), who, upon discovering Liv chowing down on brains reacts like an excited puppy, more concerned with her use of hot sauce than her undead state.
Flash-forward five months and Liv’s broken up with her fiancé and is working in a county morgue, supping on the brains of murder victims who end up there, mixing them in with hot sauce and spicy chicken noodles. It’s not all bad though: each brain she eats bestows the memories and talents of the dead person, allowing her to accompany Detective Clive Babinaux (Malcolm Goodwin) on a case and help solve the murder of a Romanian callgirl, all while pretending to be psychic. It sounds crazy, but it works.
Frequently pilots can be hit and miss, buoyed by their shiny new premise but dragged down by establishing the rules of the show’s world. iZombie deftly sidesteps this issue, easily setting up the rules and placing us firmly in the territory of a fast-paced zombie procedural. The dialogue is smart and quippy, and the chemistry between the characters flies. Of particular note is Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti (Rahul Kohli), who, upon discovering Liv chowing down on brains reacts like an excited puppy, more concerned with her use of hot sauce than her undead state.
While fans of the comic may be disappointed that the creators have deviated from the original plot, the episode is a delight and doesn’t forget its comic book origins, with comic captions and original artwork sprinkled throughout the episode.
Though the series is off to a good start there are still rocky moments and areas to improve, with a few one-dimensional supporting characters in need of fleshing out. Additionally, while the show starts off with a positive female friendship, McIver’s character spends the majority of her onscreen time with men. It would be gratifying to see her develop more close female friendships as the show progresses. Moreover, though it’s great to see that the main supporting actors are MOC, it would be encouraging to see a wider range of diversity, particularly among the female cast.
All together, this is an exciting, funny new show. Its sweet emotional beat near the end of the episode demonstrates the warm heart that beats within, and McIver’s charming performance ensures that Liv’s deadpan, downbeat view of life never drags.
Ultimately, if you like dynamic female-lead shows, diverse casts, smart dialogue, and genre twists then this is the show for you.
Though the series is off to a good start there are still rocky moments and areas to improve, with a few one-dimensional supporting characters in need of fleshing out. Additionally, while the show starts off with a positive female friendship, McIver’s character spends the majority of her onscreen time with men. It would be gratifying to see her develop more close female friendships as the show progresses. Moreover, though it’s great to see that the main supporting actors are MOC, it would be encouraging to see a wider range of diversity, particularly among the female cast.
All together, this is an exciting, funny new show. Its sweet emotional beat near the end of the episode demonstrates the warm heart that beats within, and McIver’s charming performance ensures that Liv’s deadpan, downbeat view of life never drags.
Ultimately, if you like dynamic female-lead shows, diverse casts, smart dialogue, and genre twists then this is the show for you.
What Do You Think?
Did you enjoy the Pilot of iZombie?
Is there life in it?
Or is it a walking corpse?
Let us know in the comments!
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