Here to Help

Still got some interesting characters in this clustermuck of a show, Strand, John Dorie, Althea (maybe) and Morgan are all fun interesting characters when given good material to work with and that's always the problem, garbage in garbage out. That said, Logan introduces an interesting angle that we haven't seen investigate in the rush to make this easy action killing ''entertainment". No room for thought provoking here. Logan doesn't want to fight, he just want's what belongs to him. Is there any space for peaceful solutions in this aggressive world TWD insist on feeding us?

I'm guessing no but as always they dangle a carrot of promise before seriously disappointing us. It's probably not going to be any different this season.

Good to see the paid commenters got another round of income earning work to pretend this show is way better than it actually is. Hey if enough people say it it must be true. Better than being unemployed and homeless though, which is where some of the writers should be.

I was almost bored from start to finish. first few minutes i was confused about wtf is happening? and no, it wasn't even exciting. but at this point i don't really care anymore ... last 5 seconds had a traditional cliffhanger, to get you into watching the next boring episode. no, i will not waste my time any further.

"Fear the Walking Dead" has devolved. It's fallen a long way from its early years as an earnest, deadly serious prequel to "The Walking Dead." (I, for one, really liked the first season's creative mix of slow-burn horror and family drama, and I loved the ambitious, milieu-exploring apocalypse-in-progress stories of subsequent seasons.) Today, we've reached the point where the show has become so slapdash and campy that you have to wonder whether its creators take it seriously at all.

I'm sorry to say this, but the Season 5 premiere felt like pretty amateurish stuff. Its writing, directing and acting (in some places) were really, really spotty. Its early action set-piece involving a plane crash, for example, was choppy, confusing and awkwardly staged. The plotting and dialogue were ... poor.

Even the premiere's marketing was goofy. Its television ads seemed like an intentional self-parody - like maybe a Saturday Night Live skit lampooning zombie shows. (See below.) The poster is a mess too - even if the center image's suggestion that John Dorie is a gunslinging Christ figure is pretty damned nifty.

With all of this said, it may surprise you that I still liked the episode well enough, and I'll still watch the show. I'd rate the premiere a 7 out of 10, because "Fear the Walking Dead" still has its merits. I can think of three reasons in particular why I still had fun with the premiere, and why I'll still tune in next Sunday.

First, some of the characters are terrific. I'll always love Victor Strand (Colman Domingo). I really like Dorie (Garret Dillahunt) and his mild-mannered girlfriend, June (Jenna Elfman), and Charlie (Alexa Nisenson) is the kind of child character that typically grows on me. (Let's hope Dorie's posture in the poster isn't a hint about his death.) I still like Morgan, because Lennie James is always a pleasure to watch, even if I don't share the immense zeal of his legions of fans. (The writers need to do more with him beyond his weird, vaguely "Kung Fu," born-again altruism. I know he's supposed to be the Eastern philosophy guy, but his dialogue sometimes makes him come off like a stereotypical, nattering Evangelical.)

The second reason I'll stay with this show is that its stories move along quickly. There are no static, Negan-centered endless epics here, like there are on this show's plodding progenitor.

The third reason is this - "Fear the Walking Dead" has always hatched the most creative story ideas. Whatever problems the show might have developed over time with character, dialogue or plot details, the basic story concepts have always been really damned inventive. (They consistently offer much more than "The Walking Dead's" two boiler-plate plot arcs - group-vs.-group or refuge-with-a-hidden-danger.) This season looks like it will be no exception. There are two major reveals in this episode's closing minutes. One connects Season 5 with past seasons of "Fear the Walking Dead," while another is a tantalizing hint about greater forces in the "Walking Dead" universe.

Oh! One more thing! There is an important new character here played by the terrific Matt Frewer. If you're a true zombie horror fan, then you'll recognize him as none other than Frank, from Zack Snyder's superb, unfairly reviled 2004 "Dawn of the Dead" remake. And if you're and 80's kid like I am, then you might remember him as the original Max Headroom - from both the Coca-Cola ads and excellent but short-lived 1987 sci-fi series. That's some pretty fun casting - and the guy is a good actor.

I had the chance to watch four episodes of season 5 in advance. The premiere is a promising start and this season is going to be decent, I can feel it.

While episode 3 and 4 are my favorites by far, episode 1 builds up quite a lot. Some viewers might find the first two episodes to be slow - but I promise you that you'll be rewarded. The storytelling feels better and I enjoyed the introduction of a bunge of new characters.

Our main group is back in action and I'm a bit sad to see that the crazy siblings Sarah and Wendell didn't make it on the season 5 poster. These two are awesome and fun to watch. I hope to see a lot more of them in the future!

The group is still on their mission to save and help people in need. I think it's an awesome task, somewhat risky, but still awesome. The dynamics between the characters are great and the actors are doing a good job. I really like this group, everyone is likeable and kinda cool. In some shows it annoys me that there are so many characters I hate (not even the villains) - so it's refreshing to have this bunge of cool people.

Unfortunately I can't spoil anything big, but be prepared for some awesome returns during these four episodes and a very interesting aspect that will affect both, TWD and FTWD. Loving it!

While trying to help a man named Logan, Alicia, Dorie, June, Morgan and Luciana get into a plane crash, leaving Luciana seriously injured. They encounter a group of children; Annie, Max, and Dylan, as well as strange traps and signs warning of high radiation in the area. After they find a working radio, they learn that Logan is not only Polar Bear's partner but he also lied about needing help. He just wanted them to get them as far away as possible so he could take over their denim factory. They children flee in fear. Meanwhile, Al investigates a strange walker wearing body armor. As she records it on her camera, she is captured another in the same armor.

As the rest of the group plans to retake the factory, Strand investigates a man on one of Al's tapes who has a plane they can use. To Strand's shock, the man is Daniel Salazar.

"Fear the Walking Dead," Season 5, Episode 1, "Here to Help," kicks off with a sense of urgency and purpose as the group embarks on a mission to help those in need. The episode introduces us to a new group of survivors, including a plane crash victim named Logan, who seeks the group's help in finding his friends. As they set out on their journey, they encounter various challenges, including a horde of walkers and a mysterious distress call.

One of the key themes of the episode is the idea of community and the importance of helping others in times of crisis. This theme is exemplified by the group's willingness to risk their lives to save strangers, highlighting the best aspects of human nature even in the face of overwhelming danger.

The episode is also notable for its tense and action-packed sequences, particularly the scenes involving the walkers and the group's efforts to rescue the survivors. These scenes are well-executed and keep the viewer on the edge of their seat, showcasing the show's ability to deliver thrilling and suspenseful moments.

"Here to Help" is a strong start to the fifth season of "Fear the Walking Dead." It effectively sets up the central conflict and themes of the season while delivering exciting action and compelling character development. As the group continues on their journey, it will be interesting to see how they navigate the challenges ahead and whether they can maintain their sense of altruism in the face of increasingly dire circumstances.