'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAb/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADBP/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAhZonf//EAB8QAAICAgEFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQAEgYFESEiJP/aAAgBAQABPwDll+duKVZnf6Zbc6PInr3Caa4Ou32GzTAsfJJUZ//EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAEf/aAAgBAgEBPwBDL//EABURAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABB/9oACAEDAQE/AK//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
When Fear the Walking Dead first debuted in 2015, it sparked curiosity among fans about its relationship to The Walking Dead. While both series are set in the same post-apocalyptic universe where the world is overrun by zombies, they follow different characters in different parts of the country, with some overlap and crossover in timelines as the series progresses.
Initially, Fear the Walking Dead starts earlier in the zombie outbreak, approximately two months before Rick Grimes wakes up from his coma in The Walking Dead. The series takes place in Los Angeles, California, capturing the initial chaos and collapse of society that the original show didn’t explore in much detail.
As Fear the Walking Dead advances, its timeline shifts closer to the events happening in The Walking Dead, especially after the introduction of crossover characters like Morgan Jones and Dwight.
Trending
However, the two shows don't run exactly parallel from the start, but rather overlap at certain points, especially in later seasons. The showrunners have carefully designed the timelines to allow for key crossovers and moments of intersection, making Fear the Walking Dead both a standalone series and an integral part of the larger Walking Dead universe.
Exploring if Fear the Walking Dead is set at the same time as The Walking Dead
The timeline of Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead is one of the most intriguing aspects of the interconnected universe. At its inception, Fear was designed to be a prequel of sorts, taking place just as the zombie apocalypse begins.
In contrast, when The Walking Dead begins, Rick Grimes, the protagonist, wakes up in a hospital to find the world already devastated. This timeline difference initially sets the two shows apart, with Fear taking place two months before Rick’s awakening.
In terms of exact synchronization, Fear the Walking Dead starts earlier but catches up over time. The early seasons of Fear are set in the outbreak’s early days, capturing the descent into chaos, a storyline largely skipped in The Walking Dead, which jumps into the apocalypse’s aftermath.
By the fourth season of Fear, after a time jump, it has largely caught up with the events of The Walking Dead, particularly post-Negan's defeat in season 8.
One of the most significant crossovers occurs when Morgan Jones (Lennie James), a central figure in The Walking Dead, crosses into Fear the Walking Dead after the events of The Walking Dead season 8. His arrival signifies that the timelines of the two shows have mostly aligned, meaning both shows, at this point, run concurrently.
Additionally, Dwight (Austin Amelio) also crosses over from The Walking Dead into Fear after being exiled from the main show, further solidifying the timeline connection between the two.
In the final season of Fear the Walking Dead, a significant time jump occurs that brings the series in line with the concluding events of The Walking Dead. This setup paves the way for connections with spin-off series such as The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon and The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, which explore the future of key characters after The Walking Dead concludes.
Is Fear the Walking Dead connected to the bigger The Walking Dead universe?
While Fear the Walking Dead started as a standalone series meant to explore a different corner of the Walking Dead world, its role within the larger universe expanded as the franchise grew. Initially, it had little direct connection to the original show aside from sharing the same apocalyptic setting.
However, this changed when Walking Dead executive producer Scott M. Gimple became the chief content officer of AMC’s Walking Dead television universe.
Under Gimple’s leadership, the Walking Dead franchise became more interconnected, and this led to significant crossovers between Fear and The Walking Dead.
The most notable connection occurred when Morgan crossed over to Fear in season 4, bringing with him a new wave of storylines tied to the original show. Dwight and Sherry (Christine Evangelista), both of whom played major roles in The Walking Dead, followed Morgan into Fear the Walking Dead.
Moreover, Fear the Walking Dead introduced key elements of the larger Walking Dead universe, particularly with the introduction of the Civic Republic Military (CRM), the shadowy organization responsible for taking Rick Grimes away in a helicopter during season 9 of The Walking Dead.
The CRM became a central antagonist in other spin-offs such as The Walking Dead: World Beyond, further connecting Fear to the larger Walking Dead universe.
By playing a pivotal role in introducing these overarching threats and connections, Fear the Walking Dead became more than just a companion show. It provided essential context for the larger storyline, making it a crucial piece of the Walking Dead puzzle.
What is Fear the Walking Dead about?
Fear the Walking Dead started as a prequel to The Walking Dead, focusing on a blended family in Los Angeles who must navigate the collapse of society as the zombie apocalypse begins. The show initially explored the early days of the outbreak, a time period that The Walking Dead largely skipped over.
Fans were introduced to Madison Clark (Kim Dickens), her children Nick and Alicia, and her fiancé Travis Manawa, as they struggled to survive in the chaos that ensued as civilization crumbled.
The first three seasons focused on the group’s attempts to survive in California and Mexico, dealing with the immediate aftermath of the outbreak. They encounter various groups of survivors, each with their own set of moral codes and survival tactics. These early seasons are marked by their focus on family dynamics and the harsh realities of living through the beginning of the apocalypse.
Beginning in season 4, the series underwent a soft reboot, with Morgan Jones becoming the central character. With Morgan’s introduction, the tone and focus of the series shifted, aligning more closely with the themes and style of The Walking Dead.
The group eventually relocates to Texas, where they meet new survivors, including John Dorie (Garret Dillahunt), June Dorie (Jenna Elfman), and others, forming a new core group.
As the series progresses, the show explores themes of hope, redemption, and survival. The characters continually face the challenge of balancing their desire to rebuild society with the harsh reality of the apocalypse. Morgan’s pacifist philosophy often clashes with the violent world around him, creating a central tension in the series’ later seasons.
Fans of the show can watch both shows on Netflix.
