Zombies and Deadites and brains, oh my! In this age of the binge-watch, fans of the zombie genre have nothing to fear in terms of the supply of content.
If you, however, have a renewed (or even completely new) interest for flesh-eating baddies, look no further than the following shows for a veritable smorgasbord of blood-soaked television. Here are the best zombie television shows currently streaming.
ASH VS EVIL DEAD
In the aftermath of 1992's Army of Darkness, which capped off the now-cult-classic Evil Dead film trilogy, fans were left to wonder what the next chapter in the flesh-ripping, bone-crunching and engine-revving adventures of the shotgun-wielding Ash Williams would be like. Well, over twenty years later, fans got their answer when Starz decided to revive the franchise as a series in 2015. After accidentally releasing a Deadite plague that could potentially end humanity, Ash is forced out of retirement and must don his chainsaw appendage for the first time in over three decades. The results were a spectacularly-metallic opera that was literally covered in blood, sweat and tears, not to mention internal organs. The show was unfortunately canceled in 2018 but has gained new life on Netflix as well as other streaming services.
IN THE FLESH
Perhaps the most dramatic entry on this list, In The Flesh tells the story of a reanimated young man, Kieren Walker, as he is rehabilitated for his condition in an alternate history Britain. In this reality, the government has launched an initiative to revive those that have been killed through no fault of their own, but in doing so, has inflamed a group of fanatics that are hell-bent on making sure that the dead stay dead. Coupled with brilliant performances and excellent social commentary, this flesh-tinted drama does not come up short in its short amount of screen time. In The Flesh is currently streaming on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
iZOMBIE
Comedy and zombies go hand-in-hand, it seems, as The CW's iZombie managed to last for four seasons before getting canceled. It centers around medical student Liv Moore after she joins the ranks of the undead at a party turned zombie feeding frenzy and tries to pass herself off as human, despite her listless attitude, pale complexion and lust for human flesh, specifically brains. When that fails, she takes a job at a coroner's office, hoping she can abate her flesh-eating tendencies by consuming the brains of their many patients. She soon discovers, though, that doing this gives her the memories of these patients, many of whom are victims, so she uses her newfound power to team with a detective to solve murders and other various crimes.
With a cast supported by likable performances, witty and charming writing, as well as a cozy demeanor (despite the cold nature of the central character), iZombie has earned its place as one of the most watchable pieces of brain-chomping entertainment. The show is currently available to stream on Netflix.
KINGDOM
If you prefer more serious action, as opposed to the tongue-in-cheek nature of a show like Ash vs Evil Dead, then Netflix has just the show for you. Kingdom combines the political intrigue of such a tumultuous period in history (Korea's Joseon era) with the added danger of an impending zombie apocalypse. The sheer audacity of someone to combine all of these things into a critically-acclaimed piece of entertainment is a feat in and of itself, but what really needs to be commended here is the action. This is some of the slickest action sequences that the zombie genre has had in years. Just as well, the story is incredibly intriguing. This is the story of a kingdom whose king comes down with smallpox. When rumors begin to spread of his death, Crown Prince Lee Chang begins a journey that takes him through the guts, both literal and metaphorical, of the South Korean countryside during the middle ages.
THE RETURNED
Another intense drama, A&E's The Returned finds a small community rocked by the revelation of their past loved ones coming back to life. Funnily enough, however, this event also results in a grisly murder which seems to mimic the work of a serial killer that haunted the town in the past. What's even more concerning, though, is that those who have returned do not recognize they have died. They look no different, but they are, unmistakably, reanimated dead people.
The show's fans universally praise the show's performances, as well as the knack for the show's writers and directors to build tension. The show feels removed from its connection to the zombie genre due to its reluctance to embrace said genre's more campy elements, but make no mistake, the realism that The Returned presents to the audience makes this one of the more subversive viewing experiences that showcase the return of the dead. If you're interested in this show's take on the zombie genre, The Returned is available to stream on Netflix.