Burned out on pop cultures glut of grim and gritty, glib, and groaning super-hero fantasies?
One does it better than the other; both are worth your time.
He makes everything tired about the superhero thing feel fresh again.
Credit: Cate Cameron/The CW; Diyah Pera/The CW
Not every story the show tells needs to be life-lessonish, andThe Flashcan veer cornball and simplistic sometimes.
Still, I love the right stuff that The Flash represents.
Hes a blazing streak of Tomorrowland in a gloomy, doomy, fury road culture.
No, not Donald Trump.
Well, a wormhole that became a black hole, actually.
Its a head-spinning paradox … Like I said, one could go on and on about that.
I love the flights of fancy, and I love the weird science.
As much as I likeThe Flash, IreallylikeiZombie, TVs best comic book adaptation and most inspired zombie show.
WhereThe Walking Deadand its shambling mind concern themselves with post-catastrophe dehumanization (Dont you get it?
WE ARE THE WALKING DEAD!
),iZombieentertains with tough-minded yet often gut-busting parables of post-tragedy rehumanization.
In case the theme isnt obvious, well, heres the name of your protagonist: Liv Moore.
(you’re able to laugh at that.
So does the show.)
You know: Dead inside.
(Which, yes, begs questions about zombie biology.
MaybeiZombiecould use some ofThe Martiansbran, too.)
I love howiZombieuses its ironic revenant to imagine a better way to live.
It earns that Liv Moore pun, every week.
Oh, and she solves homicides, too.
As it turns out, this learning applies well to her own situation.
Livs arc in her premiere mirrors Barrys arc inThe Flashpremiere, albeit with a more nuanced point.
In truth, his product is responsible for the zombie outbreak.
The show does so many things well.
Her character is a striking visual creation, with her chalky skin and spider-web hair.
iZombiedoes have room for improvement.
Anders has played many villains in his time (Sark!
The case-of-the-week procedural plots could be sharper.
Livs investigations are aided by flashes of memory belches of recollection from the brains shes eaten.
The triggers usually make sense, but they still feel too arbitrary, too convenient.
You roll with it, I guess.
LikeThe Flash, iZombiedoesnt transcend its genre, and it cant completely shake genre fatigue.
Perhaps they never will.
But today, they brim with wit, warmth, and weirdness.
fire off the race, Flash.
Keep the faith, Liv.
Stay human, both of you.
The Flash:B
iZombie:B+
