Z Nation

:

Season 1
  • Network: SyFy
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 12, 2014
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 232 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 141 out of 232
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 232
  3. Negative: 56 out of 232
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User Reviews

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  1. Juggernut
    Oct 13, 2014
    6
    This is a super campy show, but if you like that sort of thing, you should like this. Its a very poor man's version of The Walking Dead. Unlike The Walking Dead, this show doesn't take itself seriously at all. As for watching it, I would say it is worth watching.
  2. kimdial
    Nov 17, 2014
    6
    all and all a pretty solid show, that said there are a few questionable scenes were logic is lost causing it to be a bit sloppy and convenient. still i find myself invested in the characters, though at times they can be cliche'. some interesting writing and lots of gore have gotten me wanting more.
  3. Echtzeit
    Sep 14, 2014
    6
    Not as horrible as I expected it to be. If you're tired of the endless talking in TWD and are in the mood for some brainless zombie killing, then this could be the show for you. But you have to be willing to tolerate it's shortcomings.
  4. gravityWire
    Sep 18, 2014
    6
    If you're someone who wants to see all of the action The Walking Dead is missing, here's the show for you. However, the action doesn't make up for the terrible cliche story of the "one guy that is immune to the virus and needs to get across the country so he can save the human race". Not a bad show, not a good one either.
  5. tvnewsguido
    Sep 14, 2014
    4
    Based on the pilot, it looks, feels and reads like "Revolution" from SyFy's cousin network NBC.

    The inevitable comparison to "The Walking Dead" is in order.

    "The Walking Dead" is a show about people. "Z Nation" is a show about zombies.

    Those who value attack scenes over character development will be enthralled. I won't be watching episode 102.
  6. coprock01
    Sep 20, 2014
    5
    SyFy really has a great opportunity here. The actors are solid, and the dialogue isn't too bad. The zombies themselves are pretty scary, and the action seems non-stop. But the plot is full of holes, some of which are very basic. For instance, why did they find the guy in the car at the wreckage site? Who just sits in a car for no reason, in the middle of the day? And the primary goal ofSyFy really has a great opportunity here. The actors are solid, and the dialogue isn't too bad. The zombies themselves are pretty scary, and the action seems non-stop. But the plot is full of holes, some of which are very basic. For instance, why did they find the guy in the car at the wreckage site? Who just sits in a car for no reason, in the middle of the day? And the primary goal of the second episode was to get gas, which is fine, but things started falling apart when they decided to "turn off the sound" that was distracting the zombies. Why? Why did they want to risk everyone's lives and turn off this machine? It made no sense. Of course, once it was accomplished, zombies started after the group. Great plan. Who misses key plot points like this? Where is the editor for this show? Plot holes are glaring signs of incompetence. I guess it can happen at any point, but if the writer could not find a good reason to send those characters up there to turn off that machine, they are not competent. It's like trying to open a restaurant, spending all the money, getting all the food, good employees etc., and then on the day of opening, forgetting to put tables and chairs in the place. How does this happen?… Expand
  7. daredevil23
    Oct 19, 2014
    5
    I'm trying to like it but the dumb writing and the graphic novel character development and the idiotic moves made by the characters reminds me of Revolution (w/ Zombies). I'm pretty sure it will end up in the scrap heap pretty soon. Come on SyFy can't you do better?
  8. Spiralus
    Nov 17, 2014
    5
    I felt this show started out pretty well - especially considering the very oft-done premise. The overarching plot itself is BETTER than TWD. Remembering back to the first episode of TWD - which was a bad version of "28 Days Later" - "Z Nation" starts out pretty strongly. The atmosphere was unique as well. We were calling it a "silly and macho" version of TWD. That is until E07, when theI felt this show started out pretty well - especially considering the very oft-done premise. The overarching plot itself is BETTER than TWD. Remembering back to the first episode of TWD - which was a bad version of "28 Days Later" - "Z Nation" starts out pretty strongly. The atmosphere was unique as well. We were calling it a "silly and macho" version of TWD. That is until E07, when the show becomes - all at once - completely unwatchable. Any sense of realism - even magical realism - devolves into video-game surrealism seemingly overnight. There are repeating dream sequences, Tyler Durden friends and GLOWING zombies (because radioactive things glow in the minds of twelve year old boys) Get the F@#$ out of here. Never come back.… Expand
  9. Just_Jimi
    Mar 20, 2017
    4
    It's really hard to see why anyone would give this show anything over a 5. It's made by the same people that make all those crazy "Mockbuster" knock-off films that come on SyFy and you can tell. I'm not sure why people take this show seriously and try to compare it with other serious shows, but it's one big joke and it's meant to be that way. It's bad, but an entertaining kinda bad. IIt's really hard to see why anyone would give this show anything over a 5. It's made by the same people that make all those crazy "Mockbuster" knock-off films that come on SyFy and you can tell. I'm not sure why people take this show seriously and try to compare it with other serious shows, but it's one big joke and it's meant to be that way. It's bad, but an entertaining kinda bad. I enjoy it for what it is like I do with all Asylum Films.… Expand
  10. Deadhealer
    Apr 24, 2015
    5
    + Filled with action.
    + The actors does a pretty good job.
    + Lots of awesome zombie kills.

    - The plot is super confusing and has a lot of plot holes.
    - The side characters are week and forgettable.
    - You can skip 3-4 episodes without missing out on the story.
    - Awful ending.

Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
12
#12 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
48

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 11
  3. Negative: 3 out of 11
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    Sep 15, 2014
    60
    As a B-level entry it’s at least entertaining, and if some of the sillier aspects of the pilot can be improved on could be one of those mindless entertainment options we all need now and again.
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  2. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Sep 12, 2014
    30
    While Z Nation (or as I prefer to think of it, The Running Dead) doesn't exactly play the gory low-budget mayhem for campy laughter, it's hard not to roll, or possibly cover, one's eyes at something this familiar and deeply shallow, with casting mostly so generic--with the exception of Lost's Harold Perrineau as a Delta Force soldier barking orders--that they're all so much chum in this kill-or-be-eaten apocalypse.
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  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    Sep 11, 2014
    50
    It most closely resembles the assembly-line Hollywood westerns that provide the model for the zombie genre.... The mundanely self-aware screenplay includes references to the zompocalypse and lines like “God, I hate moral dilemmas.”
    Read full review
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