By Lacy Baugher for Sci-Fi on March 9th, 2013

The BBC is Making a Zombie Show. Really.

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With the rampant success of AMC’s The Walking Dead, it’s apparent that zombies and post-apocalyptic everything are pretty much all the rage right now. Therefore, it shouldn’t really be that surprising that  another network is taking a crack at making a zombie show, though I have to admit that I certainly didn’t expect that the next one would be coming from England, even if BBC Three is famous for their edgy sci-fi fare.

While I’m still annoyed at BBC Three for cancelling the excellent  drama The Fades after just one season, this actually looks interesting enough that I’m going to have to get over that.

It’s called In the Flesh and it’s a three-part miniseries that seems to be more Warm Bodies than Walking Dead.  (Though really it visually looks a lot like 28 Days Later. I watch too much zombie stuff, I think.) What makes this series interesting is its unexpected premise – instead of a horror-based zombie outbreak overrunning the world kind of thing, it’s more exceptionally creepy character piece. Because the zombies are the main characters.

In the Flesh looks to treat being undead more like a mental illness – calling the condition Partially Deceased Syndrome - and seems to deal more with themes of prejudice than humanity’s fight for survival. The drama tells the story of Kieren Walker, an eighteen year-old boy, who also happens to be a zombie (or PDS sufferer, technically) and who must now try to reintegrate into the world he left behind. Thanks to the magic of medicine – and a bit of external aesthetic assistance – those suffering from PDS can now be returned to society and Kieran must go back home to his small Northern village and face the things he did (and people he hurt) as a zombie. Local Vigilante Group, the Human Volunteer Force, is unhappy about this turn of events and tension ensues. 

The trailer is really creepy but it actually looks quite good. Have to admit I’m intrigued.

In the Flesh premieres on BBC Three next weekend. This seems an unlikely bit of British telly to make its way Stateside, but you never know. The Fades did, after all! 

By Lacy Baugher for Sci-Fi on March 9th, 2013
Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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  • Zombie Drama In the Flesh Gets Second Season, BBC America Premiere

    BBC Three’s odd little zombie drama In the Flesh comes to the US starting tonight (June 6) on BBC America, which is airing the series as a special event over three consecutive nights this weekend.

    Yes, zombies are basically the new vampires. With the massive success of AMC’s The Walking Dead and upcoming summer blockbuster World War Z about to hit theaters any day now, you can’t turn around without tripping over a member of the undead. So, it’s not really that surprising that even British telly wants to get in on the whole post-apocalyptic zombie thing. What makes In the Flesh stand out, however, is its unexpected premise.

    The drama tells the story of 18-year-old Kieran, who is suffering from Partially Deceased Syndrome – also known as PDS or basically, being a zombie. Thanks to the magic of modern medicine, Kieran’s zombie condition has been successfully treated enough to allow him back out into society and so he must return home to his small Northern village and face the things he did as a mindless monster. He also has to deal with the small problem that he kind of wanted to be dead in the first place.

    Get a sneak peek at the first episode below.

    By Lacy Baugher for Sci-Fi on 6/6/2013