Z Nation: Season 1

Is there such a thing as too many zombies? Not according to the Syfy channel, which serves up this answer to The Walking Dead (et al.) with a more flamboyant and joyously comic book-like gore-fest of survivors battling the living dead in a post-epidemic U.S. It's not that Z Nation doesn't care about drama or nail-biting suspense, but it doesn't take itself too seriously, adopting a B-movie approach to the story and special effects (with splattering brains, black blood, and gross-out maiming). The narrative arc follows a ragtag band of ZN1 virus survivors escorting an ex-con guinea pig who unwittingly became immune and is the only hope for a cure. Led by tough former National Guard trooper Warren (Kellita Smith), the group wrangles its surly and resentful patient zero, Murphy (Keith Allan), on an odyssey from New York to California, where there may or may not be a research facility able to synthesize a vaccine from his blood. Their cross-country adventure naturally brings them into contact with hordes—HORDES!—of fast-moving zombies. While often outrageous and fun, Z Nation will have to be taken with a grain of salt by zombie connoisseurs. Compiling all 13 episodes from the 2014 first season, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes and a gag reel. A strong optional purchase. (T. Fry)