Living in the same universe as The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead is a gritty drama that explores the onset of the undead apocalypse through the lens of a fractured family. Set in Los Angeles, a city where people come to escape, shield secrets, and bury their pasts, a mysterious outbreak threatens to disrupt what little stability high school guidance counsellor Madison Clark and English teacher Travis Manawa have managed to assemble.

The everyday pressure of blending two families while dealing with resentful, escapist, and strung out children takes a back seat when society begins to break down. A forced evolution, a necessary survival of the fittest takes hold, and the dysfunctional family must either reinvent themselves or embrace their darker histories.

Why we’re looking forward to this: While set in the same universe as The Walking Dead (which is approaching its explosive season six finale), Fear The Walking Dead proved in its six episode first season that it is in fact a very different beast and that it can very much hold its own in the zombie apocalypse drama stakes.

With the cast heading out to sea, FTWD season two promises to take us into new territory in terms of zombie encounters and enemies of the still breathing variety, and with an extended fifteen episode season should hopefully give it room to breathe and further develop its existing characters while introducing new blood like Dougray Scott and Daniel Zovatto.

Fear The Walking Dead season two premiers in the US on April 10 and should hit UK screens shortly thereafter.

RICHARD COSGROVE