Ranking Every Season of "Fear the Walking Dead"

On Sunday, October 11, AMC is slated to air the Season 6 premiere of spinoff series Fear the Walking Dead (alongside the second episode of World Beyond).

With this in mind, I thought it might be interesting to rank all five seasons of the series currently in circulation. (Please note that these rankings are subjective, and thus, subject to change.)

If you haven't seen all five seasons of this show, be warned: there are spoilers ahead.

5. Season Five

There seems to be little argument amongst Fear fans that the most current season is the worst of the bunch. Quite honestly, the first half of this season has some very interesting storylines, as fans try to unpack a rather layered plot. The season starts with a plane crash, Al encounters a mysterious woman, a community of small children pose a threat to our survivors, and Logan of C&L Freight Services moves into his role as the series' newest villain.

However, Season 5 quickly goes off the rails with too much captured video footage, uneventful storytelling, and the introduction of somewhat bland characters. This revelation is typified by the once fearsome Alicia Clark painting murals on trees. Not even the well-timed humor of Grace and her "candy-beansies" or Daniel's cat "Skidmark" can save the disastrous writing in the final episodes of this season. Hopefully Season 6 will help the show regain its footing -- the preview footage of the season premiere certainly looks promising.

4. Season Two

While not as dull as Season 5 often becomes, this season of Fear is also very inconsistent. Certainly, there are strong storytelling elements in play here, as our main characters struggle to adapt in this new world while maintaining their values and overall humanity. The relationship between Travis and his son, Chris, is quite powerful. It's also hard to not be captivated by Nick abandoning his family, meeting Luciana, and becoming an integral part of a new community in Mexico. It is truly a time of change for these survivors.

Nonetheless, Season 2 seems to wander aimlessly at times. The gang's adventures on the boat are often random, isolated events that don't significantly further the plot -- they encounter various groups of people, only to escape in the nick of time and watch them die. Thus, in my opinion, the strongest moment of this season comes near its end, when Travis is excommunicated from their settlement due to violence, and the Clark family accompanies him into a disastrous situation that sets the stage for a remarkable Season 3.

3. Season One

Although I wasn't yet emotionally invested in The Walking Dead franchise, I remember the criticism that Fear received in its early days. Quite honestly, I believe that it was unfounded. From the opening scene of Nick coming face-to-face with the apocalypse, Season 1 of this series immediately grabbed my attention. If only we'd known the trials our survivors would be forced to endure back when Alicia Clark was a high school student and her mother, Madison, served as a guidance counselor.

Perhaps if this story arc had received more than six episodes, I would be able to justify ranking Season 1 higher, but for now, it remains in the middle of the pack. Unlike latter seasons of Fear the Walking Dead, fans are captivated by intriguing characters in the series' initial run. The Salazar family certainly provides an interesting dynamic, as does Daniel's immediate distrust of Victor Strand. Perhaps this is yet another reason Season 5 felt somewhat watered down -- letting bygones be bygones doesn't often make for intriguing television (see reality TV for further proof).

2. Season Four

Despite mixed reviews, I felt that the Fear reboot landed incredibly well, as the first half of Season 4 provides perhaps the most riveting sequence of this entire series. In many ways, an assortment of new characters helps propel Fear the Walking Dead to fresh heights. It's genuinely impossible to dislike John Dorie -- both his friendship with Morgan and love for June/Naomi/Laura are palpable. The savagery of our original gang is also quite riveting as viewers slowly unpack this mystery and learn of Madison's fate. I'm not a huge fan of the Vultures, but I am a huge fan of the relationship between Alicia and Charlie.

Admittedly, losing two key members of the Clark family in a handful of episodes is a tough pill to swallow. In many ways, this season marks the end of the original Fear the Walking Dead and the beginning of something entirely different. There are some less exciting episodes in the second half of Season 4, but the character of Martha is terrifying, nonetheless. I just wish our gang would have headed back to Virginia, instead of sticking around to meet the character Virginia. Oh well.

1. Season Three

While I must admit my emotional attachment to the reboot, this season truly seems to be the pinnacle of Fear the Walking Dead. Season 3 is everything that has drawn fans to its parent show over the past decade. There is a significant early death (R.I.P. Travis), feuding groups (Black Hat Reservation and Broke Jaw Ranch), and the threat of a horde of walkers sweeping through to destroy everything our favorite survivors have fought for during the season. Furthermore, Troy Otto possesses perhaps the most "punchable face" of any character we've yet encountered.

Although I wouldn't consider this season to be quite as flawless as the most influential seasons of The Walking Dead, it's hard to argue with Season 3 ranking atop the Fear list. From the Clark family being captured by the "military" in the season premiere to escaping certain death by blowing up a dam in the season finale, this arc of Fear the Walking Dead is a rollercoaster ride that pauses just long enough for viewers to collect their emotions and consider their morals. What would you do if you realized your family was fighting for the wrong side?

What are your thoughts on Fear the Walking Dead?

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