Genre: Drama | Horror

Air Date/Time: May 10 at 10/9c

Network: BBC America

Creator and Writer: Dominic Mitchell

Cast: Luke Newberry, Emily Bevan, Harriet Cains, Stephen Thompson, Kenneth Cranham, Wunmi Mosaku, Kevin Sutton, Steve Cooper, Marie Critchley, Sandra Hugget, Gerard Thompson, Gillian Waugh, and Emmett J Scanlan

Summary:

‘They’re only one missed dose away from ripping our heads apart’ is the mantra of zombie haters out to destroy the fragile peace reached between the Undead and the Living. Enter the hotbed town of Roarton when season two of the BAFTA nominated series, In The Flesh, BBC AMERICA’s genre-bending six-part zombie mini-series, returns Saturday, May 10, 10:00pm ET. What happens when the Undead re-enter society as functioning beings? Can things ever go back to normal? And more importantly, who is more dangerous, the Undead or the Living? Nine months have passed and the war to protect the town from the Undead, known as Partially Deceased Syndrome (PDS) sufferers has ceased. Kieren Walker (Luke Newberry, The Legend of Hercules) however, is still struggling to find self-acceptance and longs to escape to Paris to start anew. But in the wider world, the fear of an uprising is palpable. PDS terrorists linked to the Undead Liberation Army (ULA), believing they are ‘the redeemed’, are going rabid (zombie state) off the drug, Blue Oblivion, and attacking the Living at an alarming rate – causing the radical Pro-Living political party, Victus, to target the Undead with vigor and oppressive measures. And with the arrival of new and explosive characters from both factions in Roarton, Kieren is caught square in the middle of a new budding war, making his desire for a quiet life an unrealistic option.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/e465ODk_5fo[/youtube]

If you saw Season 1 of In the Flesh, you know it was primarily an intriguing look at discrimination, and most of the fear was on the part of the PDS sufferers, and not the living. They were harrassed and attacked and often killed. Season 2, however, is definitely ramping up the fear on both sides, with some PDS sufferers taking back their power by taking back their zombie-ness. Doubling the fear factor more than doubles the intensity and energy of the series, and I love it.

Season 1 was quite good, though quite quiet. The Season 2 opener features a lot more classic zombie action, along with a sort of mystery/conspiracy storyline involving an MP (Wunmi Mosaku), and perhaps an even more sympathetic lead character now in Kieran (Luke Newberry). The family dynamic has also changed a bit, with his sister Jem (Harriet Cains) less of an angsty teen and more of a great support, though she may be having some PTSD issues, and his dad (Steve Cooper) starting to sound a bit more prejudiced against PDS sufferers. Both are interesting shifts, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they develop.

If you haven’t seen Season 1, you can jump in with this second season, especially having read the synopsis above; you’ll catch on fairly quickly. If you’re not sure just what everyone’s agendas are, don’t worry, neither do we veterans. It’s a new season, it’s set several months after the end of Season 1, and the changes make it new for everyone.

It’s a fresh new season of a fresh take on the zombie genre, and I definitely recommend it. I think it has even a little bit more room for growth, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see that as the 6-episode season progresses. Fans of Orphan Black, don’t change the channel afterwards; stay with BBC America and check this one out.

I give In the Flesh, Season 2 Episode 1, Four Out of Five Stars.