Reality Z: Dead Set with More Bite

Some of you may have already come across this zombie series that was released on Netflix in 2020. Reality Z is inspired by Dead Set which was a UK produced five piece mini series written by a guy called Charlie Brooker. It was all over too soon and a bit tame in my estimation. Reality Z picks up on the idea and does it way better. Netflix has the show set in Brazil but fortunately there are English subtitles. 10 episodes of blood and gore, a bit of humor and a healthy dose of realism.

Or what would you call it when the show runner needs the toilet and is locked into a room so he craps into the trash can. Hilarious the reaction of the surviving female contestant, and oh so true. You don't see these ugly bits usually on TV or now streaming shows. Pools of blood has become acceptable but not this. Also that the guy, who acts as the voice of Zeus by the way, eats whatever he can lay his hands on makes perfect sense. In this world you don't know when or if the next meal will be and you gotta keep your strength up, gross or not.  

Also nice to see is the potshot the series takes at reality TV with the wholly over the top setting among the Greek gods on Mount Olympus which contestants were supposedly meant to represent. Each episode is about 30 minutes long and way better and more interesting than the original. Of course the secret is not to take it too seriously, but who would do that watching a show featuring the undead?

It's also quite fast paced without being too action heavy, but there are no boring bits in there of the sort you get in TWD where people got to have a heart to heart for 20 minutes so we can learn about their background and preferences in favor of so-called character development. Instead, the beginning slightly reminds of the first two seasons of FTWD, with their locations in LA and Mexico. Quite refreshing to have this type of horror not always just in the global North but now also the hotter regions. Oh, and the intro isn't overly long either.

Recommended for fans of the genre. Everybody else, not so much.

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