As someone who first watched “Fear the Walking Dead” nearly a decade ago, I can attest that this series is one of the best spin-offs the “Walking Dead” universe has to offer So when I heard that all eight seasons were now available on one of the best streaming services, I was thrilled--not only for myself, but for all those who have yet to experience the gripping journey this show takes you on

Whether you're re-watching the series like I am or watching it for the first time, now is the perfect time to stream one of the most intense survival stories ever told And those eagerly awaiting the return of “Daryl Dixon” for Season 2 in September can fill their time by immersing themselves in this highly effective prequel series [Fear the Walking Dead] is an apocalyptic horror series that is a prequel to the hit show The Walking Dead It explores the early days of the zombie apocalypse and offers a look at how the world fell apart when the outbreak first began

The series follows a group of survivors navigating a rapidly disintegrating society, beginning in Los Angeles and eventually spreading to various locations throughout the United States and Mexico The protagonists must adapt to the new and brutal realities of a world overrun by the undead, including dysfunctional blended families and others they meet along the way

Throughout the season, the series has evolved to focus not only on survival, but also on the challenges of rebuilding and finding hope in a world where everything familiar has been destroyed

“Fear the Walking Dead” goes back to the beginning of the outbreak in a way that feels frighteningly real Watching the first few episodes, I was struck by how quickly things we take for granted, such as order, safety, and normalcy, began to fall apart Unlike the world of “The Walking Dead,” where the apocalypse has been months in the making, this show plunges us into chaos as quickly as it began

I remember the first time I watched panic spread through the streets of Los Angeles It was chilling to see people going about their daily lives as we did, slowly coming to terms with the fact that the life they had known was over The scenes of deserted highways, destroyed hospitals, and desperate attempts to escape felt like something that could really happen, and were incredibly powerful

What stuck with me was how the characters had to adapt to the rapidly changing world around them Initially, the show centered around Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) and her fiancé Travis (Cliff Curtis), the Clark family Along with their respective children, Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey), Nick (Frank Dillane), and Chris (Lorenzo James Henry), they form a core group of survivors Their individual and collective journeys highlight the emotional toll of the apocalypse, making “Fear the Walking Dead” not just a survival story, but a moving exploration of family bonds in the face of devastation

In the interest of transparency, however, the show loses its way at the end of the day Seasons 1-3 are the best, but as it gets deeper into the apocalypse, it becomes more and more like “The Walking Dead” (which is supposed to be a prequel, but feels pointless) As a limited series, it would have worked perfectly It could have shown the downfall of society without jumping ahead years into the future Regardless, it's worth watching for fans of the franchise

If you haven't yet experienced the gripping drama and intense storytelling of Fear the Walking Dead, now is the perfect time to jump in, with all eight seasons streaming on Netflix Of course, it's not the best ever, and it certainly doesn't surpass the main show, but it's certainly interesting and thrilling enough

I want to see more Check out my favorite dark thriller shows that just landed on the platform Also see my top 3 new shows to stream this week

Stream all eight seasons of “Fear the Walking Dead” on Netflix