“This is fine—I’m sure I’ll like it,” is what I thought after watching the first episode of iZombie on Hulu after it had aired. It seemed like Veronica Mars, but if Veronica had been an adult zombie who had to eat brains to solve crimes—which, I know, sounds very much not like Veronica Mars. And instead of being named Veronica Mars, she's named Liv Moore and I completely understand how cheesy the name is but just hang in there and you'll get over it. Honestly, they’re so much alike and in the best way possible. And not just because Rob Thomas knows how to write a sassy blonde that has no time for your shit (but, let's be fair, that has a lot to do with it).
But, like so many other shows, I never bothered watching it again after midly enjoying the first episode.
And I was a kinda pissed at how little the TV show was going to be like the awesome comic. I loved the iZombie comic when it first came out and was pissed they were even calling the show iZombie when it was so far from the comic (someone say comic again). But, after a few episodes, I was like, “So what who cares? What comic? I love this show!” Think of it the same way someone who likes The Shining book and The Shining movie thinks about them—two separate cool things.
Then it popped up on Netflix and I'm poor and trying to save money and needed a new show to watch while I pretended to work on my next manuscript. The show takes a few episodes for it to get it’s footing—but once it stops being so married to being a procedural show, it really fucking takes flight. Once the main villain becomes an actual threat, once Liv’s social and family life starts to fall apart because of everything happening—the show really gets fucking great. And, even by episode 2 or 3, you already start to get a feel for where the main plot is going. And by the final few episodes, even the procedural part of the show starts to tie into the main plot—which I love.
I think a lot of scifi shows really fail in the procedure department—Dollhouse, comes to mind. Season 1 of Angel is another. Jessica Jones succeeded in doing the complete opposite—we barely ever got to see her just be a regular PI, which completely worked for the show.
All of the side character also become fully realized characters by the end. Liv’s mother is kind of a jerk, her brother a sweet creep, Blaine becomes a legit threat, and Major becomes way more interesting/awesome than you’d have ever guessed from the first few episodes. Also, isn’t Major a really great name? Also also, I’ve been listening to Der Kommissar a lot since that ::ahem:: certain awesome scene with Major and Blaine’s henchmen—it was like a CW show paying homage to Drive.
Also also also, Major is hot and often takes off his shirt.
But, seriously, watch iZombie. I even hear Kristen Bell makes a fun cameo in the second season—which I can’t fucking wait to watch now. If you like Veronica Mars, it only makes sense you’ll love iZombie. And, well, if you don’t like Veronica Mars—then reevaluate your life, ya know?
And then, after you finish season 1, go order yourself the Liv Moore action figure. Then tweet me about it because I need to discuss this show with E V E R Y O N E.
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Twitter: @ianxcarlos
