Z Nation

Z Nation takes a zombie apocalypse and makes room for horror, action and comedy. That mix is the useful thing to know before choosing a night for it. If you want your end of the world served with a permanently solemn face, this may be a strange invitation. I like the idea of a story that can see the absurdity in a catastrophe without pretending the catastrophe is harmless.

The fear is the zombie kind: survival in a world where ordinary rules have gone rather badly out of the window. I would put it in the middle of the scare scale. The comedy is part of the appeal, but if zombies unsettle you, a joke will not necessarily make them easier to face. There is no medal for staring at a screen you would rather hide from.

It is a choice for a night when you want a horror series to settle into, especially if straight drama sounds too heavy. Get comfortable, keep a drink within reach, and let the apocalypse be someone else’s scheduling problem. Horror and silliness can share the same sofa. That is a fairly good reason to give them the evening.