I love TV. I live it, I breath it, I fondle it ’til it goes to sleep. I have a regular primetime and Netflix schedule and everything: I always have a new show, or two to three, that I’m watching (right now it’s “Gilmore Girls,” “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad”- what a combo), as well as a simpler, shorter comedy show that’s new to me, right now “Community,” or an old favorite, like “The Office,” “Parks and Rec,” “South Park,” Bob’s Burgers,” etc. Those are the ones I can quote like nobody’s business.
But, unlike probably a good chunk of humanity, I still watch regularly scheduled programming on live TV, which means I have one to four shows a night, depending. As of late, I have become pretty infatuated with The CW and it’s newer wares. “Jane the Virgin” is getting all the attention it deserves and then some- and rightfully so: it’s one of the most creative and tightly written shows on TV right now. But I want to talk about its insanely well-done Tuesday counterpart: “iZombie”.
Here’s the low-down: Based on a comic book series, Liv Moore (ha already) is a medical resident in Seattle, who, one fateful night at a boat party gone wrong, is turned into a zombie. Her solution? Work in the morgue to get brains humanely via the deceased, including various murder victims. Little does she know that devouring people’s memory source will cause her to receive visions or flashbacks, which she uses to help the police bring criminals to justice. Perfect premise for a hit show, yes? And more! The show has received high praise and has just been renewed for season three. Hallelujah!
So, here’s a short list of why this show should be your next obsession. Mind you, there will be no spoilers or direct details here because I’m convinced you’ll jaunt on over to your Netflix cue and try episode one and it simply can’t be spoiled.
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Seriously: every episode is more pivotal than the next. There is never a slow episode or one that doesn’t leave you screaming at the screen, in a most satisfying way. Every time you think there can’t possibly be anymore plot twists or crazy clever delivery, there always is, without fail. The twists are air-tight and completely beyond expectation. Really, the whole show is impeccably written: it’s captivating, hilarious, and never fails to pack a punch. The actors can walk the line of cheeky funny and deep dark drama like nobody’s business: the season finale will live you in shambles, it’s that good. It’s also one of those rare shows that has you 100% sucked in within the first two to five minutes. No, really, see for yourself: season on is on Netflix now, and season two will surely be there by summer. No excuses for you!
Who Run the World?
Liv is a completely fresh take on a female lead. Not only is she a completely relatable, charming, clever, etc. character, the fact that she’s female is secondary. Let me clarify what I mean by that: I’m one of the most feminist feminists you’ll come across. Today, in a world of constant inequality, broadcasting differences can be just as harmful as shaming them, in my opinion. The show in no way does the “look at us and our cool, sexy hot female lead”- it is not the main part of the appeal. I hope I’m getting my point across- it’s a difficult area to expand on. Bottom line: she’s a strong lead, and it’s cool that she’s female, but her performance and appeal is part of what makes the show awesome.
May We Entertain You
Particularly Liv has to have, and has, some practiced acting chops: whenever she gets a new brain, she adopts character traits of the murder victim: one episode, she got really into painting; in another, she became a crotchety old man in a young woman’s body; most recently, she got a little frisky, after eating the brain of a stripper. It’s insane to watch her totally morph into someone else with Liv’s twist on it. And the supporting characters’ reactions are just as entertaining to watch, especially since only half of them know she’s a zombie. Side note: every time she eats the brain, she’ll cook them in an omelette, as sushi, on a sandwich, etc. All with Sriracha, because a zombie’s senses are pretty weak. But she’s not the only superstar on the show: everyone has their quirks and is just downright fun to watch, right down to “do we like him, do we not” Blaine, the other major zombie character- basically a zombified Billie Joe Armstrong who’s always ahead of the game. The show is just freaking fun and awesome.
BONUS: Ravi My Man
Rahul Kohli is, as my dad has dubbed him and to my complete agreement, the new Jim Halpert. Seriously, if the general appeal of the show and the fact that Aly Michalka (you read right) is a regular, isn’t enough, you’ll be following him on social media halfway through the first episode. He’s cool, British, witty, and packs a punch as a dramatic actor, to top it all off. He works in the morgue with Liv and is her original ally and key to helping cure the zombie epidemic. He ups the fun quota by about a thousand and is a wonderful medium between the realities of zombie life and the pitfalls of everything else. Ravi ftw.
This show has got something for everyone- at the risk of sounding too Netflix, if you love “True Blood,” “Daredevil,” “The Walking Dead,” general detective dramas, “Veronica Mars,” the work of Jenji Kohan, and other countless badass shows, you’ll love “iZombie.” The hardest thing about starting is devouring it all on Netflix, then watching it in prime time and sitting through commercials and waiting a week to see what’s next for Liv, Major, Ravi, and the gang. It’s delicious, it’s awesome, it’s damn good. Watch. This. Show.