Plot: What’s it about?
Ahhh…zombies! They’ve made a big comeback in the last decade and have no signs of slowing down. Much like their nature, the zombie is a juggernaut that seems to have a life of its own. Shows like The Walking Dead have probably made the most of this newfound love for the undead, though there are dozens of films that have cashed in on these brain-loving specimens. Admittedly I’d not heard of iZombie until it showed up at my door, so it was with a bit of hesitation before placing it in my player. As it turns out, there’s more than meets the eye and with this first season, we’re introduced to the main players. Let’s take a look, shall we?
iZombie stars Rose McIver as Olivia “Liv” Moore, a medical resident on the fast track to a perfect life … until she’s turned into a zombie. Now stuck between half-alive and undead, Liv transfers to the city morgue to reluctantly access the only thing that allows her to maintain her humanity — human brains. But there are side effects to Liv’s new diet. With each brain she consumes, she experiences flashes of the corpse’s memories — including, at times, clues as to how they were killed. Her boss, a brilliant but eccentric conspiracy theorist, encourages her to embrace this gift and to work with an unproven homicide detective to help solve these murders … and quiet the voices in her head.
Video: How’s it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This treatment is top notch, though of course a high definition version would be preferable. This is a clean, sharp effort on all fronts however, with great detail and depth throughout. The colors are dead on and contrast is excellent, with no softness I could detect at all. Not a lot else to talk about here, the show looks great and leaves little room for complaints.
Audio: How’s it sound?
A Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is on tap and it sounds terrific. I love how more recent shows pack an impressive sound design, as that hasn’t always been the case. The surround presence is moderate, but it kicks in when it needs to. I like how the mix has a natural sound, so it doesn’t force the audio at all. The music sounds superb here, while dialogue is strong and consistent. Not much to talk bad about here, just a rock solid overall soundtrack.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Deleted Scenes
- iZombie: 2014 Comic-Con Panel – Because anything that’s science fiction must now be promoted at Comic-Con.
The Bottom Line
Cashing on on the zombie outbreak, iZombie does have a bit more to it than meets the eye. Has it gained a new fan in me? I wouldn’t say so. Still, fans of the show will find a nice-looking package, though lacking a bit on the supplemental side.
