One might think of “iZombie” as a frivolous continuation of the zombie obsession that has infiltrated American culture in the past eight years or so with the creation of “The Walking Dead,” “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” “Warm Bodies,” “Zombieland,” “Shaun of the Dead,” etc. However, the show is actually a suspenseful and empowering examination of the life of an intelligent 20-something woman as she attempts to find meaning to her existence after becoming undead. The show is loosely based on a comic book of the same name written by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred.
Written and produced by Rob Thomas, creator of “Veronica Mars,” and Diane Ruggiero-Wright, “iZombie” tells the story of Olivia “Liv” Moore, who is turned into a zombie after being infected at a party in Seattle. Liv must quit her promising job as a medical resident and start working at the police morgue to have access to brains — in this universe, eating brains allows zombies to pass as humans and maintain their intellect. Liv discovers that she gains memories from the brains she eats and decides to use those visions to help solve the victims’ murders.
Despite the campy plot, Thomas follows in the footsteps of his previous success with “Veronica Mars” by writing Liv as a three-dimensional, competent and likeable protagonist. Her problems are relatable, and the pithy dialogue provides willful suspension of disbelief that she is just a normal human who ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time. Although the show falls into a crime-procedural format, the season-long arc leaves the viewer eager for more.
Season two premiered last month — the story season arc relates heavily to fictional energy drink company, Max Rager, which first provoked the zombie crisis and now needs to dispose of all the zombies in Seattle to prevent a scandal. The dramatic irony is potent. Although viewers know Liv must survive in order for the show to continue, this season sets up a suspenseful twist to Liv’s previously established infallibility.
The show also does an excellent job of reimagining interpersonal relationships from season one in a new light — for example, Liv’s relationship with her ex-fiance is still in flux, despite him knowing she is not human. Liv could also establish a strange kinship with season one’s antagonist, drug-dealing, murderous zombie Blaine, in order to band together against Max Rager. Though the storylines often seem silly, the show’s heart lies in Liv’s honest interactions with her loved ones and her impressive drive to not let her condition limit her.
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