Have you ever had anything fungal? Done emailing in, and as partial as I am to the overshare, those are different from the things I want to do here. But the effect is simple. It’s nagging. Persistent. You scrape and scrape, but without proper treatment, you just hope for respite. It can be pretty maddening. And a slow erosion of perspective with time.
It’s this element that makes me feel that the show itself is fungal. It’s gripping but slow. You think you may have a palette cleanser after the most intense scenes, but the fatalism never really goes away, and another threat looms with suspense like lichen on old walls.
We have a tremendous pre-title sequence that sets the tone and the absolute lack of control for such an infection. Given how claustrophobic a zombie apocalypse can be, it’s great that we take ourselves into different timelines and regions to see the growth on a global level.
But far from the kaleidoscopic events and stacked world-building of the first episode, this one is a perfect bottle. Often like a comic book, written in the belief that every episode is someone’s first, this is a full-fledged independent feature in less than an hour.
The dynamic between Joel, Tess, and Ellie is a great dysfunctional family. Given how heavily Joel is placed in the campaign in the game ads, it was lovely to see he was the least supportive of taking Ellis, and it’s Tess who convinces him. Much like Aunt May never wanted Peter Parker, she tried to leave him in an orphanage, but Uncle Ben convinced her of the value of a child.
Bella Ramsey excels at the role. This time we see the vacillation between cocksure privilege and awkward incomprehension at the world around her. She manages it so deftly that it never clangs, and with a character like that, it’s really something to watch.
Indeed the cast is the only three on screen, aside from the undead. For most of the film, they do stand out from the framework we see.
And the chthonic horror of the city they are in is something to behold. There is a particular Playstation perspective with the scenery and set dressing. A shine to the grime is used to form resident evil. But their own credibility helps pop them out of the background.
This episode is one of the threats. We are treated to understanding how the monsters work more. Even when the more incomprehensible notions of ‘super infected’ are thrown out in a manner akin to a marvel scene where the leads go, ‘it’s like something from a comic book.’
BOMB! The tragedy from the start. But all fuelled by the solution, not final, but the only solution to infection.
The logic of the hive mind and how the creatures communicate yet do not necessarily see is excellent. We establish the rules for these shambling monsters and their strength and resilience through action and exposition.
The fight scene moves briskly while the hiding and running and shooting then hiding of a game is all there.
The denouement sets the rest of the show so well. This is a perfect high bar and so early on in the show. It hits the right mix of credibility with atmosphere, and I can’t wait for episode 3
The Irish Indian Times. 
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