If you’re tired of classic zombie apocalypse survival stories, this French series will be a breath of fresh air. Here’s why it’s a must-see not only for fans of zombie action, but also for those who love powerful drama.
There are so many movies and series about the living dead that it is almost impossible to surprise the viewers. The creators of zombie projects can only rely on the originality of the concept and the atmosphere of what is happening on the screen.
The Last of Us is currently dealing with the latter, but there’s one series that has mastered both – the French series The Returned, released in 2012. The first of the show’s two seasons received a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and here’s why.
What Is The Returned About?
In a remote French town, cut off from civilization by mountain slopes, inexplicable things begin to happen: people who died years ago return to their homes.
They return as if they had never died – unaware that years have passed since their deaths, they remember their relatives and friends, and their past before the moment of death. How can the dead be accepted into the world of the living? And is there something bigger and more terrible behind their return?
The Returned Is a Unique Mix of Zombies and Strong Psychological Drama
The return of the dead is shown in a down-to-earth way, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting – they simply come home as they were last seen.
They don’t care that years have passed, that their parents have died or that the bride of the deceased groom has already mourned her lover and moved on with another man.
But the dead would not be dead if they did not pose a threat to the living – a madman who has risen from the grave continues his bloody harvest, and those who have come from the other side destroy the relationships that were formed without them.
The Returned is a masterful blend of zombies and intense psychological drama – the French show is reminiscent of one of HBO’s masterpieces, The Leftovers, where part of humanity simply disappeared and those left behind had to learn to live with the loss.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of The Returned?
The Returned won over not only viewers but also producers with its unusual concept – an American adaptation of the project of the same name was released in 2015.
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On IMDb, The Returned has a score of 8.0/10.
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On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season of the show has 100% from critics and 94% from viewers, and the second season has 95% and 87% respectively.
Where to Watch The Returned?
The Returned is available to stream on AMC+ and Shudder.
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