“Fear the Walking Dead” begins its eighth and final season Sunday, bringing the curtain down on an impressive eight-year run and more than 100 episodes produced. This installment begins with a compelling hook, boo-hiss baddies lined up and the stage set for a suitably epic showdown with some degree of finality to it. Then again, maybe not.
As the first “Walking Dead” spin-off begins its last descent, it’s worth reflecting on the world it debuted in back in fall 2015. At the time, “The Walking Dead” was not only a ratings behemoth but a genuine pop culture phenomenon, commanding both heated watercooler discourse and high-minded thinkpieces.