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Tag: Todd Masters

Day Of The Dead Review and Analysis Choke on ‘Em If You Got ‘Em!
Welcome Back Undead Science Fiction Horror Fans,

Images and videos courtesy SYFY

We’ve come to the last episode of season one of Day of the Dead as the numbers of our noble group of heroes keep getting smaller. When we began the series, everyone had regular problems found in any regular community. But over the course of the episodes and what was a timeline of one day, some people died and some rose to the challenge and learned new skills.

Luke (Daniel Doheny) learned that bullying was not a very useful skill during a Zombie apocalypse.

Jai (Dejan Loyola) learned to be a hero even though it cost him his life at the end of the last episode.

Paula (Miranda Frigon) learned a huge lesson, that her family was more important than being mayor.

Sarah (Morgan Holmstrom) learned to value her heritage and the wisdom of her ancestors.

Lauren (Natalie Malaika) learned Cam (Keenan Tracey) was pretty cool and gave him a kiss.

Keenan Tracey as Cam. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Cam finally learned to accept his father for what he is, in whatever form worked for him.

As for McDermott (Mike Dopud), he learned that he loved his son, and got the opportunity to growl a lot.

Amy (Kristy Dawn Dinsmore) learned to stand up to her father (Garry Chalk) and not to let zombies or anybody else push her around.

And Dr. Logan (Lucia Walters), well it’s pretty clear that she didn’t learn anything, and will most likely continue to cause trouble in any future episodes if there is to be a season two of Day Of The Dead. We at Team WHR sincerely hope that it is renewed since there is so much more fun story telling remaining to be told.

Choke On ‘Em:

Paula and Luke send Trent away. Image courtesy SYFY

We begin the last episode, directed by Jem Garrard, and written by the series creators Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, with Paula and Luke agreeing to send Trent (Trezzo Mahoro) to Carbondale Pennsylvania for his own safety.

Paula likely also wants him gone because Trent has hit on her five times. That kid is going to end up an INCEL (involuntarily celibate) if he doesn’t learn how to treat women properly.

Paula adds; “He’s persistent. I’ll give him that.”

Paying respects to Jai. Image courtesy SYFY

After paying their respects to Jai as he lies outside the warehouse where he fell after saving them all, Lauren and Sarah say their goodbyes. Paula, Luke, Cam, Sarah, and Lauren head to Paymeart to rescue their friends. When they get there they see Cindy (Stefanie von Pfetten) lying on the floor dead and Pops (Jay Brazeau) has become a zombie.

That’s when Amy shows up swinging a chain saw. She’s ready to take on whatever comes near her. Amy is definitely not the obedient little daddy’s princess like she was at the beginning of the series. Good for her.

Amy learns that Jai died a hero. Image courtesy SYFY

Amy wants to know what has happened to Jai. The sad looks of the others cause her to cry. She has lost her husband after only a few hours.

Amy explains that the mercenaries had come, gotten attacked by the people in Paymart who were turned into zombies. Then she dispatched the rest of them. Cam mumbles to himself that it must be the water contaminated by Cleargenix Corporation.

Rhodes our favorite ass hat. Image courtesy SYFY

As Amy states that she is the last one alive in Paymart, someone shoots at and misses them. They scramble in different directions. The shooter turns out to be Rhodes (Kevin O’Grady), our favorite ass hat. He has managed to get a hold of Amy and is holding her hostage. Just because he likes to be thorough, he also has a suicide explosive device wrapped around his torso. He likes to give speeches, so he tells them that everyone in town is screwed. They can’t let any zombies escape so he plans on detonating himself taking everyone else with him. Suddenly, Capt. Pike (Marci T. House), who has also become a zombie attacks Rhodes. Seems Amy is not that clear about what being the only one left actually means. The Pike distraction gives Paula and Luke the opportunity to shoot Pike and grab Rhodes.

Dr. Logan at her daughters death bed. Image courtesy SYFY

Dr. Logan is in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. She enters a hospital room where a young girl is unconscious and is attached to a Respirator. “It’s time to let her go,” says Logan. As her the girl is disconnected from the equipment, Logan asks for some time to be alone with her. It is her daughter Eden (Bianca Lawrence).

Logan then injects her daughter Eden with a syringe of whatever it was she was concocting in the warehouse with McDermott. It doesn’t seem to work. Logan reacts with tears and sadness that she wasn’t able to save her little girl. We now understand why she was so obsessed with McDermott and the rest of the zombies. Still, a mother’s love for her child does not trump the lives of other people. Dr. Logan has a great deal to answer for.

Rhodes is used for Zombie bait. Image courtesy SYFY

Back at Paymart, Rhodes has been strung up on the back of Bobby Hart’s (Matty Finochio) tow truck.

Our hero’s have also set up a speaker and microphone on the tow truck so that everything Rhodes says gets amplified. Ass hat Rhodes has just become bait.

Rhodes finally becomes useful as he yells and screams and complains at full volume. It is not over for Rhodes, his retribution is due and he will pay the piper for being a conniving corporate ass hat.

Lauren kisses Cam. Image courtesy SYFY

While this is happening, Cam and Lauren get jostled together. Lauren finally acquiesces and kisses Cam. Is love in the air amid the apocalypse? Sarah and Amy have made their way to the abandoned caves. They pull boards away from the entrance so that the zombies will have a place to go. Everything seems to be coming together nicely. That’s when you know that something is bound to go wrong. It does.

A zombie gets a bit too close and grabs Cam’s leg, pulling him off the truck. He disappears into the zombie hoard. Lauren frantically jumps down off the truck and calls his name. With no answer, the others tell her that he’s gone. They have to get going. She climbs back onto the truck. That took a sudden unpleasant turn.

Miranda Frigon as Paula, Morgan Holmstrom as Sarah, Natalie Malaika as Lauren, Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy, Daniel Doheny as Luke. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

They eventually all arrive at the cave. As they do, the truck stalls several yards from the entrance. This does not please Rhodes. He is still complaining and criticizing the others. His nearly final words are, “I was ready to die to stop this.” Lauren, fed up with him replies, “then die.” He is lowered from the truck, the zombies catch up to him and start to tear him to shreds. His final words become, “Choke on ’em. Choke on ’em.” Nasty to the last. Midmeal, Sarah yells at the hoard, “Come and get it. Fresh meat.” One thing about zombies – they have a really short attention span.

The Zombie all get up from their feast and head for the cave. One zombie gets to Sarah ahead of the rest. She ends up struggling with him but Lauren and Amy come to the rescue and wack him over the head with a piece of wood. Do zombies pass out? I guess they do.

Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy, Morgan Holmstom as Sarah, Natalie Malaika as Lauren. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Once all three women are inside and realize there is no way out, Amy suggests that they can use three bullets for themselves to get out of this predicament. The zombies get closer. That’s when they have a brainwave. Sarah fires the pistol away from them to distract the hoard and run and hide. Fortunately, zombies are not very smart. They keep on going in the direction they were originally headed.

On the outside of the cave, Paula places the explosives around the entrance. Luke points out that Rhodes had made the explosives to be used to commit suicide. They will die if they push the button. Paula sets the control device on top of a sign that is leaning against the cave and tells Luke, “trust your mother.” They hurry back to the truck and Paula takes aim. The three women inside rush to the cave entrance. Paula fires her weapon. It’s a bullseye. The cave is sealed and no one has died except the zombies. Oh, and thank goodness, Rhodes.

Mike Dopud as McDermott leading the remaining Zombies. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

We then see where McDermott is, among some remaining Zombies that he is leading, not too far away in town, but where is Cam? Did the Zombies eat him?

Later, after moving Bobby Hart’s truck back to the warehouse, Luke finds a cooler full of beer. His ability to knock the beer cap off the bottle using the truck’s grill makes it clear to Paula that Luke knows more about beer than he let on in the past. Lauren takes a beer and heads over to Amy who is mourning her husband where he fell. Lauren gives Amy the beer. She tells Amy that to cheat death, she has to live her life. That is what Jai would want.

McDermott saves Cam who gives him his wedding ring. Image courtesy SYFY

We are given a peek at what became of Cam and Zombie McDermott. Cam tries to scurry away from the zombie hoard after getting pulled away from the tow truck. As he does, he comes across his father. Zombie dad snarls at the handful of zombies wanting to make a meal out of Cam.

Cam stands and gives his dad the wedding ring that he has been holding onto. He tells his dad that it’s just them now. Time to go home, I think, until some people in authority show up to take care of everything. Or, will McDermott decide that he should be in charge? If so, I have a little ditty for him:

Tough as nails
With two fingers gone
He’s big, he’s bad
McDermott’s the Mayor of Zombie Town
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The first season ends in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Here we find a depressed and foiled Dr. Logan is leaving the hospital. before she reaches her car, she gets kidnapped by some unpleasant-looking bad guys. Are these people connected to whomever her bosses are at Cleargenix Corporation? Quite likely.

It’s a pity that she doesn’t realize that as she is being hustled into a vehicle to be taken, who knows where, that her daughter Eden, back in the hospital, has woken up as a zombie. This outbreak in the morgue sets up a second season nicely. But will there be one more zombie? Only time will tell.

Thanks to Kenn for staging images, the featured video, and, many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!

Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview with your friends, or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.

Regards,

Patricia
December 19, 2021
Day of the Dead Review and Analysis – Death Comes To Paymart As Survivors Try To Be Smart!
Welcome Back Undead Science Fiction Horror Fans,

Images and videos courtesy SYFY

We are at the second to last show for the season of Day of the Dead. Naturally, since the title of this episode focuses on death at Paymart, we are fairly certain that someone is about to die. But who? Also, clues about who is responsible for the zombification of this small town and why, are beginning to come together. The zombie apocalypse doesn’t seem to be quite as accidental as we first thought made clear by the creators in an episode directed by industry veteran Jem Garrard.

Before my review of the eighth episode of Day of the Dead, good news. DOTD has bounced back, now averaging 218,000 live and DVR same day viewers for the United States, not counting Canada and SYFY franchises around the world broadcasting Day of the Dead. Much depends on these numbers for a potential for second season in which Zombies break out worldwide as George A. Romero envisioned in the “Night of the Living Dead” movie.

Importantly, in discussions between myself and Kenn, it appears DOTD may have been developed as a single season show, so there may not ever have been a plan for more. I am going to cross my fingers for Day of the Dead since SYFY recently renewed Chucky which dipped below 300,000 viewers on average. But we must compare Day of the Dead with their current flagship program Resident Alien, which averaged ~950,000 viewers, so a second season could be a stretch. We should know more soon if a second season is in the works or not.
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Death Comes to Paymart:

The survivors are captured by Cleargenix. Image by: DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

We begin with our diminishing group of survivors in Minwahaken, Pennsylvania. They include Cam (Keenan Tracey), Luke (Daniel Doheny), Paula (Miranda Frigon), Lauren (Natalie Malaika), and Jai (Dejan Loyola) getting “rescued” by a mysterious paramilitary bunch of mercenaries after they had left Paymart in the previous episode.

Once they are all safe in an armored personnel carrier, they realize that Trent (Trezzo Mahoro) is there as well. Nice to see Trent since I thought the next time we would see him, he would be a Zombie.

Morgan Holmstrom as Sarah Blackwood. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

They also yell that one of their friends is still out there. Sarah Blackwood (Morgan Holmstrom) didn’t make it into the vehicle. But that was her own doing since she recognized the emblem on the door of the vehicle, that of the evil Cleargenix Corporation. She must have followed the vehicle to the warehouse that they were taken to because she will show up again later in the show to rescue them. Good for her. It looks like she will be a hero. The group also discusses the water that they had just seen being sprayed on a zombie and Jai realizes that he saw several people spraying “Water” on plants all over town earlier in the day. Maybe it wasn’t water, Jai reasons. While Trent and Luke argue, Cam speaks up to defend his new friend announcing to Trent that Luke is homosexual and they are all fine with it. Luke’s response is priceless, “just throw me out to the zombies. That would be great.”

Cindy blames Herb for her sisters death. Image courtesy SYFY

Meanwhile, back at the Paymart, Herb (Garry Chalk) has found some over-the-counter medication for the pain in his stomach from the gash. He swallows the meds with a cup of water. Cindy (Stefanie von Pfetten), the sister of the lady with the branch in her stomach who has since turned zombie, and been dispatched, comes charging into the area and smacks Herb across the face. She is furious that he, as a doctor, didn’t save her sister. Pops (Jay Brazeau) comes to the rescue. Herb just wants to be left alone. Cindy responds, “I hope you die.” When Pops tries to calm her, she rebukes him with a death wish as well. Isn’t she all sweetness and light? I think there is some foreshadowing going on here.

Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy, Marci T. House as Captain Pike. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Captain Pike (Marci T. House) is still feeling guilty about permitting the state troopers to die outside the store in the last episode. Amy (Kristy Dawn Dinsmore) approaches her to explain that people are getting scared and anxious.

As she asks what they are supposed to do, the power goes out. Great timing. It’s now the perfect opportunity to roam around in the dark and see what could possibly go wrong. Moments later, Pike discovers Herb on the floor. Is he unconscious or dead? It seems he’s dead.

Natalie Malaika as Lauren, Keenan Tracey as Cam. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

The group that has been roaming around outside and was rescued, sort of, is ushered into a large room in an abandoned warehouse. Wow, this town has some serious economic problems. The mercenaries makes sure to lock them in.

Cam notices something shiny on the floor and picks it up. It’s his father’s wedding ring. We know where they are now, don’t we? Later, Lauren approaches Cam to comfort him about the loss of his dad. Cam makes a move on her. She doesn’t respond quite the way he was hoping. Embarrassed, he tries to explain that they are friends and it’s a difficult day, then he quickly vanishes. Time for Trent to show up and make a move as well. Uh, yeah, right. Guys, don’t try to get free sex in a crisis. Not a good plan.
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Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy, Jay Brazeau as Pops. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Speaking of comforting, Pops tries to comfort Amy as she pays her last respects to her father. She has lost her mother and a bunch of family and friends at the wedding, and now her father. This is becoming a really sad event for Amy. It’s so lucky that she still has her husband, Jai – oh, wait.

As Amy spends some time with Herb, Pops accuses Cindy of murdering Herb since she was the one that threatened him. Pops is all over the place here, comforting and accusing within almost a breath of each thought. It shouldn’t be a surprise when he is found dead a bit later. There is no one to mourn Pops, however.

Rhodes plans to kill them all. Image courtesy SYFY

The mercenaries, or glorified soldiers, are discussing what to do about the people they have hustled into the warehouse when Rhodes (Kevin O’Grady) shows up. Of course, he does, just like a bad acid drug trip, Rhodes is a nightmarish human being!

Rhodes nothing but stupid advice for the guards. Rhodes is definitely not a Rhodes scholar. He tells the men to get rid of the witnesses. I wonder if this is coming from him or his superiors? I also hope Rhodes gets what he deserves one of these days, to be eaten by the Zombies!

Daniel Doheny as Luke, Natalie Malaika as Lauren, Dejan Loyola as Jai, Keenan Tracey as Cam, Miranda Frigon as Paula. Trezzo Mahoro as Trent, Stefanie von Pfetten as Cindy, Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Trent and Luke finally have a chat about the things that have been a problem between them, such as Trent continually trying to push Luke at girls when, obviously, he should have been pushing Luke at boys. Paula shows up. As she does, Trent does exactly what he seems programmed to do – he hits on her. Is Trent being set up by the writers as one of the next people to get zombified? Mayor Mom, just finds Trent to be creepy.

Mayor Mom finally has the opportunity to have a heart-to-heart chat with Luke. She explains why she became mayor and that she seemed to have forgotten how to be Luke’s mom in the process. Luke forgives her and they give each other a hug. Jai is the next one to show up. Maybe Luke just needs to sit where he is and everyone will come to him. Jai tells Paula that he has looked around and there is no way out. Jai’s spidey sense seems to be tingling.

Keenan Tracey as Cam, Natalie Malaika as Lauren, Dejan Loyola as Jai. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Lauren hasn’t moved from her spot since her chat with Cam. She notices that her hand is shaking again. Trent approaches her. It seems that he has gotten tired of being subtle so goes ahead and tried full-on creepy. He suggests that they both have sex. That goes over so well that Lauren’s hand grabs him by the throat and tries to choke him to death. I am really beginning to like that hand.

Trent breaks free and hurries himself back to the others. Lauren also heads back to the others. As she does so, she passes out. That is when the group realizes that they are being gassed with exhaust. Paula and Luke head for the door. They bang on it to be let out. Yeah, that always works – not.

Jai passes out after saving them all. Image courtesy SYFY

As they waste their energy at the door, Jai looks for another way to deal with this current crisis. He opens a vent and begins climbing through the duct works, looking for a way out. He better hurry. They don’t have much time left. Jai finally finds the opening to the outside of the duct work and begins banging away at it.

After one final solid shove, he pushes it outward and the gas stops flowing into the warehouse. Jai also passes out. While this is all going on, Blackwood has shown up and is beating her way through the armed security guys to get to her friends. Personally, I think if she can beat them up, they are not really worth the money they are being paid. Or, maybe she just wants it more?

Captain Pike takes aim at Cindy. Image courtesy SYFY

Pike and Cindy are having their own feud. Pike is sure that Cindy has murdered Herb and maybe Pops. She has pulled out her gun and intends on using it on Cindy.

Cindy pleads for her life. It seems that either Pike doesn’t have it in her to kill people or she is very weak because this is the second time that she lowers her gun. She can’t kill Cindy.

As they come out of the storage room where Cindy was locked up, it seems like Pike believes that Cindy is innocent, so somewhere along the way, Cindy said something that made sense to Pike.

Morgan Holmstrom as Sarah Blackwood. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Blackwood finally reaches the door and destroys the lock freeing everyone. The exhaust has cleared.

We soon learn that Jai is a hero. So is Blackwood. Everyone leaves to look for Jai.

Blackwood finds Jai. He has died. Poor Jai. Luke comments, “He saved us.”

So, what comes next?

Are they able to cure them?

Will McDermott become the Zombie Mayor?

Does our group finally learn who is responsible for the zombies?

Better yet, will Paula turn the hose on the people responsible for the mess?

Will they be able to understand what has happened to their town and the people in it who have been zombified?

Tune in next week for “As The Zombie Turns” – I mean, Day of the Dead at SYFY in the United States and CTV Scifi in Canada to find out about what ultimately happens in Minwahaken that could affect the entire world!

Thanks to Kenn for staging images, the featured video, and, many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!

Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview with your friends, or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.

Regards,

Patricia
December 14, 2021
Day Of The Dead Review and Analysis – To Anyone Who Can Hear My Voice Will Anybody Have a Choice?
Welcome Back Undead Science Fiction Horror Fans,

Images and videos courtesy SYFY

“To Anyone Who Can Hear My Voice” pivots towards the end of season one by returning to the beginning of the series. Very few people in Mawinhaken, Pennsylvania have been untouched by the Zombie Apocalypse.

Our grade for the eighth episode of Day Of The Dead is a Straight “A” for enjoyable, fun, campy entertainment value about the lives of the people of Mawinhaken, Pennsylvania, a quaint town overrun by the Undead. In an homage to George A. Romero and his classic “Night of the Living Dead” film series, what had befallen their town started with no one believing in Zombies. Now, the survivors, Mayor Paula Bowman (Miranda Frigon), Pops Parker (Jay Brazeau), Jai Fisher (Dejan Loyola), Lauren Howell (Natalie Malaika), Cam McDermott (Keenan Tracey), Captain Pike (Marci T. House), Herb (Garry Chalk), Amy (Kristy Dawn Dinsmore), Luke Bowman (Daniel Doheny), Cindy (Stefanie von Pfetten), and Bobby Hart (Matty Finochio), who are now barricaded in the Paymart store.

All of them are trying to figure out a defense against the Undead hoping that by some miracle, help will arrive in time to save them from becoming Zombies.

Zombies on the march! Image by Sergei Bachlakov, DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

On social media, we have observed only a few detractors who are not enjoying this fun SYFY series. These malcontents, some of whom we have seen previously, are always trolling many television shows and movie threads, with negative, sometimes foul mouthed comments. We say to such people, go bother someone else while we enjoy our entertainment. Thanks.

Before beginning our analysis, we include a fun video courtesy of SYFY and are hopeful that a second season renewal is forthcoming from The Powers That Be. We shall see.
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To Anyone Who Can Hear My Voice:

Bobby takes aim on the Zombie hoard. Image courtesy SYFY

The episode, wonderfully written by series creator Jed Elinoff and artfully directed by Jem Garrard, finds us with the survivors holed up in the Paymart store seeking a way to survive the impending arrival of an invasion of Zombies that all know as their former friends and family members.

Bobby is on the roof as a sniper who is ordered by Mayor Bowman to open fire on the ever advancing hoard of Zombies. Things will not turn our well for Bobby who is jumped by Zombies who have taken to the roof of the Paymart to find a way in for a quick bite to eat!

McDermott leads the assault. Image courtesy SYFY

Meanwhile, Detective McDermott (Mike Dopud), having escaped from Dr. Logan (Lucia Walters) Cleargenix Corporation chamber of Zombie horrors, is leading the assault on the town as we witnessed in the Pilot episode.

McDermott, who we know is a hybrid after being injected by Dr. Logan with some sort of noxious potion, recognizes things like his police badge, places like his old place of employment, and people, including his son Cam in this episode. We are left to wonder (and hope) that McDermott will refuse to eat the survivors and maybe even help them survive during the final two episodes of the season?

Miranda Frigon as Paula Bowman. Image by Sergei Bachlakov, DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

With the Zombies preparing to storm the barricaded Paymart holdout, things look grim for the few people untouched by the apocalypse. Interestingly, Mayor Bowman is still feigning sadness over the death of Trey Bowman (Christopher Russell) seemingly overcome with grief. Viewers will recall that Mayor Bowman actually is responsible for the death of her husband in an attempt to kill Pops Parker.

Bowman has assumed command of the human survivors after Pops Parker finally realized that his humanitarian approach was a failed effort. In the meantime, both Herb and Bobby Hart are severely injured. Herb has been stitched up, but Bobby has severe injuries after being attacked by the Zombies when he ventured outside.

Jai tells Bobby about his wounds. Image courtesy SYFY

Bobby was able to get back to Jai and Amy who tried to stop the bleeding, but are unable to do so. Jai, with Amy looking on at the tragedy, tells Bobby the truth, that his wounds will end up killing him.

Bobby expresses his final wish, that he be strapped to the table knowing that he will turn into a Zombie in the near future. Jai and Amy grant Bobby his final request as he passes away, certain to become a Zombie in a short period of time.

Miranda Frigon as Paula, Natalie Malaika as Lauren, Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

To make matters worse, Luke, depressed over the death of his father and thinking incorrectly that his mother rejects his being gay has left the Paymart.

Luke links up with Cam who tries to set Luke straight with some measure of success.

Mayor Bowman receives a notification on her phone that Luke has panicked and fled the Paymart.

In a rather questionable move, Bowman, Jai, and Lauren go outside in an attempt to find Luke and Cam. Before she leaves, Bowman deputizes Pops Parker to take over inside the Paymart.

Miranda Frigon as Pistol Packing Paula. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Pops vainly attempts to rally the survivors that have become his responsibility. They should be safe from the Zombie Apocalypse that is descending on the Paymart so long as they can keep the barricades intact.

Good luck with that Pops!

While outside, Mayor Bowman immediately comes under attack by Zombies when she is seeking her son. It is here that we see our favorite pistol packing Paula dispatching the foul creatures by blowing their heads off. You go Paula!

Pops, Pike argue about letting them in. Image courtesy SYFY

Viewers will recall that Captain Pike had called for help from Pennsylvania State Troopers. Only two officers arrive and are immediately overcome by Zombies. Despite a desperate plea from Pike, Pops refuses to let them inside since doing so will expose everyone to the Zombie army. Pike pulls her service revolver taking aim at Pops, ordering him to open the Paymart doors.

Pops, having learned his lesson when a Zombie set loose by Bowman nearly killed him stands his ground. It soon becomes a moot point. The Zombies kill and begin eating the State troopers who will soon become Zombies themselves. Captain Pike suffers a nervous breakdown and heads to the booze still inside the store. Pops seeks her out and offers condolences on her loss of fellow police officers. With things spiraling out of control, both understand there is nothing else that could have been done.
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Sarah links up with Paula. Image courtesy SYFY

On their expedition In to the heart of Minwahaken, Mayor Bowman, Lauren, and Jai find Luke and Cam in a scene that is straight out of the Pilot episode, effectively returning viewers to the beginning of the series.

After escaping the Zombies, they are joined by Sarah Blackwood (Morgan Holmstrom), who, with McDermott’s help, survived being attacked at the Cleargenix Corporation.

McDermott seems to recognize Cam. Image courtesy SYFY

Sarah reveals more of her past as a soldier and together the group seeks shelter with the goal of getting back to the Paymart. Meanwhile, Mawinhaken is slipping into a dystopian nightmare from which it appears that it may never recover from.

On the way back, the nightmare goes from bad to worse when Cam sees his father, Detective McDermott in the streets near his former place of employment, the police station. McDermott appears to recognize Cam as well as his old office in the police station. Although Cam seems to make cognitive contact with his father, Sarah says that he cannot be helped at the present time, but promises Cam that she owes McDermott for saving her life at the Cleargenix facilities and will help him deal with this latest development

The military arrives. Image courtesy SYFY

The final scenes are of our survivors scrambling for their lives, when suddenly there are sounds overhead and military troops in armored personal carriers arriving on the ground.

Yay! Captain Pike’s call to the Pennsylvania State Troopers resulted in the military being alerted to hopefully save them all. Sarah hides from the military, some of whom she apparently recognizes, because of her past service drawing the episode to a conclusion.

Questions to be considered before the ninth episode “Death Comes To Paymart” airs next.

Will military troops be able to stop the Zombie Apocalypse?

Can Detective McDermott be converted back to human form?

How many survivors will ultimately be left inside the Paymart?

See you then as we find out the fate of the survivors, if any, in the tortured town of Minwahaken!

We will be back in the near future with more of your favorite television series and movie analysis. In the meantime, please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or family and leave your comments! We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future! Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Kenn of #TeamWHR
December 9, 2021
Day Of The Dead – Their Evil Was Our Evil Means Upheaval!
Welcome Back Undead Science Fiction Horror Fans,

Images and videos courtesy SYFY

Luke’s (Daniel Doheny) story is beginning to take shape as we learn more about him in Day of the Dead. He has a reason for being such a nasty person, besides having a nasty mother, that is. His mother, Paula (Miranda Frigon), also has a choice to make as her decision to win the mayorship at any cost comes with consequences.

Will either of them learn anything or will they double down on their behavior? Then there are the people who it looks like we are about to lose as they join the zombie crew. Lauren (Natalie Malaika) is definitely having a rough time as she slowly loses her hand as it goes zombie.

Herb (Garry Chalk), who is being the big dick of the show, may yet surprise us with a zombie trait. Fortunately, being unconscious shuts him up nicely.

As Pops (Jay Brazeau) turns into a good guy and Jai (Dejan Loyola) and Amy (Kristy Dawn Dinsmore) settle their differences, and the good news is Amy and Jai finally get married! Bobby Hart (Matty Finochio) steps up to save Amy and Jai by being a good soldier. But then, Bobby isn’t the in-change thoughtful type that should be making the decisions.

In a way, even through all the arguing and sneaking around, each member has found a way to become a cohesive group to help the survivors of the town!
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Their Evil Was Our Evil:

Keenan Tracey as Cam, Natalie Malaika as Lauren, Miranda Frigon as Paula. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

We begin this episode centered on Luke who has just lost his father. Flash forward to the funeral at the side of a dumpster. Paula tries last words, but her words are lacking and Lauren who has the experience of a few funerals takes over.

She manages to explain that they should live to honor those who died. As Paula readies a flare to burn Trey, and whatever else might be in there, Luke objects. Of course, he does. He has never, since the series began, agreed with his mother in any way. Paula lights the fire anyway.

Daniel Doheny as Luke. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

As everyone leaves, Paula approaches him. She is obviously expecting to hug her son and, hopefully, make up. Luke has no intention of giving her that solace. Instead, he responds, “Don’t talk to me.”

Paula leaves Luke to his misery. As she does, Bobby Hart enters with a bag of moving parts and tosses it on top of the burning body. His comment, “my condolences on your loss.” Luke is obviously, and rightfully completely in shock by everything that has happened.

Keenan Tracey as Cam, Daniel Doheny as Luke. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Later, while Bobby shoots zombies outside, Cam (Keenan Tracey) and Luke commiserate on the loss of Luke’s dad, Trey (Christopher Russell).

They are both being the men they hope to be over a bottle of beer each. Cam makes the mistake of trying to empathize by sharing his own misfortunes with his father. This doesn’t go over well with Luke. Luke berates Cam by saying that Cam always makes it about him. Naturally, Luke’s anger chases Cam away. Pops approaches a very guilty feeling Paula telling her that she was right about the zombies. He won’t give her any more trouble when their problems are over. If he had paid more attention Trey might not be dead. He doesn’t know Paula’s secret, that she let the zombie lady escape on purpose to get rid of Pops. Like Luke, she gets angry and yells at Pops. As he wanders away, completely confused, she finds a quiet place to weep uncontrollably.

Natalie Malaika as Lauren. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Lauren has also found a quiet place. She is finding her errant hand very frustrating and is in tears. She remembers getting bitten. She considers taking the pill that she had stashed in her clothing last episode. She considers, then notices blood on the floor.

She follows it right to Herb and his stomach wound. Her first reaction is to go get Jai, but Herb doesn’t want that. He’s still nursing a grudge against the younger doctor and her daughter’s fiance. Lauren sutures Herb’s wound and gives him the pill. His first response is that he thought she would consume it. Lauren’s snide remark, “why are you such an asshole?” As Herb passes out, thanks to the pill, Lauren’s hand begins causing her trouble again. This time, it grabs a scalpel and attempts to slice Herb’s neck. Lauren uses her other hand to hold it back from killing him.

Dejan Loyola as Jai, Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Jai decides to forgive Amy and probably himself after having a discussion with her about the problems that plague them both.

Jai has turned from a wimp to a leader over their catastrophe.

He tells Amy that she needs to make decisions for herself and, “make up her own mind”. They decide to get married, but since they have lost the rings, Jai will need to find a new one. There are about to become married people with rings Jai could borrow, but he decides to go in another direction. In the end, Amy and Jai will seek out Mayor Paula to officiates at their wedding using the power invested in her as the Mayor of Mawinhaken.

Natalie Malaika as Lauren, Keenan Tracey as Cam. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Cam comes across Lauren as she yells at her hand to behave. She grabs for the coke (product placement?) in his hand and pours it on hers.

My guess is to discover if her affected hand can feel anything or if it has entirely zombified. Otherwise, my guess was that her hand was thirsty and wanted a coke.

Cam isn’t thrilled about losing his drink and wondering why she is yelling at her hand but changes the subject to his recent experience with Luke. He compliments her on her words for Trey. She says, “I didn’t think my first funeral would be at a dumpster.”

Daniel Doheny as Luke. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Luke, still all by himself after chasing off Cam, calls his buddy Trent (Trezzo Mahoro), whom we haven’t seen in several episodes.

There is no answer except a voice message. I hope we see Trent again?

Poor Luke is sounding more and more desperate to reach his friend.

It seems that Luke’s original acceptance of Cam inside the Paymart has devolved into the same animosity he showed the other young man at the beginning. If Cam wants to make friends, he will have to try harder to listen.

Mike Dopud as McDermott Zombie. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Zombie McDermott (Mike Dopud) is smarter than the average zombie. He proves it when we focus on him in the cage as he attempts to get out. He starts focusing on the door hinge. He pushes the bolt out and snaps off his pinky finger as a result. This doesn’t seem to bother him. That’s when Rhodes (Kevin O’Grady) shows up. Naturally, McDermott is snarling at Rhodes which elicits a nasty retort, “Looks like Dr. Frankenstein isn’t here to save your ass… guess it’s just you and me, Bub”. I do love Mike Dopud as the zombie. He is really bringing a lot to the character. I am also wondering where Logan (Lucia Walters) disappeared to. My guess is that her overlords are the DOD – the Department of Defense.

Rhodes freaks as McDermott gets loose. Image courtesy SYFY

I love Rhodes’s reaction to McDermott getting loose. The big tough guy tries to reason with the zombie as he holds a gun, seemingly for the first time. Rhodes assumes it’s McDermott, but I think it’s the original zombie who has never seen a gun before. He fires it, not at Rhodes, but away from him as if he is trying it out for the first time. Rhodes runs away, screaming like a little kid. He comes across two security guards on their coffee break and orders them after McDermott. Meanwhile, the zombie grabs a piece of shared clothing from the immolated zombie and drags it with him. As he is attacked by security guards, he kills all of them leaving Rhodes to hide and whimper another day as the zombie shuffles past. I wonder why the zombie wants the remains of his old host?

Morgan Holmstrom as Sarah. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Another question mark for the next episode is when Sarah Blackwood (Morgan Holmstrom) and her grandmother (Margo Kane) have moved to a fire outside, her next choices will affect the rest of the story. T

hey enjoy the warmth of the fire as they continue to discuss the situation about the zombies.

Grandma’s advice is to throw the mask in the fire and be done with it. Bowman can borrow her car and start a new life. We flash forward to the next morning when Blackwood is taking the car and driving away. So, did she burn the mask in the fire? Is she going to start a new life? I will get to the significance of Blackwood meeting with her grandmother at he end of my review.

Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy, Miranda Frigon as Paula, Dejan Loyola as Jai. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

As the episode comes to an end, we see Jai and Amy get married by Mayor Paula. Jai has found a toy ring from a Gumball machine. Everyone is there applauding the happy couple. Cam gives Lauren a note.

McDermott has arrived at the drilling site and tosses the burned zombie body into the pit. It lands in water or a liquid of some sort and seems to begin boiling or dissolving. It’s hard to tell. Luke gives his mother an earful at the end of the wedding. He announces that he is gay. He tells her that Trey was the only one he wanted to tell and that Trey was cheating on her. She slaps him, which really doesn’t solve the issue. As he storms off. she tries to apologize. He wants none of it. That’s when the zombies show up outside en mass. Who is the next character to die and become undead?

Morgan Holmstrom as Sarah Blackwood. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

The plot thickened in this episode when Blackwood, who has escaped the mad doctor’s laboratory, arrived at her grandmother’s house and passed out at the front door.

Later, she wakes up on the couch. Her grandmother offers her a meal and a chat. After a few pleasantries, Blackwood gets to the point. She shows the older woman a wooden mask that she found at the drill site. Fortunately for us, grandma knows all about the mask.

Margo Kane as Granny, Morgan Holmstrom as Sarah. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

As Blackwood’s grandmother explains the history of the mask, we learn that when the whites first arrived, a man died, and then many people died, “got ripped apart”. They begged her people for help. Her people did so, by cutting the affected in half. They kept coming. Finally, they killed all of them except the first. His name was Cooper. He was the source. He wasn’t like the others. Whatever was in him could be passed on. The whites claimed he was chosen, marked, or cursed. They were afraid to destroy him. They place the mask over his face as a warning and sealed him into a cave (Where the drillers found him with McDermott’s help). Blackwood explains to her grandmother that McDermott turned the original zombie into a flaming corpse, so maybe the curse is over? Lucky for us, it’s not. In fact, the original zombie seems to have taken a new host in McDermott!
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What’s next? Tune in at SYFY in the United States and CTV Scifi in Canada next week to see who lives, and who becomes the undead in Mawinhaken!

Thanks to Kenn for staging images, the featured video, and, many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!

Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview with your friends, or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.

Regards,

Patricia
November 30, 2021
Day of the Dead – The Lady Birders of Nepa Not So Neighborly!
Welcome Back Undead Science Fiction Horror Fans,

Images and videos courtesy SYFY

We are at Episode Six and our intrepid group of Survivors has reached a temporary safe place, the closed Paymart store.

Our heroes arrive just in time to turn on each other!

If you have family in this, you are having a family feud with no cash winnings for the right answers, then this episode, directed by industry veteran Jacquie Gould, truly shines a light on fickle family feuds that many viewers will easily understand.

All the main players have found their way to the Paymart, with the exception of the mighty hearse crew and, of course, our very own Frankenstein, Doctor Logan (Lucia Walters) , and her test subject, Detective McDermott (Mike Dopud) who is being turned in to a human zombie hybrid!

I must admit that the title of this episode threw me at first.

But since the two women who appeared out of the forest arrived just in time to stop the hearse, I reasoned that they are the “Lady Birders” out bird watching when they come across their very own zombie.

Are these two ladies important enough to the story to rate their own title?

We shall see.
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The Lady Birders of Nepa:

Lady Birders of Nepa run for their lives. Image courtesy SYFY

“The Lady Birders of Nepa” episode begins with two strange women running for their lives through the woods.

One is named Cindy (Stefanie von Pfetten), the other is her sister named Mindy, who has been impaled with a stick branch about an inch or so in circumference.

I bet that really hurts!

Worse, Mindy has been infected by the Zombie virus, but no one at this point realizes it.

The uninjured Cindy dashes in front of the hearse so that Lauren (Natalie Malaika) is forced to slam on the brakes in the hearse.

Cindy tells them about the pervert zombie. Image courtesy SYFY

As they all gather around Mindy, they are shocked at the nature of the injury, wondering what could have caused such a wound? Cindy explains that something very odd has occurred to them in the forest while bird watching.

This effectively ends the ongoing argument between Herb (Garry Chalk) and Lauren.

The two ladies are fleeing from what the uninjured lady has designated, “a pervert” (Lars Grant).

As he approaches, it turns out that he is a zombie with no pants. The viewers get a shot of a zombie’s bum, but the zombie dick is cleverly hidden in the long grass.

The pervert zombie. Image courtesy SYFY

While our four heroes stare in amazement at the naked zombie, the two ladies make off with the hearse. The lesson to be learned? Never leave your keys in the ignition. More on Mindy and Cindy and the role “The Lady Birders” play a bit later in the episode.

Somehow, Amy (Kristy Dawn Dinsmore) has lost one of her shoes as the zombie continues to approach. She is still upset that the zombies have ruined her wedding. So, as she has a meltdown, she removes the other shoe and her veil and tosses them at the zombie. Jai (Dejan Loyola) tries to comfort her, which Herb says is babying his daughter.

The zombie then goes after Jai. I guess it wants some Indian food? Along comes the country boy in a tow truck, Bobby Hart (Matty Finochio), who blows away the zombie’s head with a double-barreled shotgun. “Does anybody want a ride into town?” says Bobby.

McDermott is still caged. Image courtesy SYFY

At the lab, Doctor Logan still has McDermott locked in the cage. She is on the phone, having a conversation with someone who is obviously her boss. She says she needs more time. Then, Logan begins showing Zombie McDermott some items. She’s holding a conversation with him, or rather, she’s talking and he’s just snarling back. I’d snarl too if she did to me what she did to him.

As Zombie McDermott finds and shows great interest in his lighter, Logan is thrilled with the progress that she had nothing to do with. As Zombie McDermott continues to examine his lighter, Logan sees his wallet and attempts to grab it. McDermott is faster and grabs it back. Fearing now for her safety, she lets him have it. He opens it and removes his police badge, attaching it to his clothing at his chest. Zombie McDermott seems to still have some memories that are connected to meaningful objects. To test this, Logan picks up his phone. She can’t access it until she uses the fingerprints on his severed finger to do so. Creepy. She shows him a video of his wife and son which really seems to affect him, until she suddenly removes her lab coat, grabs her things, and leaves. Yes, that would annoy me too, my Zombie friend.

Miranda Frigon as Mayor Paula, Jay Brazeau as Pops Parker. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Mayor Paula (Miranda Frigon) is also involved in a conversation, or rather, an argument with Pops Parker (Jay Brazeau).

Paula wants to arm people who have arrived at Paymart while Pops wants to try to catch and reason with the zombies.

“You can’t just create a militia”, Pops demands.

Paula, who has been pushing the Second Amendment throughout the series, disagrees.

Blasting them is her preferred method. “My husband and I were attacked by those things. My campaign manager was killed by those things”.

Not to create a political debate, but in this situation, I would want to be armed too!

Keenan Tracey as Cam. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Cam (Keenan Tracey) is helping out by putting plywood up to block any entrances. Somehow, his efforts yield very poor results because, as soon as he releases the plywood, it falls onto the floor. His response was, “I missed a stud or something”. At that moment, Jai, Amy, Herb, Lauren, and Bobby Hart walk through the door. Cam seems pleased to see Lauren. Hugs are always good in an apocalypse.

Cam tells a questioning Lauren that his dad is still missing, “probably passed out somewhere”. Hey now, what happened to “Dad, I love you”, from the last episode? Meanwhile, in another part of the store, Luke (Daniel Doheny) is annoyed at his father and demands to know why he doesn’t stand up to his mother more. These people turn on their family members quickly. Jai invites Lauren to help in the Infirmary, “If you can sew a corpse, you can suture a live person”. Maybe not. Her bedside manner has a lot to be desired. She tells her patient that she would be more comfortable with him if he were dead. The patient’s reaction is priceless. Too much information, Lauren. As she finishes, Jai tells her to go and check on the other patients.

Matty Finochio as Bobby, Miranda Frigon as Mayor Paula, Jay Brazeau as Pops Parker. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Bobby is enthusiastically heading out to shoot zombies.

It is easy to imagine that he is not going to be singing Kumbaya with them.

That’s when Pops stops him, “Those things out there used to be our friends and our neighbors. We don’t even know what’s causing this. What if there’s a cure? What if this is temporary? We need to help them and not destroy them.”

Pops does have a bit of a point but saving creatures that want to kill and eat you might be a bit one-sided.

All first aid trainers will tell you to only save a person if it doesn’t cost you your life.

Naturally, Pops’ position sets up the next political debate with Mayor Paula.

Zombie. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Lauren comes across one of the two women who had made off with the hearse.

At this point, I’m wondering why Jai and Herb didn’t triage the injured? Medical personnel always do this to treat the most badly injured first.

Anyway, the one lady still has the protruding branch in her abdomen. Jai rushes over to assess the injury. It’s bad.

Herb also comes over after suturing another injury and tells him that the woman won’t survive. Her injury is too severe.

Jai, who is obviously a dedicated doctor, refuses to give up.

Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy, Garry Chalk as Herb, Dejan Loyola as Jai, Natalie Malaika as Lauren, Keenan Tracey as Cam. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Herb has the experience to understand the woman’s predicament, so he sends Lauren to get some meds from the now-closed pharmacy; pain killers even if they are expired could help the lady die with dignity.

Lauren listens to Herb in this case. His request is a good one, so she proceeds to the pharmacy office. She doesn’t find much, except a bottle with four pills in it. She recognizes them as the medication they need as she examines them.

When one pill drops to the floor, she picks it up and stashes it. Is she keeping it for herself because she was a drug addict in a past life?

One pill will not help her very much if that is its purpose.

Natalie Malaika as Lauren. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Cam and Lauren hug each other. Luke and Cam finally have some interaction on Neutral ground. Luke has found a baseball practice apparatus that he is using as he swings a baseball bat. Luke asks Cam to try it out. Hopefully, these two enemies have buried the hatchet, at least for the time being.

While they are getting to know one another as friends, Amy is mixing a drink from a stash of alcohol that she has found. Not far away, Trey (Christopher Russell) is sitting on the floor, up against some commercial refrigerators, polishing off a six pack of beer. Misery loves company.

We find Captain Pike (Marci T. House) outside still trying to convince the National Guard to help them out. The fact that she’s not getting anywhere suggests that there is more going on than bureaucracy. Pike is a smart lady. She asks Mayor Paula to borrow her phone. A different number may yield results, but I doubt it.

Tribute to George A. Romero. Image courtesy SYFY

Amy joins Trey on the floor with her drink. Just beforehand, a nice touch is included as an “Easter Egg” tribute to George A. Romero. If you look closely, it can be seen on the wall behind Amy in a “The Day of the Dead” poster.

They discuss Trey’s pathetic existence, or so he calls it. Amy commiserates that her life isn’t a fairy tale either. Her father is very controlling, she says. She manages to get Trey feeling good enough, with a little Dutch courage, to go and confront Paula with his decision to live his own life.

Amy murmurs, “Now all that you have to do is live long enough for you to do it.” Amy’s comment is prophetic since that won’t happen.

Jay Brazeau as Pops Parker, Dejan Loyola as Jai. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Jai splashes cold water on his face in one of the bathrooms. As he exits, Amy is coming the other way. They hug for a moment until Jai realizes that Amy smells of alcohol. He is not impressed that, while he has been trying to save people, she has been partying. Amy tries to explain, but Jai is not listening. His mind is already made up. His patient, the lady with the stick has passed away so Jai is not feeling too good about himself right now, “What kind of doctor would I be if I didn’t try (to save her)? Oh, yeah, I’d be your dad. I can’t believe I almost married you.” Oh, my. That’s not good.

Whenever Herb is alone he is self-treating a nasty wound he has across his abdomen. So far, we have no idea how he got it. When Amy comes back to the Infirmary to see him Herb tells her that Jai would be a good husband for someone, but not for her. He isn’t good enough. Amy seems much more concerned that her life is ruined than about the Zombies.

While all this is going on, Mayor Paula and Trey are arguing about their relationship. Lauren, who has been busy cleaning up the dead woman leaves her as Trey walks away from Paula leaving the Mayor alone in a hallway adjacent to the dead lady.
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Jay Brazeau as Pops Parker. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Pops is being the distraction of the moment.

He tells Cindy that everyone in the community is just like they are part of a big family, It is clear that Pops Parker sincerely believes this to be true.

That’s when Mindy, the lady who was impaled with the stick shows up as a zombie.

Pops tries to reason with her.

Pops mistakenly thinks it is going well and turns around to confirm with the bystanders that his way is working.

As expected, Pops is completely surprised when Mindy, now a full fledged zombie, instead pounced on the naive Pops Parker.

Christopher Russell as Trey. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Trey, filled with his strong man attitude after swizzling a six-pack of beer, grabs a shovel as a weapon and starts beating the zombie. He also makes the mistake of turning away. She pounces on him and bites his neck. As he bleeds out and dies, and Mayor Paula falls on him weeping.

As we learn a few minutes later in a flashback, that when Paula was alone in the hallway, she approached the room that the dead woman was in and let her out. Karma has paid a visit to Paula whom paid the price with her husband Trey, instead of her intended victim, Pops Parker.

At this point, I am hoping that neither Pops nor Paula become mayor since both of them have been underhanded in this crisis. Who should be in charge of the town? Jai, of course. He may not be the doctor that Herb wants but Jai seems to be the one who can handle emergencies far better than the rest of the townspeople. Other candidates seem to be biting the dust at an alarming rate.

Hopefully, we will also find out exactly who Logan’s boss is, what happens to Zombie McDermott, and whether Captain Pike manages to convince some National Guard folks to show up.

What’s next? Tune in at SYFY in the United States and CTV Scifi in Canada next week to see who lives, who is undead, and if Detective McDermott remembers more about his human life as a police detective!

Thanks to Kenn for staging images, the featured video, and, many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!

Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview with your friends, or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.

Regards,

Patricia
November 22, 2021
Day Of The Dead Til the Dead Do Us Part With Maybe More Stargate in the Story?
Welcome Back Undead Science Fiction Horror Fans,

Images and videos courtesy SYFY

We are at the mid-season point for Day of the Dead with the ‘Til the Dead Do Us Part episode.

This is a fun series. But before I begin my review, speaking of mayors, I wonder what happened to Pops Parker (Jay Brazeau). I hope he turns up later, probably as a zombie, but I also kind of hope not. We will see.

There are and have been numerous great bits, and if you are a zombie movie fan, you will see Easter eggs throughout like the guest appearance of Dan Shea, and main Day of the Dead actors Mike Dopud as Detective McDermott and Garry Chalk as Herb, all well known by the fans in our Stargate Hall of Fame.

Speaking of Stargate, since the series has so many Canadian actors who have mostly appeared in such SYFY hits like Stargate SG-1, perhaps it would have been a good idea to include some of the other Stargate main actors like Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Chris Judge, Richard Dean Anderson, Gary Jones, Teryl Rothery, Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Beau Bridges, Robert Picardo, Lexa Doig, Peter DeLuise, and Corin Nemec to name but a few of them as candidates for cameo appearances?

I would also have suggested considering Stargate Atlantis actors had I been a Producer and Casting Director for Day of the Dead. While it is obvious that not all of the fine actors that I mentioned in both series could have appeared, some could have been given a cameo in episodes, say as military officers with similar names to their Stargate character names so as not to infringe on the MGM Studios Stargate franchise copyright.

The list of Stargate suggested cameos would be endless for producing a lot of fun bits. Stargate fans would have loved it, and doing so would have no doubt boosted the Day of the Dead ratings to stellar heights to help ensure a second season.
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Til the Dead Do Us Part:

Dejan Loyola as Jai, Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy, Gerry Chalk as Herb. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

The episode was wonderfully written by Liz Hsiao Lan Alper and Terri Hughes Burton, with delightful direction by Jacquie Gould.

As we learned last week that the wedding cost for Herb (Garry Chalk) is $50,000, we also learned that it was about to get crashed by a group who are not there for the free booze and great food.

They have other specific dietary requirements.

We meet Herb’s wife Cindy (Stefanie von Petten) who seems to have some issues being married to, “fun and charming” Herb. What about poor Jai (Dejan Loyola), who only wants to marry his lady love, Amy (Kristy Dawn Dinsmore)?

Mike Dopud as McDermott. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

It might be an understatement to say that the wedding has a few bumps in the road.

We also learn the fate of one Detective McDermott (Mike Dopud), who is just doing his job, but gets in way over his head.

Dear McDermott continues to wear the coveralls he donned in the last episode with the name “Bub” stitched over the left pocket.

We are informed by Mike Dopud that it’s “An ‘homage’ to the original “Night of the Living Dead” movie by the iconic George A. Romero.

Marci T. House as Captain Pike, Miranda Frigon as Paula. Image courtesy SYFY Bowman — (Photo by: DOTD S1 Productions/SYFY)

Luke (Daniel Doheny) and Cam (Keenan Tracey) are still mortal enemies in this episode, more’s the pity. Maybe they will finally become friends now that they have an immortal enemy to deal with.

At the police station, the Mayor (Miranda Frigon) is doing a bang-up job calming nerves and looking for a way to deal with her current major crisis.

She is working with Capt. Pike (Marci T. House), who is doing her best to be, “by the book”.

That never works in a crisis, at least on T.V. What a mess.

Luke is trapped! Image courtesy SYFY

We find Luke where we left off last week, stuck on a bridge with a bit of a problem. He has two zombies to the left of his, one on the right – we are stuck in the middle with Luke. His dad, Trey (Christopher Russell) who’s day is also not going well, comes riding in driving a black truck to save his boy. Trey flattens a zombie, but since he now can’t see with all the guts on his windshield, he slams on the brakes and can’t get started again.

Luke is now to the rescue. He grabs his own car and pulls up next to dad. They are away with relief and gratitude all around. As they drive, Luke and Trey discuss their family situation. Trey begins bawling like a little kid. This really alarms Luke who, naturally, tries to comfort his father. Trey confesses that he was going to leave Paula for Nicole after the election. Luke tells him that Nicole is dead thanks to a zombie. This gets Trey all worked up again. His life has just fallen apart. Luke does his best to comfort his dad again. “You killed that zombie with your truck”. Yeah, at least he is a good dad if nothing else.

Morgan Holmstrom as Sarah Blackwood. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Meanwhile, McDermott and Sarah Blackwood (Morgan Holmstrom) have guns on Doctor Logan (Lucia Walters) and a security guard. The order of the moment seems to be, “Don’t shoot”. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your perspective, Rhodes (Kevin O’Grady) barges in. Shooting commences. McDermot is injured.

Blackwood takes the opportunity to run. She gets away, but McDermot gets caged. When he wakes up, he discovers that this is a cage made for two. He has a Zombie roommate. Fortunately, it is chained to the far side, so, as long as McDermot keeps to his end, all will be well. Blackwood is nowhere to be seen.

Doctor Logan informs McDermott that his zombie friend seems to be an early settler from Europe based on his clothing. So he has been in that drilling hole where they found him since the 1700’s.

Mike Dopud as McDermott. Image by Michael Courtney, DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

McDermott responds that he was obviously put there for a reason and he should be put back. That would be the smart thing to do. But Logan, although book smart, is obviously not common sense smart.

In a pickle, I mean, a cage, McDermott continues to try to reason with Logan. It is a lost cause since she is more focused on what a boon to humanity a cure for death might be. She tells him that his body is fighting off the zombie virus.

While Rhodes has been hanging around in the background listening to all this, it is obvious that, like McDermott, he thinks she is off her nut as well. She sends him to find a dead rodent to test.

As Rhodes leaves he calls her Dr. Frankenstein.

Dejan Loyola as Jai, Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy, Victor Zinck Jr. as Shawn, Garry Chalk as Herb. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

At the wedding, Herb agrees with Cindy that the wedding should get started so he heads to the golf club to see what the holdup is all about. While Cindy is wondering what might be coming through the floor of the wedding venue, Herb is on his way to find his daughter. He finds Amy in the bathroom and Jai outside trying to reason with her. Herb’s first wrong assumption is because it’s about a prenup that Amy has no idea about. The door opens and Amy as well as Shawn (Victor Zinck Jr.) exit. Shawn is one creepy dude. As the argument continues, Jai, the only sensible one, notices that the music has stopped.

At the police department, Capt. Pike is on the phone looking for backup. She is told that it is three hours away. Cam is in another room trying to contact his father through the police radio system. Sadly, dad can’t hear him. He has no radio in the cage. He wants his father to know that, although they hadn’t really gotten along over the years, he still loves his dad very much. Aw, so sad.

Day of the Dead S1x05 Cindy scrambles for her life as the Zombies ruin the wedding. Image courtesy SYFY

Cindy has decided to apply what you do in a fire, to what you do with Zombies. It is not quite, stop, drop, and roll, but she has decided to drop and crawl around the wedding guests as they end up as the main course. Reception before the wedding. How fun. Jai and Shawn have decided to take things in hand. Jai wants to save people. Shawn wants to prove that he is the Alpha male. Amy and Herb bring up the rear. All the while, Herb just wants out of this disaster. Jai reaches under the now bloodied wedding tent drapes and pulls out victims. Shawn manages to pull out a zombie. Shawn is such a loser. He doesn’t seem to get anything right.

Cindy shows up spattered with blood. She has clearly lost it since her main concern is the wedding and saving the wedding cake. When she picks up the cake from a draped table, she gets pulled under and all that is left of her when Amy tries to save her mom is the cake and the two arms that are connected to it. Amy drops the cake but saves the wedding topper of the bride and groom.

Dejan Loyola as Jai, Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Ever loving husband, Herb, does not seem at all concerned about his deceased wife. Amy and Jai have run back into the golf club. Amy is distraught at the death of her mother. Jai comforts her and gently takes the cake topper from her and sets it on the table. Jai notices two pictures on the wall of Aboriginal people.

He explains to Amy, Herb, and Shawn that the zombies are the Indigenous people who are buried (not anymore) under the golf course. Herb is more focused on getting help. He tries to contact the police department but gets no answer. Shawn, ever the jealous loser, decides that now is the time to propose to Amy. He doesn’t get a reply because that is when the zombies decide to make an entrance.

Again, Shawn gets it wrong by deciding to show Amy that he is the real hero and the ideal mate when he rushes toward the nearest zombie. He will destroy it, win the day and the fair maiden. If his ambition was gold, he’d be a billionaire. However, he just doesn’t have the technique. The zombie overpowers him. Shawn the romantic becomes Shawn of the Dead. Herb, Amy, and Jai are left to fend off the rest of the zombie hoard of about six or seven zombies.

Natalie Malaika as Lauren. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Enter Lauren Howell (Natalie Malaika) who is now in the golf club with a cleaver. She cleaves a zombie’s head and everyone rushes to her hearse. Great choice of vehicle.

Luke and Trey arrive at the Cop Shop to tell Paula that the zombies are everywhere. They have to get out. Paula again takes charge and looks up the perfect place to hide out during the zombie apocalypse. She settles on the local department store, the Paymart. It is perfect because it has minimal entrances, minimal windows, and will be difficult for anyone to get into who is not supposed to get into it. Too bad that the producers of that other zombie show that is filmed in Atlanta never thought of that.

Rhodes is angry. He is royally pissed off that no one is working at the drilling rig site. His boss, the lunatic Logan is busy playing mad scientist while his crew is not earning him money. Rhodes is not long for this life, I think. He gives Logan her dead rat. She pumps it full of some concoction. At first, it doesn’t react. But then it twitches and squeaks. McDermott attempts to continue to rationalize with Logan and then with Rhodes and the guard. No one but the guard seems to be listening.

Morgan Holmstrom as Sarah, Kevin O’Grady as Rhodes. Image by Michael Courtney DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

That’s when Blackwood shows up and shoves a pistol in Rhodes’ neck, “Let McDermott out.” After a few threats, McDermott is released from the cage. He knocks out the guard and takes his gun.

He forgets to relock the cage so, naturally, the zombie manages to pull himself away from his handcuffed arms and lunge at McDermot. Meanwhile, Rhodes attempts to overpower Blackwood.

Blackwood is a better fighter or Rhodes is a terrible fighter. Either way, Blackwood overpowers Rhodes. Rhodes gets beaten up by a girl. How embarrassing.

She and McDermott have one last conversation, “Tell Pike what is happening.” As Blackwood flees, McDermott passes away for now, only to become undead at the end of the episode!

Christopher Russell as Trey, Daniel Doheny as Luke, Miranda Frigon as Paula, Marci T. House as Capt Pike. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

At the Hoosegow, everybody loads up with weapons. Since the town is being overrun, it’s time to get to the Paymart.

Captain Pike sends out a mass email for everyone in town who is not a zombie to meet there. Zombies may disregard the message. Once there, Paula starts giving orders to set up the place as a crisis centre. This is definitely going to be a mass casualty event.

“Til The Dead Do Us Part: is a good way to clean out the town of unpleasant people like Shawn. It is sad to lose some of the better characters like McDermott who ends up being caged again for Doctor Logan’s hideous experiments.

The common sense says that McDermott has shown does not seem too be common in Mayor Bowman’s town, but we will see McDermott again as a Zombie, so no more Mr. Nice Guy!

What’s next? Tune in at SYFY in the United States and CTV Scifi in Canada next week to see who lives, or who is undead as a Zombie!

Thanks to Kenn for staging images, the featured video, and, many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!

Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview with your friends, or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.

Regards,

Patricia
November 15, 2021
Day Of The Dead Review and Analysis – Forest Of The Damned Is Full of Zombies And So Is The Wedding!
Welcome Back Undead Science Fiction Thriller Fans,

Images and videos courtesy SYFY

Our Team WHR grade for the fourth episode is a Straight “A” for exciting entertainment value.

“Day of the Dead” moves close to mid season with this episode confirming that few people, if any in Mawinhaken, Pennsylvania will be left unscathed by the Zombie Apocalypse.

What has befallen their town starts off in “Forest Of The Damned” with Jai (Dejan Loyola), Lauren (Natalie Malaika) and Cam (Keenan Tracey) who are mourning the death of Mrs. French (Paula Shaw). Viewers will recall Mrs. French sacrificed herself by vaporizing a bunch of the foul creatures when she opened, and subsequently ignited her oxygen cylinder inside a room filled with Zombies at “The Grey Mile” retirement facility.

The horror science fiction series continues to delight many SYFY viewers with it’s creative and campy take on the George A. Romero classic “Day of the Dead” film series. We are among those viewers who believe that Day of the Dead is superior in all respects to other programs in this genre, and as mentioned above, give it a Straight “A”.

What is surprising are the lackluster ratings for “Day of the Dead”. As a series DOTD has received to date approximately 277,000 live viewers for the premiere, 216,000 for the second episode, 184,000 for the third episode and falling even further to under 176,000 for the fourth episode. In fact “Day of the Dead” has fallen so far that few websites are even tallying the ratings numbers any longer.

Zombies. Image by Sergei Bachlakov, DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

While additional viewer counts have been received at USA Network, which also broadcasts “Day of the Dead”, lifting the series average to approximately 224,000 viewers per episode so far, a question remains in our minds;

Are other viewers apparently tired of Zombie Apocalypse type of movies and television shows?

We at Team WHR say yes, even though we sincerely enjoy “Day of the Dead”, and nevertheless hope that it is renewed for a second season.

Moreover, the low ratings for “Day of the Dead”, in our opinion, may be a demonstration that viewers want SYFY to return to it’s roots with new pure science fiction programs to emulate the success of series such as The Expanse, Stargate, Eureka, Sanctuary, and Warehouse 13 to name but a few.

We remain hopeful that the ratings will improve so that a second season can become reality, but are concerned that it may not be renewed due to low ratings. We shall see.
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Forest Of The Damned:

Jai is in tears after his favorite patient sacrifices herself. Image courtesy SYFY

The episode was directed by Steven Kostanski, and wonderfully written by Maisie Culver.

Ms. Culver also serves as the Executive Story Editor for the entire series.

“Forest Of The Damned” opens, as mentioned above, with Jai, Lauren and Cam leaving “The Grey Mile” fondly remembering Mrs. French a “bad ass” for sacrificing herself to save them from being Zombified.

Viewers will recall that Jai was in tears over the death of Mrs. French.

The trio seems heads to the country club where Jai is supposed to be married.

Jai continues to the country club as Lauren accepts some antibiotics from Jai to fight the Zombie infection and heads out.

Marci T. House as Captain Pike, Miranda Frigon as Paula Bowman. Image courtesy SYFY

Instead, Cam goes into the police station to report to Captain Pike (Marci T. House) and Mayor Paula Bowman (Miranda Frigon) about the Zombie Apocalypse that has become manifest in their fair town of Mawinhaken.

Both are only now realizing that it is true.

Captain Pike want to call in the State Troopers, but Paula convinces her to wait until they can find out more.

In the meantime, Can finds a bottle of booze in Captain Pike’s desk. He decides to take a few swigs after seeing a picture of his family in the desk

Kristy Dawn Dismore as Amy. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Back at the country club Jai is confronted by Amy (Kristy Dawn Dinsmore) and her father Herb (Garry Chalk) after Amy’s best friend Shawn (Victor Zink Jr.) asks why he is not in his tuxedo for the wedding service?

Jai tries to explain to Amy that he still loves her, but a Zombie Apocalypse is destroying their town. Amy gets sick to her stomach hearing this, and is seen, going with Shawn who lock themselves in the restroom.

Two questions come to mind;

Is Shawn really Amy’a best friend, or is he her lover?

Is Amy suffering from morning sickness from being pregnant, and if so, who is the father?

Daniel Doheny as Luke, Trezzo Mahoro as Trent. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

A quick segue to Luke (Daniel Doheny) and Trent (Trezzo Mahoro) who were planning a Kegger party out by the lake with their friends.

In what will become “The Forest Of The Damned”, Luke and Trent are in deep trouble!

The Kegger party is long forgotten when the two are attacked by Zombie Zero (Nikolai Witschl) and other Zombies after they had decimated and massacred all of their friends in the forest.

The two try to hide, but will they be able to escape the nightmare?

Not very likely.

More on that factor at the end of “Forest Of The Dead”.

McDermott gets free. Image courtesy SYFY

Next we are with Detective McDermott (Mike Dopud) who is escaping from what we were led to believe in the last episode was in a hospital.

We learn that McDermott has actually has been held at a corporate research facility run by Dr. Logan (Lucia Walters).

Outside Sarah (Morgan Holmstrom) is still hunting down whoever is responsible for harming her ally McDermott.

Sarah follows a lackey of Dr. Logan’s inside.

This will come in handy later when the lackey finds and fights with McDermott.

McDermott stabs the lackey with a hypodermic in the heart with copious amounts of blood streaming out of the lackeys heart, but not before McDermott, who passes out, is injected with something.

Doctor Logan studies the Zombie virus. Image courtesy SYFY

McDermott regains consciousness, locates some street clothes in a locker, and changes into them leaving his gown and wrist bracelet from Doctor Logan as bread crumbs that Sarah will find shortly.

Sure eneough, Sarah finds McDermott’s wrist band with his name on it as well as his hospital gown and begins to look for him.

Meanwhile, Dr. Logan is observed studying the Zombie virus concluding that “this thing is a cure for death”.

The questions become will Dr. Logan abandon her medical ethics to pursue the virus?,

Will she use the virus for good or for evil?

McDermott gets the upper hand. Image courtesy SYFY

McDermott knocks out another guard grabs his gun, finding Dr. Logan asking her “I’ve got some questions, and I’m assuming you have the answers”.

In this scene it becomes apparent McDermott is suspicious that Dr. Logan’s intentions are motivated by greedy corporate interests, and not for the benefit of humankind to fight the Zombie virus.

It also brings us to another question.

Just how long has Doctor Logan been working on the Zombie virus at the fracking facility?

Did she release it on purpose? It certainly seems that way!

Sarah gets the drop on the guard. Image courtesy SYFY

Sarah eluded still other guards, shoots one, and is able to link up with McDermott, who found holding Dr. Logan at gunpoint.

Another guard shows up.

The sequence leaves us with a cliffhanger when it cuts away on the sound of a gunshot.

The question is whose gun, and who in the heck has survived?

The exciting episode winds down on three notes:

Herb and Jai convince Shawn to come out of the restroom. Image courtesy SYFY

Back at the country club where the wedding is supposed to take place, Herb and Jai convince Shawn to come out of the restroom where he has been hiding with Amy.

Herb blurts out it might have been better if Amy had stayed with Shawn, revealing that they had been lovers, at least in the past. In a moment of pure disgust, Herb goes on to say:

“What a waste of $50,000” (for the wedding) and “what a shit show!”

Herb decides to head to the bar for a few stiff drinks. After that scene, we agree with Herb and decide to have several few belts of booze ourselves!

Luke is trapped! Image courtesy SYFY

At the police station, Captain Pike finally calls in the State Troopers while Paula tries to call Luke subsequent to getting his voicemail.

Too late Mom, Luke is running for his life and may not survive!

In the final sequence in the forest, Trent runs away to save his own life, leaving Luke trapped by the Zombies on both sides of a bridge as the screen fades to black!

In closing for now, we at Team WHR look forward to tweeting with you next Friday during the terrific “Til The Dead Do Us Part” episode, and include a sneak peek below. Thanks again SYFY!
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We will be back in the near future with more of your favorite television series and movie analysis. In the meantime, please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or family and leave your comments! We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future! Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Kenn of #TeamWHR
November 7, 2021
Day Of The Dead Review and Analysis – Mrs French Explodes The Grey Mile Zombies!
Welcome Back Undead Science Fiction Thriller Fans,

Images and videos courtesy SYFY

Our grade for the third episode continues to be a Straight “A” for sheer entertainment value.

Even more fun was realized this past Friday when the official SYFY Twitter account interacted with “Day of the Dead” admirers during “The Grey Mile”, delighting the fans with retweet’s and comments as the Zombie action unfolded on our screens!

Thanks SYFY!

The fun new science fiction thriller on SYFY in the United States and CTVSciFi in Canada continues to enthrall the viewers with its campy look and feel in a tribute to iconic George A. Romero, creator of the “Living Dead” series of films.

“Day of the Dead” is a very enjoyable science fiction thriller series that features a large number of puns and comedic one liner’s that make viewing the show each week a pleasure with its fast paced action and exciting sequences.

“Day of the Dead” stars Keenan Tracey as Cam McDermott, Daniel Doheny as Luke Bowman, Natalie Malaika as Lauren Howell, Morgan Holmstrom as Sarah Blackwood, Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy, Miranda Frigon as pistol packing Zombie hunter Mayor Paula Bowman, Mike Dopud as Detective McDermott, Dejan Loyola as Jai Fisher, Marci T. House as Captain Pike, Kevin O’Grady as Rhodes the corrupt corporate foreman at the fracking facility, Jay Brazeau as mayoral candidate Pops Parker, Matty Finochio as Bobby Hart, Trezzo Mahoro as Trent, Christopher Russell as the adulterous Trey Bowman, Caitlin Stryker as Nicole, Trey’s adulterous lover and Mayor Bowman’s campaign manager, Lucia Walters as Doctor Logan, and Stefanie von Pfetten as Cindy who is coming up beginning in the fifth episode “Til the Dead Do Us Part”.

Paula Shaw as Mrs. French, Dejan Loyola as Jai Calvert. Image by Sergei Bachlakov, DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

This week the series spotlight focus is on a superb guest star, Paula Shaw as Mrs. French, who has appeared briefly in the first three episodes.

In “The Grey Mile” episode, Mrs. French, a favorite patient of Jai, is front and center in the action as she sacrifices all to help save the fictional town of Mawinhaken, Pennsylvania from the Zombie Apocalypse by literally blasting a bunch of the foul creatures to smithereens!

“Day Of The Dead” was created by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas. The series features dynamic directing by entertainment industry veterans Steven Kostanski, Jem Garrard, and Jacquie Gould.

If you are not watching “Day of the Dead”, we suggest a mini binge watch to catch up. You can watch the episodes for free at SYFY in the United States, and on CTVSciFi in Canada. Additionally, the first two episodes are available free from SYFY on their YouTube channel!

Before beginning our review analysis for the latest episode, we include below for your enjoyment an updated official preview from the great team at SYFY.
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The Grey Mile:

The Mayoral candidates. Image courtesy SYFY

The episode was jointly written by Jared Rivet and J. Wilder Konschak with direction provided by Steven Kostanski.

We find a nice beginning to “The Grey Mile” with a pan and scan of the beautiful fictional town of Mawinhaken, Pennsylvania, before many citizens are even aware that a Zombie Apocalypse is about to tear their cozy little city apart.

The episode opens at The Grey Mile Retirement Home after we look at the front page of a local newspaper regarding the mayoral race with the headline in a news stand proclaiming “Meet The Mayoral Candidates”.

The Grey Mile Retirement Home is also the official polling place for the election where all hell is about to break loose!

Mayor Bowman, Nicole and Trey are freaking out. Image courtesy SYFY

Mayor Bowman, Trey and Nicole are freaking out about smuggling a dead body from “The Grey Mile”, who Trey accidentally shot in last week’s episode.

Their mission is to get the dead body out of the retirement home before Pops Parker can find out. Discovery of the incident could ruin Mayor Bowman’s chances for reelection.

Trey is seemingly relieved to find out that that the man he shot appears to not be dead. Surprise Trey, no need to smuggle out the body, the victim has become Zombie Zero (Nikolai Witschl) snacking on a human leg from one of many victims Zombie Zero slaughtered at “The Grey Mile”!

Nicole and Trey think Mayor Bowman has lost it when she proclaims she can be a hero, perhaps even governor by killing Zombie Zero and saving the town just as a television advertisement is broadcast with the mayor stating “I’m Paula Bowman and I approve of this message”!

Cam and Lauren save Jai. Image courtesy SYFY

Next we are with Cam and Lauren who hit Jai with Lauren’s hearse after he was being chased by a Zombie near the mortuary. Running on to the road like a mad man, Jai is found unconscious in the back of the hearse.

Having been saved by Cam and Lauren, Jai recounts his experience with witnessing the Zombie eating people while trying to call his fiancée Amy. No luck. Jai gets voicemail and the three heroes proceed to the retirement home where a protest against Mayor Bowman is underway.

No worries Jai, you are safe with Cam and Lauren for the time being. Lauren shares that she has been bitten by a Zombie but is afraid to go to the hospital. Jai suggests that they go to the infirmary clinic at The Grey Mile Retirement Home, unaware that one of the Zombie’s have just massacred many of the elderly residents.

Morgan Holmstrom as Sarah Blackwood. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

The scene switches to Sarah who is escaping the fracking facility subsequent to being punched out and tied up by the butthead corporate foreman Rhodes.

As we learned previously, Rhodes is trying to cover up the discovery of corpses in a fracking cave fearing that it will lead to an investigation of the facilities that could shut down the operation.

Sarah’s car develops a flat tire. Closer inspection reveals that the tire has been slashed by Rhodes. As she is examining the tire, corrupt foreman Rhodes opens fire with a high powered hunting rifle who is screaming at Sarah “God you’re a pain in my ass”.

Sarah takes cover, setting a trip wire then later circles back to her car where she too has a high powered hunting rifle in the trunk of the vehicle. Sarah sets off to do some hunting of her own in self defense.

Sarah’s target? You guessed it, corrupt corporate stooge, Rhodes!

Miranda Frigon as Paula, Caitlin Stryker as Nicole. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Back to the retirement home where Nicole is pressuring Mayor Bowman to reveal the secret that Pops Parker is blackmailing her about the facts regarding her son Luke.

Mayor Bowman tells Nicole that Luke is not Trey’s son and that Trey doesn’t know about it. Obviously, our pistol packing Paula has been having an affair herself.

As the three are looking for a way to avoid Zombie Zero, Trey disappears. Trey pops out of a corridor and scares Nicole and Mayor Bowman to death causing Paula to drop her gun. Nefarious Nicole picks it up but removes the cartridge clip.

Way to go Nicole, you idiot! The three of you are going to need that loaded gun in a few minutes!

Sure enough, Zombie Zero attacks, making Nicole one of their own as Trey and Mayor Bowman flee for their lives after skewering Zombie Zero with a flagpole immobilizing the foul beast to save Trey after bullets prove to be ineffective against the Zombies!

McDermott is locked in. Image courtesy SYFY

Segue to Detective McDermott who has been locked in his hospital room by Doctor Logan. Logan is examining a finger that McDermott had bitten off during his encounter with the Zombies in the cave at the fracking facility.

McDermott is shocked by the loss of his finger, and appears to be in the early stages of turning into a Zombie after finding a Zombie tooth embedded in what is left of his finger. No doubt this is the source of the contagion in his bloodstream that turns McDermott into a Zombie as we observed in the Pilot episode.

Logan is even more shocked when she discovers that McDermott’s finger is still alive, wiggling under her microscope!

Things are getting worse by the minute in Mawinhaken!

Keenan Tracey as Cam, Dejan Loyola as Jai, Natalie Malaika as Lauren. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

We move to Jai, Cam and Lauren at the retirement home infirmary clinic treating Lauren for her Zombie bite. They find Mrs. French who is hiding with a breathing apparatus and an oxygen cylinder that will come in handy a bit later.

Mrs. French quips “I was having a little trouble catching my breath” … “After I had a cigarette”.

After Jai scolds Mrs. French for smoking, she follows up by telling Jai, “I’m dying (from cancer) kid, if I gotta go, I’m gonna go out enjoying myself”.

Lauren offers Mrs. French another cigarette which Jai forbids.

Another fun line by Mrs. French erupts; “Buzzkill” to Jai as she steals a few more cigarettes while Jai isn’t looking because he is finishing stitching up Lauren’s Zombie bites after disinfecting the wounds.

Dejan Loyola as Jai, Natalie Malaika as Lauren, Paula Shaw as Mrs. French. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Outside the retirement home, the Zombies are multiplying rapidly making new members of the Undead that is fast becoming an apocalypse!

Inside The Grey Mile Retirement Home, Zombie Zero has infected and turned more victims into the Undead Zombies that will soon threaten Jai, Cam, Lauren and Mrs. French along with those that already exist within the retirement home.

The episode winds down with Doctor Logan and her assistant named Miller investigating why and how McDermott’s finger reanimated while he was at the fracking cave.

Doctor Logan finds dead people, soon to come back to life as Zombies with the floor bubbling up in a very odd fashion. The Zombie Apocalypse must be caused by fracking folks!

Unfortunately, one of the Undead comes to life as a Zombie attacking Miller who without doubt will become one of the Undead as well.

Although the scene cuts away, it certainly looks as though Doctor Logan may become trapped too, ultimately joining the growing Zombie Apocalypse!

Mrs French tells them to trap Zombies. Image courtesy SYFY

The final scenes are quite enjoyable and help us understand how we may be able to defeat the Zombie Apocalypse in the future of the “Day of the Dead”.

Our heroes, Jai, Lauren, and Cam, with the help of the savvy Mrs. French, plan to lure the Zombies that are infesting The Grey Mile Retirement Home into a trap and blast them to bits!

Mrs. French explains to Jai, Lauren and Cam that once the fire alarms are tripped on, it will automatically lock all the doors in The Grey Mile Retirement Home facilities.

What Mrs. French does not explain is that she plans to use her own oxygen cylinder as an explosive device once the Zombies are trapped in the room, with herself as the detonator!

Zombies are blown to bits. Image courtesy SYFY

Next, at the exit door that Jai, Cam and Lauren have gone through safely, Mrs. French breaks off the valve on her oxygen tank to execute her plan to fill the room with the explosive gas.

Mrs. French, then locks herself inside the room with the Zombies while Jai screams at her to come outside to safety.

As the open oxygen tank floods the room with the explosive gas, Mrs. French is heard saying “I’ll be dead in six months, at least this way I can make a difference”.

Pulling out the last cigarette she’ll ever try to smoke, Mrs. French last laugh line is when she tells the Zombies:

“You can kiss my saggy ass!”, then uses her lighter to ignite the flammable oxygen, and KABOOM the entire room is vaporized! Bye bye to many of the Zombies. Only many hundreds to go folks!

Jai is in tears after his favorite patient sacrifices herself. Image courtesy SYFY

Jai, outside safely with Lauren and Cam, is in tears as he realizes that his favorite patient has sacrificed herself so that they could escape the Zombies.

Rest In Peace Mrs. French!

The final sequence takes us to Trent and Luke at the lake who have been planning a kegger party with friends.

Paula has already told Trey to go get them and return home ASAP. This may never happen since we find Luke alone surrounded by Zombies!

In closing for now, we at Team WHR look forward to tweeting with you next Friday during the fabulous “Forest of the Damned” episode!

We leave you with a fun video from SYFY about the fun of making “Big Kills” while filming special effects during “Day of the Dead”.

Thanks again SYFY!
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We will be back in the near future with more of your favorite television series and movie analysis. In the meantime, please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or family and leave your comments! We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future! Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Kenn of #TeamWHR
October 31, 2021
Day of the Dead Review and Analysis – The Chum In The Water!
Hello, my fellow Day of the Dead viewers.

Images and videos courtesy SYFY

When I hear the phrase Day of the Dead my brain immediately goes to the Día de Los Muertos and the long tradition it has had in the world. So, imagine my surprise, when I saw that there is a new series on Syfy about the dead…well, zombies to be exact. This series prides itself on being an homage to George Romero’s famous masterpiece Night of the Living Dead. Those are some big shoes to fill, and with the Day of the Dead only being two episodes in, we shall see how the rest of the show fares in comparison.

The cast is great and thankfully diverse. From TV veteran Mike Dopud (Stargate SG-1) and Miranada Frigon, to Keenan Tracey (Bates Motel), Dejan Loyola (Saving Hope) and Marci T. House (iZombie). It is refreshing to see a TV series that does embrace diversity it is such a crucial part of casting and such a crucial part of seeing representation on television and in film. The cast is rounded out by a plethora of television actors from all types of genres, like Daniel Doheny (Supernatural), Matty Finochio (The Order), Stefanie von Pfetten (The Man in the High Castle), Darryl Scheelar (Arrow).

The fact that this episode is tilted “Chum” does not go without notice. As we all know from the most famous shark movie of all time, Jaws, that to throw chum into the water will attract the predator within minutes.

The fact that chum consist of organs and eyeballs makes this episode a bit tongue in cheek considering what zombies like to feast on. The victims themselves are virtually walking chum buckets for the predatory zombies to dine on.

Trapped in the basement. Image courtesy SYFY

When we last see our gang they are trapped in the basement of the mortuary with rows of dead bodies in the drawers. Only to find out that they may not be the only ones down there. With cell service practically non existent, the gang tries to figure out what is the best solution or game plan to escape without having any of the drawers get opened as panic sets in.

With Lauren Howell (Natalie Malaika) having a bite mark on her arm, it is remarked, jokingly of course, by Cam McDermott (Keenan Tracey) that she will turn into a zombie but “that only happens in the movies.” That may be the case but with all of the other folklore that we know about zombies she may not be far behind.

For your enjoyment, we include the full “The Thing In The Hole” episode below courtesy of SYFY that began the predicament in the fictional town of Mawinhaken, Pennsylvania.
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Chum:

Mike Dopud as McDermott. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

The “Chum” episode, written by Liz Hsiao Lan Alper and Maisie Culver, Directed by Steven Kostanski, finds McDermott (Mike Dopud), trapped in the drill hole. McDermott will likely have to fight off a zombie that is hidden in a drilling shaft, but is coming back to life, we know from “The Thing In The Hole“, McDermott will become a zombie!

Sarah Blackwood (Morgan Holmstrom) races to try and find him before his fate turns deadly.

There is another under current in this series, the political race between Paula Bowman (Miranda Frigon) and Pops Parker (Jay Brazeau) it may be playing a part in what will tear the town apart.

With the issue of fracking as part of the show that definitely brings a different element to the arena. That issue may also contribute to the reason the zombies are wreaking havoc on the small town of Mawinhaken, Pennsylvania.

Jay Brazeau as Pops Parker. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

The controversy behind fracking is a delicate one. Yes, it brings jobs to a small town but at what cost? The cost of destroying the planet, destroying your town, and awakening more zombies?

When a protester confronts Paula, Trey (Christopher Russell) and Nicole (Caitlin Stryker) and says that she is evil and goes to pull out something from his jacket, Trey reacts by pulling out a gun and firing a warning shot. It is obvious that Trey is not very bright because the bullet ricochets off the ceiling hitting the protester and killing him. Not an effective way to keep your constituents happy.

It always fascinates me how it tends to be these small towns in rural America that always tend to have these zombie problems or vampire problems or werewolf problems. It is very rarely do we see a big city. That is very indicative of the country itself and how a lot of times the smaller cities are the ones that are ignored, the ones that have the most problems or the ones that need the help the most. Usually with zombies it is easy for them to take out a small town within a matter of days. And I have a feeling that that is going to be happening within the next several episodes that the town will be discovering its hidden secret.

Zombies. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

With the group in the mortuary trying to fight off or keep the zombies at bay, it seems that tempers flare and names are called, and guns are fired, with all of that happening we do not know if the zombies will ever been defeated. There is a mental health condition called Cotard Delusion where the afflicted believe they are a zombie. Although I doubt anything of that nature is happening here, just like all folklore or myths, this one has an actual medical diagnosis. It is interesting how a lot of the horror films that deal with zombies and vampires are rooted in scientific fact or mythical fact.

I found it remarkably interesting that they had showed pictures of the indigenous people that were inhabiting that area before the town settled. Which of course makes me think that with them drilling they may have disturbed some ancient burial ground. Remarkably similar to what happened in Stephen King‘s Pet Sematary.

You have to be incredibly careful with ancient burial grounds. It is very well known throughout history that if you disturb the dead, the dead will come back and either haunt you or indulge on your brains. Throughout history there have been many records of that as well as written and oral tradition throughout the ages.

Logan is duct taped to a chair. Image courtesy SYFY

I am sure that we will see more of the indigenous tribes mentioned in that part of the country. It would not even surprise me if there happened to be a character that came in to help the townsfolk figure out exactly what is going on. Maybe have a story or tale that will tell them what happened in that area or to try to help them fight off the zombies.

Things of course get a little bit wary when Sarah shows up at the drill site after Rhodes (Kevin O’Grady) punched her unconscious. Sarah is found duct taped to a chair at the drill site, worrying about McDermott.

For Rhodes of course time is money, drilling is money, so any time spent not drilling means no money for him or his workers. I am sure anytime Logan shows up in the series, it means that money is more important than the workers.

McDermott fights the zombie. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

With the zombie in the drill shaft and the ones in the mortuary coming back to life, it is no doubt that things are about to get unsure. As Dale succumbs to two of the zombies the rest of the gang led by Lauren and Cam find themselves debating politics as the zombies are coming through a side entrance.

While Lauren makes the point that they should abandon the rest of the group because “who brings a gun to a funeral,” Cam argues the point of telling her that “these are people victims of a political system, that preys on their prejudices” bringing up how corporations are the ones that cause them the pain.

It is very telling that a lot of these small towns seemed to come off as white trash. Instead of thinking that just because it is a small town does not mean that the citizens themselves are not educated. I have a feeling that the writers are definitely going to be infusing political issues into the show from a mayor that is pro-gun carry to big corporations inching out the little guy.

Kristy Dawn Dinsmore as Amy, Dejan Loyola as Jai. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Zombies could also be a metaphor for what happens when corporations do take over.

When everyone becomes the same, or when we become sheep to a certain extent, that is all we want to do is consume, consume, consume.

This is exactly what the zombies, victims of the evil corporations do, consume.

If you think about it, they feed off of the fear, they feed off of the seven deadly sins.

It is interesting to see how the writers will maneuver through the seven deadly sins.

It will also be interesting as well as to how the creators, writers, and directors will portray the big corporation as the “Day of the Dead” series continues in season one.

Garry Chalk as Herb. Image courtesy SYFY

With Amy (Kristy Dawn Dinsmore) and Jai’s (Dejan Loyola) wedding on temporary hold, and with Garry Chalk as a guest star, things take an interesting turn.

Next Amy’s father Herb (Garry Chalk), chats with Jai as they are playing golf, mere hours from the wedding.

Herb informs him that he may not retire like he thought he was going to do.

Instead, Herb hands Jai a prenuptial legal agreement!

Once again, the subject of money, status, and greed comes into play here.

Miranda Frigon as Mayor Bowman. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Toward the end of the episode is where the real meat of the series comes into focus. Luke Bowman (Daniel Doheny) is telling his friend Trent (Trezzo Mahoro) about the legend surrounding the lake.

The mystery surrounding the lake and the Enfield family that refused to leave even when everything around them was changing, makes me think that again the folklore of small towns and the brutal history of how the majority of them came about will play into this series as well.

With the close of the episode leaving us with a quick glimpse of something in the lake and happenings at the senior facility, we are stunned to learn that Pop Parker is threatening to expose Mayor Bowman!

I have a feeling that things are about to get very zombie.

We include a sneak peek of episode three “The Grey Mile” below for your enjoyment.

Well, my friends, I hope you enjoyed this episode. Stay tuned to SYFY in the United States and CTV SciFi in Canada for more zombie fun!
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Thanks to Kenn for video and image embedding for my feature article and many thanks to you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency. We will be back soon with more analysis about new television series, movies and conventions on our screens this year and beyond!

Please feel free to leave a comment here or If you prefer, you may also click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit me on Twitter by clicking the links or images avatars in this news story.

See You on The Other Side!

Until next time,

Regards,

Lori
October 22, 2021
Day Of The Dead Review and Analysis – The Thing in the Hole!
Welcome back Undead and science fiction drama fans,

Images and videos courtesy SYFY

A new science fiction drama thriller premiered on SYFY in the United States and CTV SciFi in Canada to rave reviews across the Internet, and with good reason why. The new series is a tribute to the entertainment industries iconic George A. Romero, creator of the famous “Living Dead” series of films.

Many will recall the famous “Night of the Living Dead” (1968) film in which Mr. Romero not only wrote the screenplay and directed the film, few know that he also appeared in the film in an un-credited role as a news reporter. “Night of the Living Dead” was followed by a series of hit “Living Dead” movies that stretched for nearly four decades, setting the benchmark for such science fiction drama films that are legend to this very day!

Now comes “Day of the Dead”, a fun entertaining science fiction series with a stellar cast starring Keenan Tracey (Debris, Fringe) as Cam McDermott, Daniel Doheny (Brand New Cherry Flavor, Supernatural) as Luke Bowman, Natalie Malaika (Charmed, Good Witch) as Lauren Howell, Morgan Holmstrom (Under the Autumn Moon, I Still See You) as Sarah Blackwood, Kristy Dawn Dinsmore (Vikings, The Stand) as Amy, Miranda Frigon (Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, Primeval New World) as Paula Bowman, Mike Dopud (Power, Stargate Universe) as Detective McDermott, Dejan Loyola (iZombie, Fringe) as Jai Fisher, Marci T. House (Tribal, Van Helsing) as Captain Pike, Kevin O’Grady (Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Fringe) as Rhodes, Matty Finochio (The Order, Sanctuary) as Bobby Hart, Trezzo Mahoro (Van Helsing, The Magicians) as Trent, Christopher Russell (Star Trek Discovery, Lost Girl) as Trey Bowman, Lucia Walters (Virgin River, Stargate Atlantis) as Logan, Stefanie von Pfetten (The Man in the High Castle, Numb) as Cindy, Michel Issa Rubio (Snowpiercer, Once Upon A Time) as Thin Zombie, Darryl Scheelar (Arrow, Fringe) as Magnum, and Caitlin Stryker (Clarice, Continuum) as Nicole.

Zombies. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

“Day Of The Dead” was created by Jed Elinoff (Ravens Home, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated) and Scott Thomas (Malibu Rescue, Raven’s Home) featuring superb directing by Steven Kostanski (Psycho Goreman, Leprechaun Returns), Jem Garrard (Motherland: Fort Salem, Wynonna Earp), and Jacquie Gould (Obi Wan Kenobi, Van Helsing) at production facilities run by Dynamic Television, Abbott Street Films, Cartel Pictures and DOTD S1 Productions.

“Day Of The Dead” is described by the creators as “Six strangers trying to survive the first 24 hours of an undead invasion.” Of interest, it appears that the ten season one episodes may follow the format of the hit series “24”, focusing on the action of a single day in the living, and the undead, within the town of Mawinhaken, Pennsylvania, as inhabitants flee for their lives.

Lots of Zombies. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

If the series is successful, this could setup a “Day Two”, “Day Three” type of story arc that was loved by “24” fans.

Fingers crossed for a successful first season run with more seasons in the future!

What is to come next in “Day Of The Dead”?

That’s right undead fans, Zombies… lots of Zombies!

The series premise is directly related to “Night of the Living Dead” which will make this an enjoyable experience featuring the latest in high quality cinematography, superb visual effects technology by Todd Masters team, and outstanding makeup design from the team led by Ashley Forshaw!

Before beginning of review analysis, we include the official trailer below for your enjoyment.
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The Thing in the Hole Pilot:

Mayors race divides town. Image courtesy SYFY

The pilot episode, written by Liz Hsiao Lan Alper, Maisie Culver and Jed Elinoff finds us on a normal day in the fictional town of Mawinhaken, Pennsylvania. The episode opens with a look at the front page of a local newspaper on the ground regarding the mayoral race.

The headline reads “Vote For Mayor Divides Town”. If you look closely at the newspaper, you will notice legendary character actor Jay Brazeau (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and over 270 other roles) is the Mayoral candidate Parker who is running against Mayor Paula Bowman.

It is not known if we will see Brazeau again in a cameo? Perhaps as a Zombie? We shall see and hope so because Mr. Brazaeu is a fabulous actor we have admired for many years.

Caitlin Stryker as Nicole, Miranda Frigon as Paula Bowman, Daniel Doheny as Luke Bowman. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

No doubt the newspaper headline concerns the controversy about the Cleargenix Energy Corporation fracking operation outside of town.

Mayor Bowman supports this effort due to it’s financial benefit to the future of the town, but as we will quickly learn, it’s soon to be realized as an apocalyptic event that has a detrimental environmental impact… to human beings.

No one has any idea what fracking is about to do to Mawinhaken and it’s citizens.

When this is all over, who is the mayor will be the least of their worries!

We begin in the near future with Zombies making footsteps on the newspaper. The camera pans back where we find Cam McDermott and Luke Bowman in their car with a Zombie crawling over the hood after they had rammed the foul creature.

Cam and Luke flee for their lives. Image courtesy SYFY

Cam and Luke thought they had killed the nasty critter, but as the camera pans back further, we observe that the entire town is infested with Zombies, apparently including the conversion of the local Sheriff, Captain Pike to a Zombie. Cam and Luke flee, running for their lives as the Zombies are witnessed feasting on some fresh meat, none other than their friends, the local townspeople!

Trapped in a dead end alley, things do not look good for Cam and Luke, when out of the blue a miracle happens. Current Mayor and Mayoral candidate Paula Bowman, in a limousine hearse no less, has her driver ram a bunch of the ravenous beasts. Jumping out of the limo Paul yells “Get in the car boys”.

Mayor Bowman is packing pistols. Image courtesy SYFY

No argument from Cam and Luke as Mayor Paula pulls out two pistols to blast the Zombies, screaming at them;

“How does the Second Amendment taste Motherfuckers!”

Amazingly this was not bleeped out in the broadcast version, the language was clear as a bell in the promotional and the broadcast episode. We applaud SYFY and the creators for using adult language throughout the pilot episode.

Such descriptive language adds realism to the entire series and we hope it is used where it is appropriate to do so in the future episodes.

Let me share this: Itwas mighty nice to see Miranda Frigon as a pistol packing Momma Mayor!

Detective McDermott is a Zombie. Image courtesy SYFY

Thankfully they all speed away to safety, but not before we see Mike Dopud (Cam’s father, Detective McDermott) who is leading the pack of crazed Zombies marching towards the car, no doubt to eat them all for dinner!

The scene then flashes back to a time before the Zombie apocalypse. The town is peaceful and the residents are happy. People are working and living their lives in the idyllic, serene mountain town.

At the local fracking mine, Sarah Blackwood is selected to go down into the drill bore hole when some sort of trouble breaks the drill bit. Sarah asks “why me?”.

Because you’re “the new guy” says the burly site foreman.

Morgan Holmstrom as Sarah Blackwood. Photo by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Sarah is observed getting ready to go to the bottom of the fracking bore hole. After arriving there, Sarah suddenly screams after seeing what appears to be a mummy hanging from the cave walls!

Sarah calls the police to report the dead body and gets chewed out by the burly foreman for notifying the police.

Butthead foreman then backs down, telling Sarah she did the right thing, and she can go home for the day with full pay.

This turns out this is cover up by the foreman as we learn later.

A minor earthquake tremor, likely caused by the fracking, shakes the town as we are with Cam who is woken up by the shaking. Cam calls for his Dad who does not respond.

Mike Dopud as McDermott. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Segue to Detective McDermott who is on the phone with his boss Captain Pike.

Pike explains that an employee of Cleargenix Energy Corporation, a Sarah Blackwood, reported that a dead person, a mummified human being, has been found at the fracking drill site in a bore hole cave.

Captain Pike orders McDermott to go to the fracking site to report to her on the dead body that was discovered.

McDermott is not happy about this, but follows orders, only later to be told by Captain Pike to come back to the sheriff’s station.

Something stinks of political corruption and Detective McDermott knows it!

Keenan Tracey as Cam McDermott, Natalie Malaika as Lauren Howell. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

Cam is with Lauren who is the technician at the local mortuary taking a smoke break before tending to her first solo embalming of a man named Jerry (Dan Shea).

Suddenly Lauren makes a shocking discovery, the eyes on Jerry the corpse have popped open!

Otherwise, all seems to be going well before the funeral that day at the local cemetery. It looks like we will need a new mortician in Mawinhaken because, unfortunately, the body that Lauren embalmed attacks Lazlo the mortician.

This is the beginning of the dead starting to rise in Mawinhaken, Pennsylvania.

Luke and Trent are seen harassing Cam while he is working at the cemetery. They chase Cam who escapes into the cemetery.

Lauren finds Jerry is missing from the casket. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

In the mortuary, Lauren finds out the embalmed body of Jerry is missing from the casket, her boss creepy Lazlo has been attacked, all the while as the funeral guests are arriving.

This discovery by Lauren will spell the beginning of disaster for the hapless residents of Mawinhaken.

Meanwhile, Detective McDermott investigates the mummy mystery under the Cleargenix Energy Corporation fracking drill site operation.

Having been called off by the Mayor’s office by the burly foreman who tells him that it was a deer that fell into the bore hole that Sarah got freaked out over, McDermott becomes very suspicious.

McDermott finds the mummy. Image courtesy SYFY

What Detective McDermott finds out next is what appears to be the catalyst for the entire disaster after he picks up Sarah who tells him it was not a deer, but the remains of a mummified body.

McDermott, with Sarah guarding the rope line, confirms there are mummies in the cave below the drill site. Sure enough, burly foreman finds them and punches Sarah, resuming the drilling. Not a good idea since this wakes up a bunch of the mummies. They capture Detective McDermott likely turning him into a Zombie!

Back in town the election is taking place while people are oblivious to what is transpiring. We learn that the Mayor’s husband Trey is a dirt bag. He is having an affair with Nicole, her campaign manager. We feel sorry for Mayor Bowman and hope she catches these two adulterers in the act later in the series.

Day of the Dead S1x01 Cam mows down some Zombies. Image by DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

The scene switches to the cemetery and mortuary. Lauren finds her boss dead, and the embalmed corpse Jerry is fully reanimated wandering around the halls looking for victims. Screaming while the funeral guests have no idea what’s going on, Lauren trips up the Zombie Jerry, telling the funeral guests to flee.

Outside, the undead are being reanimated in large numbers in the graveyard to the horror of Cam who runs over a few with his tractor with a lawn mower attachment. Cam is observed chopping a few of them to them to bits with blood streaming out the back of the lawn mower. Truly a great scene. However, the headless Zombies seem to be unaffected by their lawnmower head and haircuts!

Inside, Lauren skewers the embalmed Zombie Jerry through the heart. We hope Jerry stays dead!

Matty Finochio as Bobby Hart, Keenan Tracey as Cam McDermott, Natalie Malaika as Lauren Howell. Image by Sergei Bachlakov DOTD S1 Productions, courtesy SYFY

The final scenes find Lauren and Cam looking at the Zombies who are at the door to the mortuary.

As Cam and Lauren are leading the Bobby Hart’s funeral attendees to the basement for safety in the mortuary, back in town, the people are clueless. Absolutely with no one knowing what the heck is about to happen to poor Mawinhaken!

Our grade for the first episode is a Straight A!

The action was quick and fast flowing, the characters and human attributes are believable, the cinematography superb, the visual effects outstanding, and the story arc pays homage to the “Living Dead” series of films that began over fifty years ago!

Be certain to watch live or DVR “Day of the Dead” on SYFY in the United States and CTV ScifI in Canada to help boost the ratings for the series.

In closing for now, we at Team WHR look forward to tweeting with the fans each week during the next nine episodes!

We will be back in the near future with more of your favorite television series and movie analysis. In the meantime, please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or family and leave your comments! We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future! Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Kenn of #TeamWHR
October 15, 2021

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