FTWD In The Media

[SimoneS]

The renewal was to be expected. AMC is basically threading water financially so it can't dump FTWD which is its third highest rated show in the key 18-49 demo.

Gimple joining the show suggests that AMC is worried about FTWD declining ratings.

[Canada]

Based on the garbage Gimple has been a part of in the Walking Dead for the last few seasons, I can't imagine he's going to do anything to help FTWD.

[Artsda]

‘Walking Dead’ zombie attraction heading to Fremont Street in July

https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/walking-dead-zombie-attraction-heading-to-fremont-street-in-july/

 

A year-round Fremont Street attraction based on the “Fear the Walking Dead” TV show is expected to open in July.

Work on the attraction broke ground Monday and Fremont Street Experience has formed an agreement with the attraction maker, Fremont Street Experience CEO Patrick Hughes said.

“It’s a great addition to the area,” Hughes said.

The attraction, based off a companion show to AMC Networks’ nearly 7-year-old “The Walking Dead” TV series, will be housed at 425 Fremont St. That building houses Hennessey’s Tavern and Walgreens.

Marnie Black, AMC executive vice president of public relations, said she had no comment on the Fremont Street attraction.

[Glaze Crazy]

On 4/27/2017 at 9:28 PM, Artsda said:

‘Walking Dead’ zombie attraction heading to Fremont Street in July

 

Now I'm wondering, since they left off with the groups headed back to the U.S., if they end up going towards Las Vegas? Don't know why they would, since the desert in general is pretty inhospitable as far as water and food availability. And zombies in the casinos? Heh, it's kind of like that already, especially around 3 am.

[Artsda]

 I'd love to see zombied out Vegas. Lots of hotels to hide in.

Good for Cliff Curtis, signing onto Avatar.

[Haleth]

Season 3 spoiler.  The link reveals the spoiler so I spoilered the spoiler:

Spoiler

http://screenrant.com/fear-the-walking-dead-season-3-daniel-salazar-return/

[piequinn35]

I didn't know it will return on Sunday lol

http://screenrant.com/fear-walking-dead-season-3-trailer/

[xaxat]

Fear The Walking Dead’s brutal death would have been big news a year ago. Now, it barely caused a ripple.

Quote

If a major TV drama kills off one of its most important characters, and the online TV discussion sphere doesn’t seem to notice, does it make a sound?

[Haleth]

Meh.  I think it's more that viewers are less invested in these characters rather than shocking death overload. Travis's death carried far less emotional impact than some others mentioned in the article. Sure, we may say "aww, too bad," but it's followed by a shrug.

[JackONeill]

The problem for me is that I didn't know the new season was starting. I literally stumbled in about ten minutes after the episode started. Did AMC not advertise it? I swear, I saw/heard nothing about it.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Alycia Debnam discusses Fear the Walking Dead on Build:

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Kim Dickens discusses FTWD on Build:

[Kitty Kitty Katt]

DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S THE SONG'S NAME OF THIS "FEAR THE WALKING DEAD TRAILER"?

http://fearthewalkingdead.amctv.la/videos/fear-the-walking-dead-tercera-temporada-trailer-parte-2

Edited October 11, 2017 by Kitty Kitty Katt

[Nashville]

39 minutes ago, Kitty Kitty Katt said:

DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S THE SONG'S NAME OF THIS "FEAR THE WALKONG DEAD TRAILER"?

http://fearthewalkingdead.amctv.la/videos/fear-the-walking-dead-tercera-temporada-trailer-parte-2

Not certain because I'm in the U.S. and can't view the video in that link - but is this the song you're talking about?

[Kitty Kitty Katt]

Oh :( i think that trailer is for south america only.the song you sent me it's in the U.S trailer :( 

[For Cereals]

If Jenna Elfman is joining the cast, that may be it for me...

[SnarkyTart]

Copied from @tv echo on The Walking Dead media thread...

Quote

Welcome to the 2017 ComicBook.com Golden Issue Awards, where we here at ComicBook.com take a look back at the year that was and choose the best of the best in comics and comic book-related media.
*  *  *
To be considered for an award, the series needed to air episodes at some point in 2017 and be based on a comic book or graphic novel. It's as simple as that.
*  *  *
SLIDE 1/12 – BEST RETURNING TV SERIES
...
The nominees are:
Arrow (The CW)
Agents of SHIELD (ABC)
Legends of Tomorrow (The CW)
Riverdale (The CW)
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC)
*  *  *
SLIDE 5/12 – BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
...
The nominees are:
Marvel's Runaways (Hulu)
Legends of Tomorrow (The CW)
Gotham (FOX)
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC)
Legion (FX)
*  *  *
SLIDE 6/12 – BEST TV HERO
...
The nominees are:
Alicia Clark (Alycia Debnam-Carey) - Fear the Walking Dead
White Canary (Caity Lotz) - Legends of Tomorrow
Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) - The Defenders
The Tick (Peter Serafinowicz) - The Tick
Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) - Supergirl
*  *  *
SLIDE 10/12 – MOST SHOCKING MOMENT
...
The nominees are:
"Frank's Interrogation" - The Punisher
"Tommy Merlyn as Earth-X Prometheus" - Arrow
"Madison Kills Troy" - Fear the Walking Dead
"Butch Revealed as Solomon Grundy" - Gotham
"Lian Yu Explosion" - Arrow
*  *  *
SLIDE 11/12 – MOST TRAGIC DEATH
...
The nominations are:
Martin Stein - Legends of Tomorrow
Shiva the Tiger - The Walking Dead
Sasha Williams - The Walking Dead
Ofelia Salazar - Fear the Walking Dead
The Patriot - Agents of SHIELD

Oh.My.Goodness!  The folks at ComicBook.com can't possibly have ever watched this show...can they?

[loki567]

I think that bump had to do with premiering after TWD finale. I seriously doubt they lost a million viewers because the second episode had the original cast. And those ratings are actually up significantly from season three's finale. 

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Colman Domingo discusses S4 of Fear the Walking Dead & Summer: The Donna Summer Musical

[1 who Knocks-Nuihc]

Kim Dickens instagram post - apparently Madison is no more.

[WalkerTalker]

Guess that post blows any hope of Madison surviving out of the water, boohoo. 

[tv echo]

AMC's 'Fear the Walking Dead' Is Target of Copyright Lawsuit
JUNE 27, 2018 7:59am PT by Eriq Gardner
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/amcs-fear-walking-dead-is-target-copyright-lawsuit-1123576

Quote

On Tuesday, Dead Ahead author Mel Smith filed suit against AMC Networks, Robert Kirkman and others associated with Fear the Walking Dead. According to a complaint filed in California federal court, the show's second season infringes the copyright on Smith's own zombie comic series.

The complaint doesn't give much details about Dead Ahead, which could be a problem although amendment is certainly possible. Dead Ahead's plot is described by one website thus:

"What had started as a fun little fishing trip soon turns into a nightmare of damnation, trapped on a floating prison. The continents have been hit by a zombie outbreak that spread fast, turning humanity into living corpses, leaving those at sea alive to fend for themselves. With provisions running low, hope comes on the horizon in the form of a luxury liner. All they needed to survive would be on the ship, but who among the fishermen will dare to board the liner and discover what’s become of its passengers and crew?"

Fear the Walking Dead is also a postapocalyptic zombie series set near water, though it's the specific expression — and not the general idea nor scenes a faire — that matter in terms of copyright protection. There's also the possibility that much zombie lore is in the public domain, as mentioned above, but anything new and original gets its own copyright.

All that noted, Smith's lawsuit does raise one interesting connection.

According to the complaint, Smith's agent was David Alpert, who was also the business manager and business partner of Kirkman, the comic book writer of The Walking Dead, which spawned a television series and then a spinoff and eventually this very lawsuit.

Alpert, himself an executive producer on Fear the Walking Dead, is a co-defendant in the case and faces an added claim of breach of fiduciary duty.

Edited June 28, 2018 by tv echo

[SnarkyTart]

Three of the 45 episodes aired so far took place on a yacht, the Abigail, and that was two seasons ago.  If Mel Smith is looking to win lawsuit lotto, I don't think this one works out in his favor.

[Iguessnot]

19 hours ago, SnarkyTart said:

Three of the 45 episodes aired so far took place on a yacht, the Abigail, and that was two seasons ago.  If Mel Smith is looking to win lawsuit lotto, I don't think this one works out in his favor.

Also, it didn't start as a fishing trip. They sought refuge on the yacht. Are zombie plots set on Earth subject to copyright now?

[Iguessnot]

On 7/15/2018 at 11:29 AM, icemiser69 said:

"Talking Dead: Yvette Nicole Brown to Take Over as Interim Host Next Month, Stepping in for Chris Hardwick"

By Dave Nemetz / July 13 2018, 4:02 PM PDT

https://tvline.com/2018/07/13/talking-dead-yvette-nicole-brown-host-amc-chris-hardwick/

 

I am not at all surprised that this happened.   I am assuming whether she keeps the position or not is totally dependent on fan reaction.

I thought I read that she was hosting it as a special, but not that she was doing the weekly thing. Yvette's presence is good when the show is good. I don't want to she her shilling for a lousy show.

[tv echo]

Fear the Walking Dead: Season Four Ratings
Published: July 29, 2018
https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/fear-the-walking-dead-season-four-ratings/

Quote

Air date                Episode    18-49 demo    % demo change    Viewers (mil)    % mil change
Sun    4/15/2018    04-01           1.63                   38.14%†                4.090                   31.55%†
Sun    4/22/2018    04-02           1.09                  -33.13%                 3.066                  -25.04%
Sun    4/29/2018    04-03           0.97                  -11.01%                 2.708                  -11.68%
Sun    5/6/2018      04-04           0.85                  -12.37%                 2.485                  -8.23%
Sun    5/13/2018    04-05           0.85                    0.00%                  2.464                  -0.85%
Sun    5/20/2018    04-06           0.82                  -3.53%                   2.306                  -6.41%
Sun    6/3/2018      04-07           0.60                  -26.83%                1.971                  -14.53%
Sun    6/10/2018    04-08           0.73                    21.67%                2.320                    17.71

Edited August 5, 2018 by tv echo

[DrNowsWeightScale]

If the guy in the photo next to her at the top of this page is her husband, she appears to be a few inches taller than him:

Jenna Elfman Says Scientology Is The Key To A Long Lasting Marriage - DListed

(Edit 2: Jenna Elfman plays June / Laura / Naomi on FTWD)

Jenna Elfman’s Reddit AMA Became An Insane Scientology Interrogation — Read the Highlights - April 2007

Edit. Someone on the first page (DListed site, in the comments) mentioned this:

When Elfmans Explode - from 2006, TMZ

From that second page (on TMZ)

Quote

Indie film director John Roecker tells TMZ he was walking to his car with a female friend in LA's trendy Los Feliz neighborhood last Sunday when he was approached by a shirtless man and a tall blonde. "Hey, man, you're making fun of my religion," said the stranger angrily. 

Roecker quickly recognized the couple as actor Bodhi Elfman and his wife, 'Dharma and Greg' star Jenna Elfman. Mr. Elfman's ire was apparently drawn by Roecker's self-made t-shirt, which had a picture of Tom Cruise on the front under the caption "Scientology is Gay!"

...According to Roecker, whose encounter was first reported on LA's KROQ-FM's Kevin and Bean Show, the invective started to fly after he made several references to Scientology theology and its reported central tenent, the story of Xenu.

Roecker says Jenna repeatedly said "What crimes have you committed?" and began screaming at Roecker, "Have you raped a baby?" as motorists on Los Feliz Boulevard drove by in snarled traffic.

....Roecker says it appears that Bodhi Elfman prepared to take a swing at him, but thought against it. 

Bizarrely, Roecker also says that the Elfmans had a young, twenty-something male companion with them whom they continually instructed to move away and cover his ears whenever references to Xenu were made.

Edited August 30, 2018 by DrNowsWeightScale

[OoohMaggie]

A Q&A with rake lady

https://www.amc.com/shows/fear-the-walking-dead/talk/2018/09/spoilers-fear-the-walking-dead-qa-tonya-pinkins-martha

[Janimo]

Happy Birthday to Maggie Grace who turns 35 years old today.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1192254/

[OoohMaggie]

A Q&A with ’Morgan’

https://www.amc.com/shows/fecar-the-walking-dead/talk/2019/06/spoilers-fear-the-walking-dead-qa-lennie-james-morgan

[OoohMaggie]

Showrunners on return of Daniel,

https://ew.com/tv/2019/06/09/fear-the-walking-dead-daniel-salazar-showrunners-502-hurt-that-will-happen/?

[OoohMaggie]

A Q&A with ‘Dwight’,

https://www.amc.com/shows/fear-the-walking-dead/talk/2019/06/spoilers-fear-the-walking-dead-qa-austin-amelio-dwight

[OoohMaggie]

Q & A with ‘Strand’

https://www.amc.com/shows/fear-the-walking-dead/talk/2019/06/spoilers-fear-the-walking-dead-qa-colman-domingo-strand

[Utpe]

Renewed for a sixth season:

Quote

That the series was renewed is little surprise.  While it isn’t necessarily a ratings juggernaut, the fifth season debuted with a 0.6 rating in adults 18-49, drawing 1.97 million viewers.  This is a considerable opening gambit, even if the ratings have declined since then; the most recent episode scored as low as a 0.3, putting its average for the season at about a 0.5.  So, despite sagging a bit year-to-year, the only show on AMC performing better than Fear the Walking Dead is The Walking Dead itself.

If this were on any other network (with the exception of The CW), it would've been kicked to the curb.

https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/fear-the-walking-dead-renewed-for-season-6-at-amc/

[Mr. Sparkle]

^ It's noteworthy how long it took someone to post this. It shows how little "buzz" there is about this show. Even if the original sucks, people are still talking about it a lot more. 

[OoohMaggie]

A few Q&As,

https://www.amc.com/shows/fear-the-walking-dead/talk/2019/07/spoilers-fear-the-walking-dead-qa-garret-dillahunt-john

https://www.amc.com/shows/fear-the-walking-dead/talk/2019/08/spoilers-fear-the-walking-dead-qa-karen-david-grace-part-1

https://www.amc.com/shows/fear-the-walking-dead/talk/2019/08/spoilers-fear-the-walking-dead-qa-karen-david-grace-part-2

[OoohMaggie]

A Q&A with 'Max'

https://www.amc.com/shows/fear-the-walking-dead/talk/2019/08/spoilers-fear-the-walking-dead-qa-matt-frewer-logan

Cool photo of 'the best' character, from john link in post above

Edited August 26, 2019 by OoohMaggie

[DrNowsWeightScale]

^Yes, John Dorie is the best character on this show (and IMO from either show). ☺️

(I just wish the show people would give him decent story lines.)

From Entertainment Weekly - there's a video with a preview on this page and some text:

Fear the Walking Dead introduces zombie-killing rabbi

[OoohMaggie]

On ‎8‎/‎29‎/‎2019 at 4:26 AM, DrNowsWeightScale said:

From Entertainment Weekly - there's a video with a preview on this page and some text:

Thanks I missed that one, the link isn't viewable to those outside the US/CAN without a VPN, ive been looking for a multi region version but no luck yet.

[OoohMaggie]

https://www.amc.com/shows/fear-the-walking-dead/talk/2019/08/spoilers-fear-the-walking-dead-qa-matt-frewer-logan

https://www.amc.com/shows/fear-the-walking-dead/talk/2019/09/spoilers-fear-the-walking-dead-qa-mo-collins-sarah

[OoohMaggie]

Showrunners getting some stick,

https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2019/09/16/fear-the-walking-dead-showrunners-chambliss-goldberg-fan-backlash-reactions-season-5-talking-dead/#1

[DrNowsWeightScale]

Yeah, I dropped in to post some of the same stuff as above. Fans of "Fear" are hacked off and letting AMC know it on Twitter.

I'm not thrilled with the direction of the show, and I hope AMC fixes it, but I wouldn't say I wish ill will on the current showrunners.

Yes, the current duo has made some questionable to downright awful character or  storyline points, but I'm not out for their blood.

I do hope the show gets better moving forward.

I'm not even totally sure why I'm still watching at this stage, except, I guess, I keep assuming it will get better, have some kind of pay off, and I love the John Dorie character.

Links from media outlets:

Fear the Walking Dead Showrunners Face Fan Backlash on Twitter

‘Talking Dead’ Asks Fans For Questions For ‘Fear The Walking Dead’ Showrunners, It Does Not Go Well

Some excerpts from that page (these are the "nicer" Tweets! Some were profanity strewn with a lot more vitriol):

Quote

The Talking Dead call for questions reveals a fanbase that is similarly angry with Chambliss and Goldberg. I have gone through every reply through this tweet. 167 replies, and I have found maybe…two actual questions, and while literally every other question is something along the likes of:

@KevinRF45 - “What does it feel to ruin a show that was amazing?”

@EvenStevenYT - “Are there talks behind the scenes about removing these two clowns of show runners?”

[nodorothyparker]

I don't think the original recipe of the show was "amazing" either. Travis and Madison were so miscast as a supposed couple in love that the actors had actual anti-chemistry, yet the actress had a weirdly vaguely sexual vibe with the actor playing her son as well as her son's similarly aged cohort.  There was plenty that was ridiculous or just poorly thought out in the original recipe.  Lots of bad behavior by ugly American refugees in Mexico?  The underground bunker where everybody but Alicia conveniently suffocated and turned?  The worst survivalist preppers ever?  Or the introduction of Proctor John, who seemed like he had potential be an interesting villain, only to blow him and everybody else up with the dam an episode later.  

I thought the reboot started out strong with the introduction of John Dorie and the gradual reveal of what happened to the original recipe crew.  Most of the current cast are likable enough characters played by decent or better actors.  But they've been meandering now for nearly a season and a half with little more than "we want to help people" to go on.  It's becoming tedious and throwing an equally tedious female Negan wannabe in a cowboy hat into the mix isn't likely to fix it.

[nodorothyparker]

John and June's standalone episode last season was one of the best of the show's entire run.  It was slow, sure, but there was something achingly lovely about the way it conveyed loneliness and the need for human connection at world's end.  Yet the show can't seem to figure out how to write them as a compelling romance outside of that.  It tried a bit in the Humbug's Gulch episode in wanting to parallel them losing and finding each other to Dwight and Sherry's story, but beyond that, you're right.  There hasn't been much.  Maybe if the show didn't have 5,000 other characters it has to write for?

Neither show in the franchise has done terribly well in writing good coupling.

[OoohMaggie]

'Ginny' speaks,

https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2019/09/16/fear-the-walking-dead-season-5-colby-minifie-virginia-backstory-revealed-pioneers/

Edited September 18, 2019 by OoohMaggie

[DrNowsWeightScale]

Fear the Walking Dead fans demand showrunners be fired in angry petition - Digital Spy

Disappointed Fear the Walking Dead fans petition to fire showrunners - Fan Sided

Excerpt:

Quote

Fear the Walking Dead has been on the air for five years now, and it looks like it’s reached the point where it’s angered a swath of its fan base.

 Digital Spy reports that some of the show’s fans have started a petition to force AMC to send showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg packing.

... (Excerpt from the fan petition):

Fear the Walking Dead is a shell of what it was. What it was supposed to be.

Dave Erickson created an amazing show, only to have his successors Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg completely rebrand it to cater to a new audience. This was a HUGE insult to the original fans and to Dave.

Killing Madison off was what started the ultimate downfall of Fear … This is not the Morgan help people show. Morgan is not a lead. This is Madison’s show.

Fear the Walking Dead Fans Petition for Removal of Showrunners

Excerpt:

Quote

Sept 26, 2019

Dissatisfied Fear the Walking Dead viewers have launched a petition calling for the firing of showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg.

The petition, put into motion by “BRINGBACKFEAR TWD” on Change.org, calls for Chambliss and Goldberg to be removed and replaced by original three-season showrunner Dave Erickson, who co-created the series with The Walking Deadcreator Robert Kirkman.

The petition argues Erickson’s successors rebranded the spinoff for a new audience, a move that was a “huge insult to the original fans and to Dave.”

Another point of contention is the decision to kill former lead Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) and replace her with TWD transplant Morgan (Lennie James), who assumed lead duties in Season 4 — Chambliss and Goldberg’s debut season — as part of the first-ever crossover between both shows.

[DrNowsWeightScale]

edited to add this link:

Fear the Walking Dead season finale recap: Can this show survive? Should it?

Here’s How Fear the Walking Dead’s Showrunners Responded To Fan Backlash

Excerpts:

Quote

The backlash to the current state of Fear is not something that can simply be brushed off.

recent Talking Dead tweet soliciting questions for the showrunners brought literally nothing but a torrent of “why did you choose to ruin the show” type responses.

But brush it off, they are, as Insider’s Kirsten Acuna got to pose the backlash question to them directly in the wake of the finale.

Here's the exchange:

.... Chambliss [who is one of Fear's showrunners]:

“You know, we told the story that we believe in and we’re proud of what we did and in terms of going forward, the show is changing and that’s always been part of the plan. You know, it changes every season and every half season and we’re very excited about the direction it’s going and a lot of the tough challenges that our characters ahead are going to be facing.”
--- end showrunner quote---

This is a non-answer...

...it might almost be too late. AMC has already greenlit season 6 under the direction of the current showrunners, and there’s no reason to have any faith things will improve now that the “big change” has the cast all split up in a million different ways, which will subject us to things like a June episode and a Charlie episode no doubt in the future.

I worry that too much damage has been done to the show and these characters already for the series to recover. 

Edited October 2, 2019 by DrNowsWeightScale

[DrNowsWeightScale]

There Are Only Two Explanations For How Bad ‘Fear The Walking Dead’ Was In Season 5

Excerpt:

Quote

The more likely scenario is that AMC simply made a terrible mistake by hiring Chambliss and Goldberg to begin with. Far more likely than some terrible conspiracy in which these two purposefully sought the destruction of Fear The Walking Dead through ludicrous plot developments and character assassinations is the fact that they’re just not good at this.

Incompetence, in other words, seems to be the running theme here. 

[Iguessnot]

On 10/4/2019 at 3:54 PM, DrNowsWeightScale said:

There Are Only Two Explanations For How Bad ‘Fear The Walking Dead’ Was In Season 5

Excerpt:

Great synopsis. However I don't agree that getting rid of Madison is part of the downfall. It was moreso the introduction of Al and her stupid camera that birthed the PSA theme.  Morgan and his "we help people" mantra killed the show. It was like some hypnotic game.

Someone remind me. What was in season 3 that was so excellent?

[DrNowsWeightScale]

This was a really long interview/article (via Entertainment Weekly):

Fear the Walking Dead has a time jump coming in season 6

Excerpts:

Quote

 

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: There was some pretty critical takes out there about season 5 of Fear the Walking Dead. When you look back on that season now, what’s your take on it?

Is there anything you feel didn’t work as well as you had hoped, or was this just part of this plan and this is a stretch of this plan that you need to go through to get to somewhere else?

SCOTT M. GIMPLE: Right there. You just said it. We’ve been lucky enough on that show to be able to do these long-range plans. Season 5 was about setting up this journey that these characters are on through there to season 6, and I think people are going to see the relationship between those two seasons.

I think even getting to the very end of season 5, the last few moments, really informing that whole season about reaching for benevolence and reaching for sweetness and art and just life and how in the circumstances they’re in, it didn’t work, and how we leave a person that put that forward isolated, alone, bleeding in a dead town.

...When you say time is going to be played with on next season of Fear, what do you mean?

We’re going to see a lot of time pass. There is a lot of time that can pass, yeah.

 

Walking Dead: Audiences and Critics Agree on Worst Episode of the Entire Franchise

Quote

...706, “Swear,” earned the lowest score of the main show with just a 5.6 rating, and 609, “No Way Out,” was crowned the highest-rated episode of either show with a 9.7 rating. No episode of Fear has scored above a 9.0 rating....

The penultimate episode of Fear the Walking Dead Season 5, “Channel 5,” is the lowest-rated episode of both shows with just a 4.8 rating determined by 1,007 votes.

....That season, which wrapped in September with a massive cliffhanger surrounding the fate of Morgan (Lennie James), is not only the worst received season of Fearon Rotten Tomatoes — it scored only a 55% approval from critics — it's the only season of either show designated as “rotten.”