Black Summer is set in the early days of a zombie apocalypse(Image: Netflix)

Netflix series 'better than The Walking Dead' that has top Rotten Tomatoes score

One Netflix viewer confessed to watching the zombie drama "five times" while others couldn't help but compare it to AMC's long-running horror series The Walking Dead

by · The Mirror

Netflix fans are recommending a hidden gem horror series on the streamer that they claim is "better than The Walking Dead".

Black Summer released in 2019 and spanned two seasons before its cancellation. The show is set in the same universe as Syfy horror series Z Nation and serves as its prequel.

The series stars Jaime King as apocalypse survivor Rose who is searching for her daughter in the early days of a zombie outbreak. The official synopsis reads: "In the dark, early days of a zombie apocalypse, complete strangers band together to find the strength they need to survive and get back to loved ones."

Created by Z Nation showrunners John Hyams and Karl Schaefer, Black Summer currently enjoys an 87 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score, compared to The Walking Dead's average of 79 per cent.

Fans have compared it to long-running horror series The Walking Dead( Image: TWD productions LLC Courtesy of AMC)

There are currently two eight-episode seasons to enjoy on Netflix, but in sad news for fans of the series, a third has been ruled out. Co-creator Hyams confirmed the news on X, formerly Twitter, in early 2023. When asked by a fan if there will be a "Season 3 of Black Summer or nah?" Hyams replied: "Sadly, nah."

Despite a third season being off the table, fans have continued to rave about the first two.

"I lovedddd this I’ve watched it about 5 times lol," confessed one series fan, while another gushed: "Absolutely a great written show… two fantastic seasons. Walking Dead was great till Season 5 after that it was meh, plus losing Andrew was a major blow!".

The first two seasons are streaming now on Netflix( Image: Netflix)

"Black Summer was great! I wish I would have gotten a Season 3," lamented another fan, as one viewer questioned why it wasn't more popular, writing: "It actually is really good BUT I think it’s been since 2021 that they made a new season. I was shocked it didn’t blow up bc everyone was stuck in for Covid when it came out [sic]."

In an interview with The Express back in 2021, series star Jaime King confessed that while Black Summer was "the kind of show that could go on forever", a third season would be a "really powerful" way to conclude it.

“I’d like to explore three different chapters,” King explained, “a perspective of three different groups of characters."

“I want to put a really beautiful bow on it, but this is the kind of show that could go on forever," adding: "I think it would be really powerful to do it in just three seasons.”

Black Summer Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream now on Netflix