In The Flesh Resurrects For A Second Season: This Week’s Sci-Fi Television

By David Wharton | Updated

This article is more than 2 years old

We’ve got to be approaching total zombie saturation at this point. AMC’s The Walking Dead is a massive hit, the World War Z proved to be a surprise success, and it seems each passing week brings word of some new zombie series that’s in the works. Now we’re far enough into the fad that people are trying to find new ways to riff on the underlying concept, which has led us to the realm of the “sympathetic undead” story. Most of the time that seems to work about as well as Twilight did, but if you want a perfect example of doing the concept right, you need look no further than In the Flesh, which returns for a second season on BBC America this Saturday.

In the Flesh is set after the zombie apocalypse has come and gone. While most zombie outbreaks have no cure beyond a bullet to the dome, in the world of In the Flesh many sufferers of PDS — Partially Deceased Syndrome — can be rehabilitated and rejoin society. But just because they can be doesn’t mean it’s easy, and there are plenty of survivors who are none too keen to be sharing streets and shops and subways with people who once would have loved nothing better than to chow down on some sweet, sweet brains. And not everybody with PDS can be saved…or wants to be.

In the Flesh returns for season two Saturday night at 10/9c on BBC America. You can check out the brutal first four minutes of the season premiere below. It’s enough to put a fellow off of public transportation.

Partially Deceased Sufferer (PDS), Kieren Walker, is now in the seemingly PDS-friendly world of Roarton.

Keeping his head down, working soul destroying shifts in the Legion pub and squirreling money into his ‘escape fund’, Kieren only has one problem — himself. Still wrestling with ‘what’ he is, Kieren desperately wants to leave Roarton and start a new life.

But as tensions re-ignite, that dream may be further away than he thinks. When Victus MP Maxine Martin enters Roarton, Kieren senses that danger is approaching.

And with Victus whipping up hatred and the Undead Liberation Army retaliating violently, things will go from bad to worse.

But a little light has returned to Kieren’s life when his BDFF (best dead friend forever), Amy Dyer, makes her return to Roarton.

His delight however, is cut short by Amy’s opinionated beau, ULA member Simon.

MONDAY

Metal Hurlant Chronicles (Syfy, 10/9c) — “Loyal Khondor / Second Son”

‘Loyal Khondor’: A loyal warrior seeks an elixir to cure his beloved princess from the dreaded ‘cold disease.’

‘Second Son’: Two brothers battle for control of a kingdom with unique values about life and death.’

Star-Crossed (The CW, 8/7c) — “This Trick May Chance to Scathe You”

After Roman (Matt Lanter) and Drake (Greg Finley) discover the Trags are building a bomb known as a Suvec, they realize they need help and turn to an unexpected source – Grayson (Grey Damon). Emery (Aimee Teegarden) enlists Sophia (Brina Palencia) and Lukas (Titus Makin Jr.) to help them smuggle the Suvek out of the sector, which ultimately puts all of them in danger. Meanwhile, Teri (Chelsea Gilligan) continues her mission.

The Tomorrow People (The CW, 9/8c) — “Son of Man”

Russell (Aaron Yoo) realizes his alliance with The Founder (guest star Simon Merrells) was a mistake, and tries to make up for his decision by saving Cara (Peyton List) from an Ultra ambush. Stephen (Robbie Amell) understands that he must be the one to stop The Machine and the extermination of humanity, but he fears he may be too late. Russell offers up a plan to help Stephen, but he is going to need everyone’s help, including John (Luke Mitchell) and Astrid (Madeleine Mantock), if they are going to have any chance to survive. Meanwhile, Jedikiah (Mark Pellegrino) offers John an interesting opportunity that could have them working together again.

Warehouse 13 (Syfy, 9/8c) — “Savage Seduction”

Pete, Myka and Artie try to help Pete’s ex-girlfriend Kelly Hernandez when her grandmother gets trapped inside a telenovela, but things go awry when they all end up as characters in the soap opera. Meanwhile, a strange accident at a university leads Claudia and Steve to discover an artifact that literally duplicates its users.

TUESDAY

Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge (Syfy, 9/8c) — “Alien Press Conference”

Gigi brings her Farscape costar Rygel to the workshop to offer inspiration when the creature designers are given the task to build original alien species attending an intergalactic press conference. Director Barry Sonnenfeld is the guest judge.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC, 8/7c) — “Ragtag”

In the last episode before the epic season finale, Ward’s betrayal and HYDRA’s shocking secrets are revealed as Coulson’s team goes undercover on a mission that leaves no one unscathed.

Person of Interest (CBS, 10:01/9:01c) — “A House Divided”

A mysterious force prevents the Machine from being able to fully predict a fatal event, so it adjusts by sending the team five separate numbers to investigate. Elsewhere, Root’s team of hackers arrive in New York.

WEDNESDAY

The 100 (The CW, 9/8c) — “Day Trip”

Clarke (Eliza Taylor) and Bellamy (Bob Morley) go on a mission to find supplies for approaching winter. Some of the 100 accidentally eat nuts with powerfully hallucinogenic properties and lose their grasp on reality. Meanwhile, Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos) seizes the opportunity to help a friend escape, and a terrifying event brings Clarke and Bellamy closer. On the Ark, Commander Shumway (guest star Terry Chen “House of Cards”) secretly assigns one of the 100 to kill one of his own, and the treacherous actions of Diane Sydney (Kate Vernon (“Battlestar Galactica”) are revealed.

Revolution (NBC, 8/7c) — “Tomorrowland”

Truman (Steven Culp), empowered with new authority from the President, launches a mustard gas attack designed to kill Miles (Billy Burke) and Monroe (David Lyons). To Rachel’s (Elizabeth Mitchell) disappointment, Miles agrees to join Monroe in a ruthless plot to beat the Patriots at their own game. As Neville (Giancarlo Esposito) faces his own challenge from the Patriots, Aaron (Zak Orth) grows increasingly alarmed by the power of the nanotech.

FRIDAY

Continuum (Syfy, 10/9c) — “Wasted Minute”

Kiera doesn’t have a second to waste when she and Carlos, who isn’t in the most stable emotional state, rush to stop Liber8 from their plan to launch a devastating chemical attack on the city.

SATURDAY

Da Vinci’s Demons (Starz, 9/8c) — “The Fall From Heaven”

Leonardo and his allies’ quest for the Book of Leaves turns deadly; Carlo comes to Clarice’s aid; and in the East, the son of the Sultan is intrigued with Lucrezia.

Orphan Black (BBC America, 9/8c) — “Governed as It Were by Chance”

Sarah comes home to look for answers. With Cosima’s help, she digs into the origins of the clone experiment. The hunt takes her right into the belly of the beast, but getting out again could cost her more than she knows.

SUNDAY

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (Fox, 9/8c) — “The Electric Boy”

Travel to 19th century England and meet Michael Faraday, a child of poverty who grew up to invent the motor and the generator. His ideas about electricity and discovery of magnetic fields changed the world and paved the way for future scientists to make giant strides in the world of high technology and instantaneous communication.

Penny Dreadful (Showtime, 10/9c) — “Night Work”

In PENNY DREADFUL, some of literature’s most famously terrifying characters — including Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray and iconic figures from the novel Dracula, all brilliantly reimagined in a whole new light — have become embroiled in Victorian London. The series stars Josh Hartnett (Black Hawk Down), Timothy Dalton (The Living Daylights, License to Kill) and Eva Green (Casino Royale). Reeve Carney (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), Rory Kinnear (Skyfall), Billie Piper (Doctor Who, Secret Diary of a Call Girl), Harry Treadaway (The Lone Ranger) and Danny Sapani (The Bill) also star.

Rosemary’s Baby (NBC, 9/8c) — “Part 1”
Star Trek/Avatar actress Zoe Saldana is playing the title role, so if you’re a fan be sure to add Rosemary’s Baby to your DVR schedule.

Rosemary’s Baby centers on a young married couple who move into a Paris apartment that has a haunted past. After getting pregnant, the wife becomes increasingly suspicious that both her husband and their neighbors will have ulterior motives when her child is born.