Realistically, AMC’s “Fear The Walking Dead” had almost no chance of avoiding a ratings decline in week two. Its positioning against MTV’s 2015 Video Music Awards ceremony (which was simulcast on numerous networks) eliminated what little chance it did have.
Sure enough, Sunday’s episode did fall.
Episode two of AMC’s “Dead” spin-off drew a 4.10 adults 18-49 rating with 8.184 million viewers. Both numbers trail those of last week’s premiere, which scored a 4.93 with 10.130 million viewers.
Without even accounting for the potential VMAs impact, the drop–while not insignificant–is what one should have realistically expected in this context. “Fear The Walking Dead” was almost certainly going to be somewhat front-loaded, and the lukewarm response from some fans assured it would not subvert that expectation.
While “Fear The Walking Dead” is clearly not on the current level of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” mothership, it remains a blockbuster performer by cable standards. Thanks to its significant distance from the rest of the cable pack, it has plenty of room to fall before losing its right to the “hit” label.