Zombies were the hottest craze of the 2000s and 2010s, and fans received many great movies and TV shows throughout that time. Cases can be made for many great and notable zombie shows, but when it comes to the absolute greatest, two particular shows are often considered - The Walking Dead and Dead Set.
The former became a cultural phenomenon - one of the most lauded and popular TV shows of the 2010s. The latter is a well-received program from pre-Black Mirror Charlie Brooker. One isn't inherently better than the other. Rather, they both have their pros and cons, and arguments can be made for and against each.
The Walking Dead: Better Characters
A story is nothing without good characters. Luckily, The Walking Dead contains (or, at least contained) a great cast of leading and supporting characters. Few people will remember the characters of Dead Set, aside from maybe Kelly and Patrick. Meanwhile, The Walking Dead contains many thrilling, likable, and iconic characters, including Rick, Carl, Glenn & Maggie, Daryl, Carol, Morgan, The Governor, and Negan, to name but a few. It's not even a contest; The Walking Dead handily beats Dead Set when it comes to the cast.
Dead Set: Better Zombies
This one is certainly debatable, and it depends largely on viewer preference. Dead Set was released in 2008 - a time when fast zombies were trumping slow zombies in the pop culture zeitgeist. The Walking Dead certainly contains some memorable zombies, but they aren't particularly scary. Their attacks are also largely contrived, often happening whenever the plot needs them to. However, Dead Set's zombies are fast, screeching, white-eyed beasts that will instill fear in any viewer. Slow zombies are creepy, but fast zombies are arguably scarier.
The Walking Dead: Better Gore Effects
That said, The Walking Dead contains better gore effects. This one is incredibly close, as Dead Set also contains some horrific and grotesque gore. Those looking for a bloody zombie story could certainly do worse. But The Walking Dead has Greg Nicotero. Nicotero is a world-renowned make-up effects artist and has worked on many notable movies and television shows. His work throughout The Walking Dead is second to none, and it undoubtedly helped the show become as popular as it once was. What's a zombie show without a little gore?
Dead Set: Better Acting
As great as the characters in The Walking Dead are, some of them performed a little less than ideally. That's not to say that the acting is inherently bad, but there are some sore spots throughout the show where the performances could have been tweaked for the better.
Nothing of this sort really occurs in Dead Set. Every character is performed well - even the real Big Brother contestants making cameos as themselves. It's a far more "convincing" show in regards to the characters and the performances.
The Walking Dead: More Diverse Settings
The thing with Dead Set is that it mocks Big Brother and reality TV. As such, most of the action is contained to the Big Brother studio and house. While this is certainly unique, it's not adventurous. And many people love a little adventure with their zombie stories. The Walking Dead is far longer than Dead Set, and therefore, far more ambitious in regards to its story and settings. The more diverse locations found throughout The Walking Dead help the show come across as more of a country-spanning, end of the world apocalypse.
Dead Set: Quick & To The Point
The Walking Dead is far longer than Dead Set. This is both a pro and a con. Pro, in that it offers a more ambitious story. Con in that said story has since dragged out long past the point of decomposition. The Walking Dead was once a TV powerhouse, but most everyone will agree that it has long past its prime and cultural relevance. On the other hand, Dead Set is a far more compact five episodes and 142 minutes. It gets in, it scares the audience, and it gets out before it has time to decay.
The Walking Dead: More Memorable Moments
Another pro of The Walking Dead's length is that it's accrued more time for memorable, show-defining moments. These include the initial hospital scene, finding zombie Sofia in the barn, The Governor's attack on the prison, and Negan killing both Abraham and Glenn.
These were cultural moments - moments that made headlines, set the internet ablaze, and guaranteed that water cooler breaks were just a little longer than necessary. Dead Set, by its nature as a 142 minute-long show, wasn't nearly as culturally dominant.
Dead Set: Better Ending
Technically The Walking Dead hasn't even ended yet, but many people have stopped watching. But even when it does end, it won't have an ending nearly as memorable or as tragic as the one found in Dead Set. Dead Set took an enormous risk in its closing moments by having the zombies invade the house and kill everyone inside. Not a single character survives the onslaught, and the show ends with a zombified Kelly staring into the camera. It's one of the bleakest endings in zombie fiction, and there's simply no way The Walking Dead's will compare.
The Walking Dead: Better Production Values
There's certainly nothing wrong with Dead Set's production values. It commendably accomplished what it set out to do, and it succeeded in many different ways. But, to go alongside The Walking Dead's ambition, its production values are simply superior. Not only is the gore and make-up effects better, but the show also portrays larger, more destructive scenarios. For example, The Governor's attack on the prison made for spectacular television, and it would never have been found on Dead Set. For pure bombast, The Walking Dead is the way to go.
Dead Set: More Unique Approach
As good as The Walking Dead is, it doesn't really bring anything new to the zombie table. In many ways, it is a traditional, albeit a well-told, zombie story. Dead Set tried something a little more unique by playing into comedy and satire. Not only does the entire thing take place in the Big Brother house, the story often satirizes aspects of that specific show, reality TV in general, and the public's infatuation with shallow TV and celebrity. It's a zombie story, but it's also so much more than that.