CW’s Fan-Favorite Horror Comedy Makes Its Return to Free Streaming

This year has been a smorgasbord of horror comedy, with the success of Apple’s breakout hit Widow’s Bay and the release of movies like Send Help, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, and They Will Kill You. Fans of the genre now have another reason to celebrate with the return of a CW cult favorite to streaming. Ready for a new audience, iZombie is now available for free in the United States on Pluto TV and YouTube. The series left Netflix in September 2024, a few years after Deadline reported the streaming service didn’t renew its exclusivity deal for the network’s content.

iZombie follows Olivia “Liv” Moore (Rose McIver), a recently turned zombie who goes to work as an assistant coroner and discovers that when she eats a victim’s brain, she takes on their personality and has flashes of their memories. She uses her new ability to solve crimes with local detective Clive Babineaux (Malcolm Goodwin). It ran from 2015 through 2019, a time when the CW was focused on growing the Arrowverse and Riverdale was quickly infiltrating the zeitgeist. Still, this underrated series followed the adventures of a crime-solving zombie, offering original storylines and consistent performances from its cast.

‘iZombie’ Maintains the Comic’s DNA

Comic books are woven into the DNA of iZombie. The procedural was adapted from Chris Roberson and Michael Allred’s comic of the same name, published by DC Comics’ imprint Vertigo. There were obvious nods — Allred designing the main title sequence (as reported by ComicBook.com), a comic panel fade-in to scenes, and using a comic book-style font for credits. But the show was imbued with the essence of comics, affecting the tone and visuals throughout the series.

Unsurprisingly, a show about zombies features violence and dark themes. But the show balances that with a humor often absent from the horror genre. The makeup, costume, and prop departments created a lived-in world that exists between realism and a more cartoonish aesthetic. This middle ground can be seen in her choppy blonde wig, mirroring her comic counterpart, or the bright pink and red brain Liv cooks into various recipes that prop master Aleya Naiman told TVInsider was “much like Jell-O.”

But fans of the comic books should not expect a strictly faithful adaptation. During a 2015 WonderCon appearance, co-creator Rob Thomas explained of any deviations, “there’s a logic to it.” Among the changes, the show altered the protagonist’s name in favor of a pun, switched up her job from gravedigger, relocated the setting to Seattle, removed other supernatural creatures, and introduced Liv’s coworker and confidant, Ravi Chakrabarti (Rahul Kohli).

‘iZombie’ Was Developed by ‘Veronica Mars’ Creator

Kristen Bell and the cast of the Veronica Mars movie.

iZombie tapped veterans of spunky, female-led procedurals to bring this show to fruition. It was developed by Veronica Mars writer and producer Diane Ruggiero-Wright and creator Rob Thomas. (No, not that Rob Thomas! Though, the Matchbox Twenty frontman was tapped for a bloody cameo in the Season 2 finale).

The two series share a common thread. Liv was a medical student whose life was flipped on its head when she turned into a zombie, solving crimes while trying to find a cure. Veronica was a high school student whose dad was ousted as sheriff, using her private detective skills to solve crimes of the week while investigating her best friend’s murder. Crime solving aside, Liv and Veronica are both strong-willed women who are forging ahead on their new paths, dealing with the aftermath of altered relationships, and struggling against corrupt people in power.

But iZombie got something Thomas’ other shows did not — a planned series finale. Veronica Mars was originally canceled after three seasons. The announcement was just one season after the UPN and WB merger, resulting in a Kickstarter-funded movie and a Hulu revival that reached a divisive conclusion. His catering comedy Party Down was also canceled after just two seasons, relying on a 2023 limited revival at Starz.

“For the first time in my career, I know that this show is going to be over at the end of the season,” Thomas told Variety ahead of iZombie’s final season. “It is in a lovely bow at the end of the season. We will answer all of the big, long-term arc questions. You’ll get answers to just about everything before the season ends.”

‘iZombie’ Cast Proves They Can Tackle Any Genre

Image via Bertrand Calmeau/CBS

The cast of iZombie effectively walked the tightrope between horror, comedy, and procedural, as proven by the roles they’ve taken since its finale. McIver continues her streak as a supernatural leading lady, playing the owner of a bed and breakfast who can see ghosts on the aptly named CBS sitcom, Ghosts. While discussing her dream guest stars with Collider last year, she sang the praises of her former iZombie co-stars.

“They would be fantastic to have in the show. I know that they’re comedic weapons,” the New Zealander actress said. “I know that they are incredible to work with and, yeah, I’ve been angling for that for a long time. So hopefully something comes of it.”

Kohli has since become a favorite among fans of the “Flanaverse,” interconnected horror series from filmmaker Mike Flanagan for Netflix. Kohli has starred as Owen Sharma in The Haunting of Bly Manor, Sheriff Hassan Shabazz in Midnight Mass, Vincent Beggs in The Midnight Club, and Leo Usher in The Fall of the House of Usher. Their partnership has continued off Netflix and doesn’t show signs of slowing down anytime soon, with Kohli appearing in Flanagan’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Life of Chuck. The British actor is set to appear in Flanagan’s upcoming Carrie adaptation for Prime and The Exorcist: Martyrs.

Liv’s partner, played by Goodwin, was so convincing as a detective that he has continued to play the profession in other shows. His credits as a detective include Reacher, Law and Order: Organized Crime, and Alone in the Dark. He goes against type occasionally, co-starring with Kohli in The Fall of the House of Usher.

McIver is back eating brains and solving crimes. On paper, iZombie doesn’t sound like it should work. A comic book adaptation where you change the main character’s job, name, and setting. Finding an actress who can handle taking on a new personality with every brain Liv eats. A quirky cast of characters to balance the horror of the show while bringing a realism to the dynamics. But it does work. And in this renaissance of horror comedy, this largely forgotten CW series with a critic’s score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes could be the perfect binge for old fans and new viewers alike.

Release Date

2015 – 2019-00-00

Network

The CW

• 
  

•