A sudden and deadly flu epidemic sweeps the population of the world (Britain in particular) leaving few survivors. Those that remain each have strengths and weaknesses aplenty, perhaps a personal mission to fulfil, and most likely something to hide; some reason to be glad of the fresh start offered them by this disaster.
In order to get to the true meat of the story; which is about negotiating new identities, new relationships, new positions of power; the BBC pushes some unlikely scenarios on us in the first couple of episodes (I don't want to go into detail because that would involve spoilers - there are some surprises early on). Individuals, by various means, form into loose groups of shared interest and we watch their stories begin to intertwine.
Some might be tempted to stop watching the new Survivors at this early, somewhat unrealistic point.
Others who were fond of the 1970s series might drop out in disgust, having hoped for a true remake, whereas the 2008 version is asking different questions - yes they will eventually have to start making their own fuel (methane playing a major role in the original as I recall), but in fact I think the 2008 incarnation is more realistic in the sense that to start with, there will be plenty of long-life supplies and vehicles available. The story is satisfied to hint at more desperate survival struggles to come.
What this new version does superbly is generate a mix of characters and histories, with understandable suspicion of each other but also with a mutual need generated by the strength found in numbers and by the common desire for comfort in intimacy; as the story develops and stirs this unstable cocktail of personalities there are explosions waiting to happen around every corner.
For me the tension builds through the episodes. Rather than issues being resolved it seems that more and more potential conflicts and dangers arise at every encounter between the different groups of people that are forming. There is no chance to truly settle; no oasis of genuine security or freedom.
The seething tension reaches its height in the very last episode of the series. I for one cannot wait for the next outing of the new Survivors - in fact I am expecting series 2 to crank up the intensity even further.
At the start - not fully convinced. By the end - excellent, genuinely edge of the seat fare. Overall - definitely worth watching.
