5 Years Before The Walking Dead, Andrew Lincoln Starred in a Forgotten Supernatural Show That No One Talks About

Audiences are probably well aware that before Andrew Lincoln secured the role of Rick Grimes on the hit TV series The Walking Dead, he enjoyed a long career on British television. However, since he moved stateside, fans tend to forget about his past career, especially as a dramatic actor. Not to mention, because a lot of these shows have since faded into obscurity, they can be quite hard to find on international streaming services.

However, there is one series that fans should strive to seek out, and that's Afterlife. Not only does it contain some of the most underrated scares in TV history, but it also proves just how effective a small cast can be, especially on primetime TV. While it doesn't have the same bells and whistles as The Walking Dead, Afterlife highlights Andrew Lincoln at his absolute best.

Afterlife Wanted to Replicate the Success of Another Hit Paranormal Show

In order for audiences to understand the entire premise of a show like Afterlife, it's best to introduce the main characters first. Andrew Lincoln plays a university lecturer named Dr. Robert Bridge, who spends his days teaching his students about the importance of cold reading and the influence that physics has on everyday life. Elsewhere in Bristol lives Alison Mundy, who is played by Lesley Sharp. Mundy is a powerful medium who is trying to rebuild her life and career in a new city.

In order to showcase the power of cold reading, Dr. Bridge takes his students to see Mundy perform her mediumship, not knowing that her powers are very real. When Mundy manages to give one of Bridge's students an out-of-body experience, the lecturer decides to study her abilities for an upcoming book. But, as Dr. Bridge discovers more about her powers, he becomes intertwined in a wealth of dark supernatural occurrences.

If certain viewers think that Afterlife sounds a tad familiar, it's because it is. Back in the mid-2000s, the UK was still riding the wave of X-Files hysteria, but a lot of networks were not willing to risk making a remake. One of the main appeals of The X-Files back in the day was that it was an American show that was still quite accessible for international audiences, especially because of its Monster-of-the-Week format. Thus, when writer Stephen Volk first pitched the idea for Afterlife back in the mid-'90s, it was quickly pushed aside. Years later, actress Lesley Sharp became interested in the series and repeatedly pestered British network ITV for it to be commissioned. Finally, the first series was released in September 2006 and received a lot of decent reviews.

However, it's important to note that Afterlife is not just a British remake of The X-Files. While the show does feature a battle between a believer and a skeptic, Afterlife really ramps up the jumpscares. This drama allows audiences to examine each spirit in-depth and doesn't hesitate to explore the abhorrent reasons why they remain stuck in the living world. Mundy's powers are also quite intense and seem to ravage every fiber of her being, and also appear to ruin her life. Thus, while the bare bones of these two shows are the same, it's clear that Afterlife is a lot darker. The British drama doesn't concern itself with the police or other authorities and instead focuses on the relationship that both characters have with the spirit world. Overall, it may be better to say that Afterlife was inspired by how The X-Files made the supernatural more popular and is not necessarily an imitation of the series' format and style.

This Show Keeps Its Main Cast Simple

Arguably, the main appeal of this show is its cast, but more because of the fact that it is so small. By allowing Robert and Alison to bounce off each other most of the time, Afterlife manages to develop its protagonists without too much effort at all. Plus, there's no denying that the actors are magnificent. Back in 2005, Andrew Lincoln was best known for appearing in the '90s dramedy This Life and having a bit part in Love Actually. He also appeared in the sitcom Teachers, which also helped to boost the career of a young James Corden.

While these shows are nowhere near as successful as The Walking Dead, Lincoln was very recognizable, so it was a great fit for a small show like Afterlife. The same could be said for Lesley Sharp. Just like today, Sharp was the queen of TV drama and appeared in shows like Bob & Rose as well as Vera Drake. By 2005, Sharp had already been nominated for two BAFTAs, so audiences were already well aware of her experience. So, by placing two recognizable actors in the same show, Afterlife had the perfect formula for success. Both actors complemented each other very well and had enough confidence not to overshadow each other.

Another merit of this show is its episodic format, which is only amplified by the immense cast. Each episode of Afterlife focuses on a different kind of spirit, whether it be the ghost of a murdered child or a dead person manifesting in the form of flesh wounds. Again, by keeping everything pretty simple and clear-cut, both characters have the chance to really deepen their connection with the supernatural. Afterlife isn't that concerned with lengthy backstories or pointless exposition. Instead, it knows that all the audience wants is to feel scared, and Afterlife keeps that promise by stripping everything down to the bare minimum, meaning that the scary stuff can't shrink away in the background.

Afterlife Remains a Hidden Gem but Not Because of Andrew Lincoln

A lot of audiences may assume that as soon as Andrew Lincoln entered the alluring world of The Walking Dead, fans would be keen to look back at some of his finest work. While that may be the case for his other shows, Afterlife is associated with a highly skilled but controversial writer. Back in 1992, Steven Volk created a mockumentary called Ghostwatch, which proposed the idea that a legendary TV presenter had been possessed by a demonic spirit. Sadly, this show is rarely praised because audiences truly believed that the show was real, so a lot of viewers were traumatized by its intense themes. The BBC was quick to ban Ghostwatch, and it hasn't been broadcast on TV for over 30 years. So, while Volk's work in the horror genre is truly immense, he's often burdened by the implications of Ghostwatch.

Not to mention, the fact that Afterlife is not on any mainstream streaming services makes it harder for new audiences to find. Back when this series was first released, the UK was keen to pump out as many dramas as possible because they were so popular with mass audiences. Thus, it's wrong to assume that streaming services would want to include every single TV show that was produced during this time. Plus, even though Afterlife was a hit with critics, it struggled to gain desirable viewership. Critic Rupert Smith was particularly positive about the show, explaining:

But, since the show only managed to scrape 4-6 million viewers a week on average, ITV didn't recommission Afterlife for a third season. But that doesn't mean that the entire series was a disaster. A show like Afterlife is a tad niche because it is very scary. Although horror fans may jump at the chance of feeling scared, the average viewer uses TV to wind down after a long day, not to lie awake all night having nightmares. Plus, it did work to strengthen the careers of both Lesley Sharp and Andrew Lincoln. In 2011, Sharp starred in the hit crime series Scott & Bailey alongside the brilliant Suranne Jones. Of course, Andrew Lincoln took off to Georgia to fight zombies as Rick Grimes. Thus, while a lot of audiences have probably never heard of Afterlife, it's hard to deny that the show appeals to a lot of avid viewers.