Anyone expecting Walking Dead-esque comic book gore will have come away disappointed, but anyone still feeling pangs of grief from the recent demise of Being Human will have felt the blow softened by In The Flesh's blend of heartfelt humour and high emotion - the show's roots as a more grounded thriller about a young man recovering from a psychotic break were clear to see.
But as much as I enjoyed the In The Flesh finale, I also had serious reservations - chief among them being that three episodes was simply too short a run. Mitchell's post-rising world was a zombie dystopia like none we've ever seen before, but by the time the credits for Sunday night's final episode rolled, it felt like we'd only just got to know that world and the characters that dwell within.
A good deal was resolved, true - Kieran (Luke Newberry) and Rick's (David Walmsley) unspoken love came to a tragic end - but so much was left hanging that it felt like In The Flesh was just begging to be recommissioned.
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Will there be a second series? The BBC's yet to officially confirm either way and, post-finale, here's what Dominic Mitchell had to say on the matter of further trips to Roarton...
Thanks for all the #InTheFlesh love. 2nd outing or not, The BBC & @bbcthree have been so supportive of the show. They deserve kudos.
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ā Dominic Mitchell (@DomMitchell) April 1, 2013
In The Flesh director Jonny Campbell has also talked about the first series acting as a "cathartic, wholesome three-part story" - but we've heard tell of a mammoth 'series bible' penned by the show's creator that outlines plans for the future...
"We wanted [series one] to have a really good resolution," Mitchell said. "But there are doors [left] open and I've got this bible, which weighs about 50 tons!"
Creatively, In The Flesh more than justified a second run - the show won pretty much unanimous praise from critics - but when it comes to numbers, things are a little more fuzzy. The series launched with an impressive 0.8m - almost on a par with Being Human's ratings in the same slot - but episode two took a considerable tumble with just 0.4m. Audience numbers rose for Sunday's finale, which attracted 0.5m, but while these numbers are solid, they're not spectacular.
BBC Three would have to take something of a leap of faith in commissioning more In The Flesh - just as it did in giving the show the nod in the first place. Let's hope that they take that chance and that word of mouth will see the audience for In The Flesh grow, just as Being Human's viewership did in years previous.
Because there's so much left to explore - Roarton may have fallen quiet in the aftermath of the Macy family tragedy, but prejudice and fear do not disappear over night. And what of the Undead Prophet - a plot thread left tantalisingly hanging? What of Jem (Harriet Cains), who was on the verge of starting a new life?
In just three weeks, In The Flesh has garnered a following that other shows would kill for and with the ebb and flow of UK cult television currently very much on the 'ebb' side of things, it would be a mistake to cut down a drama as bold and original as this one in its prime.
I mean, imagine if BBC Three axed a paranormal drama with a strong following and then that show went on to... I dunno... win a BAFTA or something. That would be *embarrassing*.
Do you think In The Flesh came to a satisfying conclusion? Or do you want to see more? Sound off below!
