Set initially in Los Angeles, California and then later in Mexico The series follows a dysfunctional, blended family composed of high school guidance counselor Madison Clark, her English teacher boyfriend Travis Manawa, her daughter Alicia, her drug addict son Nick, Travis's son from a previous marriage, Chris, Chris's mother Liza Ortiz, and others who join their group at the onset of the apocalypse They must reinvent themselves, learning new skills and adopting new attitudes in order to survive as civilization collapses around them