I actually like the style of "Cherokee Rose," a relatively laid-back episode without much of a central plot and a lot of quiet moments for the characters. There's no overbearing sense of false urgency, just people doing what's required of them and nothing more.
My main complaints with the previous episodes were that the tension didn't match the eventual plot outcome, very small increments. This week's episode is completely different, with individual groups off doing their own thing. Everyone convenes to get the zombie out of the well, which ends in a glorious splatter, before going of to do their own thing. Maggie and Glenn get supplies from a pharmacy and hook up. Shane talks to Andrea about shooting. Rick wants Hershel to let them stay. Darryl tries to comfort Carol about Sophia. Lori confirms her pregnancy. There's nothing spectacular, and the dialogue could still use lots of work, but for its purposes, the episode worked.
Score: 8.7/10
Showing posts with label The Walking Dead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Walking Dead. Show all posts
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Review - The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 3 Save the Last One
I'm glad Carl is better, because this opening arc of the second season hasn't exactly been exciting. Between Carl getting shot and Sophia still missing, the characters, with the exception of Shane, pretty much stayed in the same locations and talked to each other. Talk is fine, it never felt like the conversations were going anywhere. Luckily, "Save the Last One" is the strongest episode of the first three episodes.
The dialogue and actions in the episode are more specific than the "we're screwed" dialogue of the first two episodes. Lori expresses a troubling sentiment that it would be better for Carl if he died. We know Carl won't die, but Lori thinking these ideas is enough. Then, there's the big reveal of how Otis died. Shane shoots him and leaves him for the zombies as decoy! Now that's scary shit.
Score: 8.8/10
The dialogue and actions in the episode are more specific than the "we're screwed" dialogue of the first two episodes. Lori expresses a troubling sentiment that it would be better for Carl if he died. We know Carl won't die, but Lori thinking these ideas is enough. Then, there's the big reveal of how Otis died. Shane shoots him and leaves him for the zombies as decoy! Now that's scary shit.
Score: 8.8/10
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Review - The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 2 Bloodletting
As much as the writers want us to care about the characters alongside the zombies, it's not helping much. After two episodes with great focus on the characters, I still don't care too much about them. It surely doesn't help that most of the dialogue is a variation on "look around us, we're fucked."
The plot this week revolves around Carl getting shot at the end of last week's episode. We meet the Greenes, and luckily Hershel is a doctor... of animals. Rick and Lori fight, Shane and the new guy Otis go to get medical supplies, and the rest of the people meet Maggie, who's riding on a horse, then make it back to the highway. There's okay stuff in there, like Rick and Lori's conversations, but nothing exceptional.
The cold open of the episode was Lori talking with a friend about her marital troubles before Shane pulls up to tell her about Rick getting shot. It mirrors the conversation Rick and Shane had at the beginning of the pilot, and doesn't add anything particularly new. It's not exciting like a zombie opening would be and it's doesn't shed light on anything either.
Score: 8.3/10
The plot this week revolves around Carl getting shot at the end of last week's episode. We meet the Greenes, and luckily Hershel is a doctor... of animals. Rick and Lori fight, Shane and the new guy Otis go to get medical supplies, and the rest of the people meet Maggie, who's riding on a horse, then make it back to the highway. There's okay stuff in there, like Rick and Lori's conversations, but nothing exceptional.
The cold open of the episode was Lori talking with a friend about her marital troubles before Shane pulls up to tell her about Rick getting shot. It mirrors the conversation Rick and Shane had at the beginning of the pilot, and doesn't add anything particularly new. It's not exciting like a zombie opening would be and it's doesn't shed light on anything either.
Score: 8.3/10
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Review - The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 1 What Lies Ahead
First and foremost, people watch The Walking Dead for the zombies. There's something about them that frightens and intrigues, as they slouch along the ground, hunting for human flesh. When zombies are on screen, The Walking Dead is practically unmatched in terms of tension and I think the high ratings for the first season can attest to that.
However, it is a television show where characters are supposed to be integral, and thus far they've been more distractions between the zombies than anything else. Most of "What Lies Ahead" is spent on the characters instead of the zombies, trying to balance the two and it doesn't quite work completely. We get introduced to new dynamics--Carol angry at Rick, Lori mad at Shane for ignoring Carl (and not for the attempted rape incident?), Shane planning on leaving, Andrea being mad at Dale and wanting to leave with Shane--but I'm not sure I care about the characters anymore than I did before. None of the character work seemed particularly significant.
Beyond the characters, there was plenty to like about the episode. The zombie herd coming down the highway was fantastic, easily matching the zombie attacks from the first season, including the pilot. Even though there aren't zombies throughout the episode, there is still plenty of tension. There are long stretches of silence, an uneasy stillness, which permeates each scene. The lack of zombies indicates something potentially greater than a zombie--that a zombie can be hiding around the next corner.
Score: 8.8/10
However, it is a television show where characters are supposed to be integral, and thus far they've been more distractions between the zombies than anything else. Most of "What Lies Ahead" is spent on the characters instead of the zombies, trying to balance the two and it doesn't quite work completely. We get introduced to new dynamics--Carol angry at Rick, Lori mad at Shane for ignoring Carl (and not for the attempted rape incident?), Shane planning on leaving, Andrea being mad at Dale and wanting to leave with Shane--but I'm not sure I care about the characters anymore than I did before. None of the character work seemed particularly significant.
Beyond the characters, there was plenty to like about the episode. The zombie herd coming down the highway was fantastic, easily matching the zombie attacks from the first season, including the pilot. Even though there aren't zombies throughout the episode, there is still plenty of tension. There are long stretches of silence, an uneasy stillness, which permeates each scene. The lack of zombies indicates something potentially greater than a zombie--that a zombie can be hiding around the next corner.
Score: 8.8/10
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Review - The Walking Dead Season 1 Episode 6 TS-19
A lot could have been made of the cliffhanger last week, the doors to the CDC opening up. Instead, by the end of "TS-19," the center is blown to pieces and the time spent there seemingly like a mere placeholder. That could be attributed to the shortened 6 episode season, but still, the second season could have picked up at the CDC.
Nonetheless, "TS-19" injects more despair into the show, if that were even possible. Dr. Jenner has all but given up, leaving himself to die in the inferno. Rick himself admits to believing that everyone will die. Shane seems to have gone off the deep end, and would have done something serious had Lori not forcefully pushed him away.
What did Jenner whisper to Rick? Something medical, personal, or nothing of interest? There's no point speculating since the evidence is so scant.
"TS-19" ends the potential for a long CDC arc and doesn't really advance anything, which is disappointing since it is the season finale. Hopefully the second season will be plotted better.
Score: 8.5/10
Nonetheless, "TS-19" injects more despair into the show, if that were even possible. Dr. Jenner has all but given up, leaving himself to die in the inferno. Rick himself admits to believing that everyone will die. Shane seems to have gone off the deep end, and would have done something serious had Lori not forcefully pushed him away.
What did Jenner whisper to Rick? Something medical, personal, or nothing of interest? There's no point speculating since the evidence is so scant.
"TS-19" ends the potential for a long CDC arc and doesn't really advance anything, which is disappointing since it is the season finale. Hopefully the second season will be plotted better.
Score: 8.5/10
Preview of Week 12/05/10 - 12/11/10
Boardwalk Empire - HBO, Sunday, December 5, 9:00pm ET
The personal rifts opening up last week lead into the first season finale of Boardwalk Empire.
The Walking Dead - AMC, Sunday, December 5, 10:00pm ET
As soon as The Walking Dead splashed on television on Halloween, it's the season finale now--last episode for almost a year. Last week's episode ended with the CDC guy opening the door, deviating enormously from the comic. What happens now?
The Closer - TNT, Monday, December 6, 9:00pm ET
The Closer returns for six more episodes to finish off the season.
Men of a Certain Age - TNT, Monday, December 6, 10:00pm ET
Middle-aged men rejoice at all the inside jokes, and everyone else doesn't really care.
Criminal Minds - CBS, Wednesday, December 8, 9:00pm ET
This is now series regular Rachel Nichols's first episode. Let's see how this goes. What confuses me is how Nichols could be a cheaper actress than AJ Cook, seeing as she's been in some big Hollywood movies.
Community - NBC, Thursday, December 9, 8:00pm ET
Stop-motion animation! Community continues to top itself every week.
The personal rifts opening up last week lead into the first season finale of Boardwalk Empire.
The Walking Dead - AMC, Sunday, December 5, 10:00pm ET
As soon as The Walking Dead splashed on television on Halloween, it's the season finale now--last episode for almost a year. Last week's episode ended with the CDC guy opening the door, deviating enormously from the comic. What happens now?
The Closer - TNT, Monday, December 6, 9:00pm ET
The Closer returns for six more episodes to finish off the season.
Men of a Certain Age - TNT, Monday, December 6, 10:00pm ET
Middle-aged men rejoice at all the inside jokes, and everyone else doesn't really care.
Criminal Minds - CBS, Wednesday, December 8, 9:00pm ET
This is now series regular Rachel Nichols's first episode. Let's see how this goes. What confuses me is how Nichols could be a cheaper actress than AJ Cook, seeing as she's been in some big Hollywood movies.
Community - NBC, Thursday, December 9, 8:00pm ET
Stop-motion animation! Community continues to top itself every week.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Review - The Walking Dead Season 1 Episode 5 Wildfire
Following the horrific events at the end of last week's episode, "Wildfire" deals with moving on in an intensely personal and moving way. The writers are unafraid to take the foot off the gas pedal and let scenes linger, giving us close looks of characters trying to cope and deal with their situations.
Andrea, reeling from the death of her sister, spends the first half of the episode mourning over her sister, refusing to let anyone near them. Jim, bitten by a zombie, struggles to keep sane despite the onset of fever. And the entire group, stricken by the loss of personnel and in need of a safer area, tries to keep their emotions in check in the worst of situations.
In the end, however, there comes a point where taking actions is a necessity. Andrea shoots Amy's zombie in the head, Dale decides to sit on the side of the road, leaving the group behind, and Shane goes with Rick's plan to go to the CDC. No one is sure what the right decision is, but decisions must be made regardless, and in times of uncertainty, every choice is that much more painful.
When the group does reach the CDC, it appears to be empty, but the audience knows there's a guy in there who's been working for a while to no avail. The guy has all but given up and isn't going to open the door until Rick pleads desperately. With the big door opening at the end of the episode, everything is thrown sideways. It's kind of early to tell, but it looks like the show is really deviating from the comics, and that may be a good thing in the long run.
Score: 9.2/10
Andrea, reeling from the death of her sister, spends the first half of the episode mourning over her sister, refusing to let anyone near them. Jim, bitten by a zombie, struggles to keep sane despite the onset of fever. And the entire group, stricken by the loss of personnel and in need of a safer area, tries to keep their emotions in check in the worst of situations.
In the end, however, there comes a point where taking actions is a necessity. Andrea shoots Amy's zombie in the head, Dale decides to sit on the side of the road, leaving the group behind, and Shane goes with Rick's plan to go to the CDC. No one is sure what the right decision is, but decisions must be made regardless, and in times of uncertainty, every choice is that much more painful.
When the group does reach the CDC, it appears to be empty, but the audience knows there's a guy in there who's been working for a while to no avail. The guy has all but given up and isn't going to open the door until Rick pleads desperately. With the big door opening at the end of the episode, everything is thrown sideways. It's kind of early to tell, but it looks like the show is really deviating from the comics, and that may be a good thing in the long run.
Score: 9.2/10
Monday, November 22, 2010
Review - The Walking Dead Season 1 Episode 4 Vatos
The writers of The Walking Dead like split the characters up physically, and have two plots running side by side. So far, the results are mixed. With "Vatos," Rick's journey in the city, which began as a search for Merle, turns, oddly enough, into a moment of brevity, one which doesn't have much significance or real tension.On the other side of the spectrum, the business at the camp really carries the heavy emotional load and delivers in the end.
After discovering that Merle actually cauterized his stump, Rick and the others look around for him, but soon find themselves in a pickle. A bunch of Mexicans jump out, beat up Daryl, and nab Glenn. It looks like they are a bunch of Mexican gangbangers along the line of the angry racist or angry wife-beater, and they'd deserve a solid beating.
For a while, it's a tense situation with Rick and the others on one side and the gangsters on the others, both with their hostages. The biggest problem, however, is that we know the swap will eventually happen and no one will get hurt. With guns pointed at everyone, if someone shoots, everyone shoots and everyone dies. The characters there are important, therefore no one will shoot and no one will die. The only remaining option is to do the prisoner exchange peacefully.
Then something quite amazing happens. Guillermo's abuela comes out, and the vatos are actually a bunch of guys who take care of their relatives in a nursing home. The situation is quickly defused, the guns divided, and it's a pretty good comedic moment. The lesson is that despite the world still having nice, decent people, when it comes to basic survival, people can be pushed to do things that wouldn't otherwise do and obtain a responsibility they wouldn't otherwise get.
While that plot doesn't exactly do much, the camp plot is by far the stronger of the two. The episode begins with Andrea and Amy bonding, and we learn there is a 15 year age difference. Later, Jim is acting a little crazy, digging graves without stopping. There's another enjoyable scene where everyone is huddled around the fire talking and we get a bit of personality out of every character. However, this time it has to be ruined by zombies who bite Ed the wife-beater, Amy, and a couple randoms. Rick and the group manage to get back to save everyone else, but the final scene is directed extremely well as the focus is solely on Andrea, as we see only Andrea in her sorrow but hear the background sounds.
Even though it seems like it began only yesterday, the season comes to an end in two weeks and the second season won't start until around Halloween of next year.
Score: 8.7/10
After discovering that Merle actually cauterized his stump, Rick and the others look around for him, but soon find themselves in a pickle. A bunch of Mexicans jump out, beat up Daryl, and nab Glenn. It looks like they are a bunch of Mexican gangbangers along the line of the angry racist or angry wife-beater, and they'd deserve a solid beating.
For a while, it's a tense situation with Rick and the others on one side and the gangsters on the others, both with their hostages. The biggest problem, however, is that we know the swap will eventually happen and no one will get hurt. With guns pointed at everyone, if someone shoots, everyone shoots and everyone dies. The characters there are important, therefore no one will shoot and no one will die. The only remaining option is to do the prisoner exchange peacefully.
Then something quite amazing happens. Guillermo's abuela comes out, and the vatos are actually a bunch of guys who take care of their relatives in a nursing home. The situation is quickly defused, the guns divided, and it's a pretty good comedic moment. The lesson is that despite the world still having nice, decent people, when it comes to basic survival, people can be pushed to do things that wouldn't otherwise do and obtain a responsibility they wouldn't otherwise get.
While that plot doesn't exactly do much, the camp plot is by far the stronger of the two. The episode begins with Andrea and Amy bonding, and we learn there is a 15 year age difference. Later, Jim is acting a little crazy, digging graves without stopping. There's another enjoyable scene where everyone is huddled around the fire talking and we get a bit of personality out of every character. However, this time it has to be ruined by zombies who bite Ed the wife-beater, Amy, and a couple randoms. Rick and the group manage to get back to save everyone else, but the final scene is directed extremely well as the focus is solely on Andrea, as we see only Andrea in her sorrow but hear the background sounds.
Even though it seems like it began only yesterday, the season comes to an end in two weeks and the second season won't start until around Halloween of next year.
Score: 8.7/10
Monday, November 15, 2010
Review - The Walking Dead Season 1 Episode 3 Tell It To The Frogs
Thus far, we've seen the characters on their own or with a few people, never in society or the attempt to have a controlled environment. It's been a constant struggle for survive, and we don't really get to see what the characters, primarily Rick, are made of. "Tell It To The Frogs" does a fantastic job fleshing out each characher, putting them in a setting where they interact with multiple people without an imminent zombie threat.
The camp serves as a microcosm of a society that manages to exist even if the most dire of circumstances. While the society which shaped everyone is gone, these people continue to live together and for certain people, the rules of the former society still apply. Rick remains principled until the end, unwilling to give up Merle or the Jones'. The problem is that most people don't see things as black and white. And when everyone's lives are at stake, it's hard to blame them. Shane is uninterested in Merle, only caring once more guns and ammunition is factored in. It's logical and reaps the greatest benefits, but not necessarily the moral thing to do.
Rick reuniting with his family runs the gamut of emotion. It's beautiful to see the family finding each other after thinking they'd both been lost, but on the other hand, Lori is tinged with guilt of what she did with Shane. Sarah Wayne Callies does a great job with eyes, showing the exact moment when everything hits. Later, we see Lori and Rick together and it's hard not to feel bad for Lori who seems to be dedicated to her husband.
Shane's lie certainly puts Lori in a much better light, but it's still unclear what Shane's motivations are/were. There are two possibilities. One, he could have lied in order to get into her pants; that would make him a terrible guy. Or two, he could have been trying to get Lori to move on and not be guilty; that would stay consistent with his behavior in "Frogs."
The episode is light on zombie action, which is a wise choice, given that Rick meets the rest of the characters. However, it also ends with an absolutely brutal scene. The group finds Merle still there--except he chopped his hand off with an axe. Wow...
I'm troubled by the one-dimensional characters who have little to no purpose. Last week, it was the racist. This week, it's the misogynistic wife-beater. Both are angry all the time, introduced randomly, and it's clear we're supposed to hate them. Could we at least have an unlikable character who's built up reasonably? This trend better end soon.
Because the ratings were incredibly high for AMC and high for cable in general (and, sadly, high compared to NBC), The Walking Dead was given a 13 episode second season. Good news for viewers!
Score: 8.8/10
The camp serves as a microcosm of a society that manages to exist even if the most dire of circumstances. While the society which shaped everyone is gone, these people continue to live together and for certain people, the rules of the former society still apply. Rick remains principled until the end, unwilling to give up Merle or the Jones'. The problem is that most people don't see things as black and white. And when everyone's lives are at stake, it's hard to blame them. Shane is uninterested in Merle, only caring once more guns and ammunition is factored in. It's logical and reaps the greatest benefits, but not necessarily the moral thing to do.
Rick reuniting with his family runs the gamut of emotion. It's beautiful to see the family finding each other after thinking they'd both been lost, but on the other hand, Lori is tinged with guilt of what she did with Shane. Sarah Wayne Callies does a great job with eyes, showing the exact moment when everything hits. Later, we see Lori and Rick together and it's hard not to feel bad for Lori who seems to be dedicated to her husband.
Shane's lie certainly puts Lori in a much better light, but it's still unclear what Shane's motivations are/were. There are two possibilities. One, he could have lied in order to get into her pants; that would make him a terrible guy. Or two, he could have been trying to get Lori to move on and not be guilty; that would stay consistent with his behavior in "Frogs."
The episode is light on zombie action, which is a wise choice, given that Rick meets the rest of the characters. However, it also ends with an absolutely brutal scene. The group finds Merle still there--except he chopped his hand off with an axe. Wow...
I'm troubled by the one-dimensional characters who have little to no purpose. Last week, it was the racist. This week, it's the misogynistic wife-beater. Both are angry all the time, introduced randomly, and it's clear we're supposed to hate them. Could we at least have an unlikable character who's built up reasonably? This trend better end soon.
Because the ratings were incredibly high for AMC and high for cable in general (and, sadly, high compared to NBC), The Walking Dead was given a 13 episode second season. Good news for viewers!
Score: 8.8/10
Monday, November 8, 2010
Review - The Walking Dead Season 1 Episode 2 Guts
After the series premiere last week which was both thrilling and emotionally resonant, it's hard not to feel let down by "Guts," an episode which delivers on the former, but is severely lacking in the human connection that elevated the pilot to an extraordinary level.
Right off the bat, we're introduced to Merle, a racist who needs to be clocked by Rick. Not only that, he's a generic, stark-raving mad racist who is unreasonable, unlikable, and largely a useless character. Merle acts like a huge blinking sign that says "Oh, hey, RACISM still exists during zombie apocalypses." Eventually, when the zombies attack, T-Dog tries to unlock Merle's handcuffs, but drops the key down a tiny hole. I'm not even sure T-Dog should feel bad, considering what Merle would have done without Rick there.
Aside from that, the escape from the department store is nothing short of awesome. The survivors try getting out of the sewers which fails, before pretending to be zombies by wearing their skin. Rick and Glenn proceed with no resistance until it starts raining, washing the zombie bits way and attracting the attention of all the zombies. They reach some cars, dodging numerous zombies, and save everyone. Instead of ending on a cliffhanger as the pilot did, "Guts" ends on a lighter note, showing that Glenn can still appreciate the joys of life as he sails down an empty highway.
Back at the camp, Shane and Lori have a much more extensive affair than in the comics and even becoming something of a family unit, with Shane acting as Carl's father. I'm curious as to how the story will be resolved, since the way it ends in the comics is nothing short of spectacular, mostly because it goes in a different path than what happens on the show. Love triangles are very tricky, so I'm worried where this is going, especially since both look like bad people now.
As far as the comics go, Frank Darabont takes a few liberties to extend the wait until Rick reaches the camp and his family, spending time in Atlanta with other survivors, and shifts the wearing of zombie to an earlier time.
Score: 8.5/10
Right off the bat, we're introduced to Merle, a racist who needs to be clocked by Rick. Not only that, he's a generic, stark-raving mad racist who is unreasonable, unlikable, and largely a useless character. Merle acts like a huge blinking sign that says "Oh, hey, RACISM still exists during zombie apocalypses." Eventually, when the zombies attack, T-Dog tries to unlock Merle's handcuffs, but drops the key down a tiny hole. I'm not even sure T-Dog should feel bad, considering what Merle would have done without Rick there.
Aside from that, the escape from the department store is nothing short of awesome. The survivors try getting out of the sewers which fails, before pretending to be zombies by wearing their skin. Rick and Glenn proceed with no resistance until it starts raining, washing the zombie bits way and attracting the attention of all the zombies. They reach some cars, dodging numerous zombies, and save everyone. Instead of ending on a cliffhanger as the pilot did, "Guts" ends on a lighter note, showing that Glenn can still appreciate the joys of life as he sails down an empty highway.
Back at the camp, Shane and Lori have a much more extensive affair than in the comics and even becoming something of a family unit, with Shane acting as Carl's father. I'm curious as to how the story will be resolved, since the way it ends in the comics is nothing short of spectacular, mostly because it goes in a different path than what happens on the show. Love triangles are very tricky, so I'm worried where this is going, especially since both look like bad people now.
As far as the comics go, Frank Darabont takes a few liberties to extend the wait until Rick reaches the camp and his family, spending time in Atlanta with other survivors, and shifts the wearing of zombie to an earlier time.
Score: 8.5/10
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Preview of Week 11/07/10 - 11/13/10
The Walking Dead - AMC, Sunday, November 7, 10:00pm ET
After the huge opening last week, we'll see if The Walking Dead can continue with the quality and high ratings. At the very least, Rick has to get out of the tank, which should be a sight to see.
Psych - USA, Wednesday, November 9, 10:00pm ET
Uber-thief Pierre Despereaux from the season four premiere returns, but this time he may be innocent.
Burn Notice - USA, Thursday, November 10, 9:00pm ET
Michael Weston returns after getting shot and the status quo hasn't changed much. It's business as usual, meaning more random leads to follow and a client per week.
After the huge opening last week, we'll see if The Walking Dead can continue with the quality and high ratings. At the very least, Rick has to get out of the tank, which should be a sight to see.
Psych - USA, Wednesday, November 9, 10:00pm ET
Uber-thief Pierre Despereaux from the season four premiere returns, but this time he may be innocent.
Burn Notice - USA, Thursday, November 10, 9:00pm ET
Michael Weston returns after getting shot and the status quo hasn't changed much. It's business as usual, meaning more random leads to follow and a client per week.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Review - The Walking Dead Season 1 Episode 1 Days Gone Bye
I'm personally not a fan of horror movies. The idea of stressing myself for an extended period of time isn't appealing, and I've watched very, very few horror movies from beginning to end, mostly out of obligation. It's good, then, that The Walking Dead isn't a straight-up horror show.
Every second is not continually racketing up tension in anticipation of something jumping out. Zombies aren't constantly on screen chasing after humans. Far from it, The Walking Dead is about the people who are still out there, living in a world which is all but over. The presence of zombies is only there to provide the spark for what humans do.
And that's what sets apart AMC and select cable networks from other networks. Despite the unique setups, Mad Men is not just about an ad agency, Breaking Bad is not just about drug dealing, Rubicon is not just about a conspiracy, and The Walking Dead is not just about zombies. It all comes down to the unique characters, their different reactions to the situations they're in, and how they shape the world. The way these show do this is to vary the pacing, occasionally slowing down to extend the exposition and development of the characters.
After a shocking opening where a police officer is seen shooting a young zombie girl, the pilot, "Days Gone Bye" introduces the main character Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), the police officer, who wakes up from a coma and finds himself in a deserted, rundown hospital. Soon, after running from some zombies, he finds Morgan (Lennie James) and Morgan's son Duane. Interesting, the middle part of the episode is dominated by James. Morgan knows his wife is a zombie, but can't get into the mindset to kill her. It's a disturbing situation. On one hand, his wife is recognizably his wife, and shooting his wife has to be psychologically damaging. On the other hand, shooting her would relieve her of the terrible condition. In the end, he manages to kill his wife, the mother of his child, and must bear the consequences.
While Rick doesn't go through anything to that degree, the realization that the world is over is dramatic enough. Coming out of the coma and not seeing zombies slowly take over, Rick is immediately saddled with a mountain of initial shock, unable to fathom what happened. By the time he decides to leave for Atlanta, Rick is able to bring himself to do what must be done--kill zombies. When he reaches Atlanta, though, all he finds are broken cars and even a tank, signs that even the military could do nothing to stop the onslaught. The worst part is that zombies quickly swarm him, literally ripping and eating his horse, before Rick hides in the tank, luckily hearing a friendly voice coming through the speakers.
Also introduced, though in lesser capacity, are the Rick's wife Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies), his partner Shane (Jon Bernthal), and son Carl, who are still alive and in a camp outside of Atlanta. Unfortunately for Rick, Lori and Shane have this thing going on, presumably from the stress of everything going on and the belief that Rick's dead. It's unclear when Rick will reach them, but it's a safe bet to think that it'll be the first big arc.
Based on the 90-minute pilot, it looks like each episode will cover one volume. Given that there are currently almost 80 volumes and only 6 episodes this season, The Walking Dead could go on very long, which is surely good news.
Score: 9.5/10
Every second is not continually racketing up tension in anticipation of something jumping out. Zombies aren't constantly on screen chasing after humans. Far from it, The Walking Dead is about the people who are still out there, living in a world which is all but over. The presence of zombies is only there to provide the spark for what humans do.
And that's what sets apart AMC and select cable networks from other networks. Despite the unique setups, Mad Men is not just about an ad agency, Breaking Bad is not just about drug dealing, Rubicon is not just about a conspiracy, and The Walking Dead is not just about zombies. It all comes down to the unique characters, their different reactions to the situations they're in, and how they shape the world. The way these show do this is to vary the pacing, occasionally slowing down to extend the exposition and development of the characters.
After a shocking opening where a police officer is seen shooting a young zombie girl, the pilot, "Days Gone Bye" introduces the main character Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), the police officer, who wakes up from a coma and finds himself in a deserted, rundown hospital. Soon, after running from some zombies, he finds Morgan (Lennie James) and Morgan's son Duane. Interesting, the middle part of the episode is dominated by James. Morgan knows his wife is a zombie, but can't get into the mindset to kill her. It's a disturbing situation. On one hand, his wife is recognizably his wife, and shooting his wife has to be psychologically damaging. On the other hand, shooting her would relieve her of the terrible condition. In the end, he manages to kill his wife, the mother of his child, and must bear the consequences.
While Rick doesn't go through anything to that degree, the realization that the world is over is dramatic enough. Coming out of the coma and not seeing zombies slowly take over, Rick is immediately saddled with a mountain of initial shock, unable to fathom what happened. By the time he decides to leave for Atlanta, Rick is able to bring himself to do what must be done--kill zombies. When he reaches Atlanta, though, all he finds are broken cars and even a tank, signs that even the military could do nothing to stop the onslaught. The worst part is that zombies quickly swarm him, literally ripping and eating his horse, before Rick hides in the tank, luckily hearing a friendly voice coming through the speakers.
Also introduced, though in lesser capacity, are the Rick's wife Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies), his partner Shane (Jon Bernthal), and son Carl, who are still alive and in a camp outside of Atlanta. Unfortunately for Rick, Lori and Shane have this thing going on, presumably from the stress of everything going on and the belief that Rick's dead. It's unclear when Rick will reach them, but it's a safe bet to think that it'll be the first big arc.
Based on the 90-minute pilot, it looks like each episode will cover one volume. Given that there are currently almost 80 volumes and only 6 episodes this season, The Walking Dead could go on very long, which is surely good news.
Score: 9.5/10
Preview of Week 10/31/10 - 11/06/10
The Walking Dead - AMC, Sunday, October 31, 10:00pm ET
If you ever wanted a television show with the purest sense of absolute hopelessness, it's The Walking Dead. Featuring sprawling shots, ghastly makeup, and horrendous conditions, there's no escape for the characters--and no escape for the viewers staring at their television screens.
Chuck - NBC, Monday, November 1, 8:00pm ET
After last Monday's episode, the fallout resulting in everything that happened will be massive--or at least it should be.
Fringe - Fox, Thursday, November 4, 9:00pm ET
Fringe returns with an alternate universe episode.
If you ever wanted a television show with the purest sense of absolute hopelessness, it's The Walking Dead. Featuring sprawling shots, ghastly makeup, and horrendous conditions, there's no escape for the characters--and no escape for the viewers staring at their television screens.
Chuck - NBC, Monday, November 1, 8:00pm ET
After last Monday's episode, the fallout resulting in everything that happened will be massive--or at least it should be.
Fringe - Fox, Thursday, November 4, 9:00pm ET
Fringe returns with an alternate universe episode.
