The Walking Dead

Anybody following this series?
I picked up season 1 and 2 at amoeba a couple weeks back and my wife and I just finished them. We’re hooked. We have an awesome replacement for the hole left by House ending.

Now we just have to catch up on the newest episodes in season 3.
thoughts? gripes?
Late,
grmpysmrf

Got hooked on it after my girlfriend gave it a chance on Netflix some months ago. After some deliberation about buying season 2 on DVD it was added to the streaming library right before the S3 premiere so I could get caught up. I don’t feel so bad about keeping my subscription now.

General thoughts: There’s a hook at the end of every episode that keeps you watching even when the story arc gets predictable. The zombie and gore is extremely well done (Greg Nicotero is the real talent on this show).

Gripes: Stunted dialogue keeps some character interactions from feeling authentic; if the writers would allow some more of the characters to develop outside of the URGENCY of fleeing zombies every five minutes I think there’d be a lot of pathos when they make their exit. Some motives are left unclear and it leaves me wanting more from that angle.

It’s another generic zombie gore fest. People can’t get enough of it though. But it’s alright, I’m at the beginning of season 2. I’ve been meaning to catch up on the series but been hooked on Star Trek DS9.

The show’s good, but you should read the comic. I think the characterization’s better done, with a lot more development all around. Some of the characters that come across somewhat one-dimensional on the show are some of the most intriguing ones in the comic. It’s a lot bleaker and depressing than the show. No going to the CDC to almost solve things here, just trying to stay alive while everyone dies.

While the show uses a lot of the same elements, they don’t follow each other at all, so it definitely won’t spoil anything.

love it.

The show’s good, but you should read the comic. I think the characterization’s better done, with a lot more development all around. Some of the characters that come across somewhat one-dimensional on the show are some of the most intriguing ones in the comic. It’s a lot bleaker and depressing than the show. No going to the CDC to almost solve things here, just trying to stay alive while everyone dies.

While the show uses a lot of the same elements, they don’t follow each other at all, so it definitely won’t spoil anything.

I was seriously considering picking up the comic. The only problem with that is my city does not have a comic book store. Is it just a graphic novel or is it an ongoing series?

As far as as generic dialogue and one dimensional actors… I think the only one that fits that description is Carl. That little fucker ruins the flow of the show every time he shows up on screen. but that’s a casting problem, He’s clearly related to somebody important that works on the show cause he brings down the whole show. Rick’s wife has clearly regressed as a strong character but I think that was intentional since she’s trying to understand her place now that her husband is alive. T-dog has pretty much been garnish with his character not really mingling with any mini plots he just kind of exists to keep some color in the group.

Now character development, I think Daryl has total growth. He started as some angry neo nazi and has grown into a decent fellow who is only concerned for the whole group and their well being. Next to Dale, Daryl is easily my favorite character. Rick and Shane are both solid aggressive characters. Glenn is very likable.

I wouldn’t say it’s a generic zombie slasher. I think there is a little more going on with the plot lines at least as far as making us care about most of the characters and being creative with and tweaking standard zombie plot lines.

Late,
grmpysmrf

the whole point of the walking dead, which some people don’t understand, is that it’s a show about humans and their interaction, with zombies happening to be there. not a zombie slasher thing. which is why some people thought season 2 was too slow- “not enough killings!!” was what some of my friends were saying. I told them they didn’t get the point. it’s a character series.

you really need to catch up with season 3 nath, you will re-assess what you think about some of the characters…

I was seriously considering picking up the comic. The only problem with that is my city does not have a comic book store. Is it just a graphic novel or is it an ongoing series?

It’s an ongoing series (just released issue 104), but it’s collected in a variety of formats. They’re collected in trade paperbacks (6 issues each for about $10), Hardcovers (12 issues for about $20 each) and huge omnibuses that are the cheapest way to get them, but are a little more difficult to read just because they’re thick. All can be had on Amazon for fairly cheap prices.

the whole point of the walking dead, which some people don’t understand, is that it’s a show about humans and their interaction… I told them they didn’t get the point. it’s a character series.

I completely agree. I thought season 2 was great.

[red]spoiler highlight below to read[/red]

[black][size 1] and is why i was so pissed when Dale died because the group no longer has a conscience [/black][/size]

[red]End Spoiler[/red]

you really need to catch up with season 3 nath, you will re-assess what you think about some of the characters…

Yeah, I plan to this week.
Late,
grmpysmrf

[reply]I was seriously considering picking up the comic. The only problem with that is my city does not have a comic book store. Is it just a graphic novel or is it an ongoing series?

It’s an ongoing series (just released issue 104), but it’s collected in a variety of formats. They’re collected in trade paperbacks (6 issues each for about $10), Hardcovers (12 issues for about $20 each) and huge omnibuses that are the cheapest way to get them, but are a little more difficult to read just because they’re thick. All can be had on Amazon for fairly cheap prices.[/reply]
Thanks I was going to look into that route.
Late,
grmpysmrf

Does it say in the comics how the world ended up overun with zombies or did it just start out with them on the run? cause the show hasn’t said. I’m sure you know the show has rick waking up in the hospital after being shot to find that zombies are everywhere. but how did the zombies start? does it say anywhere?
Late,
grmpysmrf

Both start the same way. Neither attempt to solve the question of where the zombies came from - though the show comes closer with the CDC thing. That’s part of the beauty of the story. It’s about the characters surviving and dealing with each other, not about explaining.

That’s part of the beauty of the story. It’s about the characters surviving and dealing with each other, not about explaining.

I think that’s probably true because if they explained how it happened at some point the story would turn into fixing the situation rather than dealing with it.
Late,
grmpysmrf

I’m hooked…breaking bad too.

I’m hooked…breaking bad too.

I haven’t seen one show of that, but I’ve heard nothing but good things about it.
Late,
grmpysmrf

Check it out. Season 3 was awesome!

season 3 leaves season 1 and 2 in the dust. i felt season 1 was pretty good, but they spent too much time looking for sophia in season two, but after the mid season break it picked up season 3 is fucking badass so far.

i have been reading the comics since around issue 88 or so, but i went through 1-88 as fast as was humanly possible, it was addicting as shit. it’s kinda rough buying it one issue at a time because they are like 22 pages with very little content most of the time. honestly it’s my fastest read of all my weeklys i buy. the art is cool for the book but it doesn’t warrant staring for minutes like art in some other comics do. that being said, it really is one of the better comics out there these days, if you;re into that sort of thing.

also, for anyone who cares, there is a novel called “Rise of the Governor” kirkman co wrote, and it’s actually really good. it starts with the govenrnor in atlanta and follows his journey until he gets to woodbury. i highly recommend it. (bisq seems like you read the comics? check it out man, really cool)

TL;DR

Seasons 3 is better than all of season 1 and 2 combined. Even though it strays from the comics it hasn’t really done anything really awful like other properties (COUGH TRUEBLOOD COUGH) and it is the only zombacolypse show on tv. Also, read the comics.

I felt the same way about Dale. In retrospect though, I think it was a smart move. they get rid of the conscious, the voice of reason, now what? will they unravel? or will someone step up to take that place? (the later)

I really need to read the comics, I know the information of them from a die hard fan who tells me about it, but I’ve only read a few issues.

I love zombies but I can only take them in 2-3 hour dosages.

Any thoughts on the mid season ending?

I’m concerned at this point that the core group of characters that the show started with and that we have all come to know and love will not be around forever and they are going to kill them all off and bring in new characters and we’re going to start all over again.

I hope I’m wrong.

Late,
grmpysmrf