380 replies to this topic

[TWoP Tennison]

Here's a thread for discussing all episodes/seasons.

Edited by TWoP Tennison, Mar 14, 2012 @ 6:06 PM.

[SusannahDean]

Im rewatching the season now. I think it still holds up pretty well.

[HelenBack]

I'm watching, too, and I think it's better than I gave it credit for the first time around. That's a nice surprise.

Also a nice surprise, it passes the Bechdel test. Barely, but it does. Didn't notice that when it first aired and wouldn't have expected it in the least.

[agora]

Im rewatching the season now. I think it still holds up pretty well.

Everything fits, even the early stuff about the Hospital which is the hallmark of a good scifi/fantasy show to me.

[Milan23]

My biggest question from S1 - I just cannot understand why Jim would want to be left there to turn into a zombie. I get that it was his choice, but why would you want that? Afraid of death?

[irishmaple]

If I remember correctly, his entire family had been bitten so perhaps he had some doomed, romantic dream of finding them and shuffling off together into the sunset.

[JennyEve]

I thought Jim was feeling guilty for letting his family get bitten/killed, so he didn't want the chance of being cured, but instead opted to suffer as much as possbile.

But as understandable as I find his reasons, I still can't understand that none of the others put a bullet in his brain. After all, it's not only he that suffered. After he turned into a walker, he could potentially be a danger to other living people who happened by this stretch of road later. Personally, I wouldn't want to be responsible for leaving such a ticking timebomb behind.
Even though most of the group are bleeding-heart morons, I would have expected at least Daryl to realize that and take Jim out. When he gave him that nod, I really thought that was what he was planning: take a couple of steps, then whip around and put an arrow through his head. But no, he just blithely drove away with the others.

[Doom]

I feel like a jerk now, because I've been rewatching S1 also, and I now realize that Sophie's Mr. Snuggles doll was given to her by the tearful daughter of Morales. Too bad they don't meet back up.

Also, Daryl's 'new' motorcycle? It's been with them the entire camp, and can be seen in multiple episodes. I never really paid much attention to it before, but there it was, again and again.

Shane's been sporting that "22" chain since S1 also, and I didn't notice. But rewatching the first 6 episodes, you can just see how willy-nilly they are with the zombie blood. Carol "mulches" her husband, as someone brilliantly termed it, and is just winging the pickaxe all over the place. They all have bloody clothing, carry bodies around and then wipe their faces, and just generally exhibit completely poor practices around zombies.

It really is incredible how they got this show past censors. It is gruesome. It's like the walkers themselves. Taken one show at a time, it's not so scary. But watch a bunch of episodes in a row, and you better watch your ass.

[JennyEve]

Also, Daryl's 'new' motorcycle? It's been with them the entire camp, and can be seen in multiple episodes.

Since Daryl is pretty much what I am paying the most attention to I noticed and remembered his motorcycle in the back of his pickup truck right away. But it annoys me that we didn't get an explanation for what happened to the truck itself and why he is suddenly using the noisy bike instead. I liked that truck, dammit!

[Milan23]

They said they were running low on gas when they got to the CDC, I figured they probably consolidated into just a few cars.

I just rewatched Episode 3 and Andrew Lincoln acted the hell out of the scene where Rick gets to camp and sees Carl for the first time. Great scene - too bad Lori's bug eyes didn't add anything or even convey any emotion.

Edited by Milan23, Oct 24, 2011 @ 1:01 PM.

[caseylane]

Rick has been slammed pretty much in Season 2 because of the unending angst about his family. I loved him in season 1 especially the scene where they start to dismember the zombie to make their escape. He stops everyone and pulls out the wallet and asks them to remember his name, who he was and his sacrifice for them.

That's what's missing from season 2, humanity for it's sake. Not the family BS but the fact they are surrounded by horror and that horror was once good, living people.

Season 1 the wanderers seemed to have a plan, now it feels like they are just spinning their wheels.

[Doom]

This has me confused.

He got shot in Kentucky. Went to the small town hospital there, where he wakes up (I read someplace that the actual hospital name is used and that Robert Kirkman went there as a child). After he woke up and found Morgan, he decided to go to Atlanta. He takes a cop car to Atlanta. And then to the CDC. And then to Hershels, where ever that is.

Wasn't he in Georgia in the pilot? I don't ever remember the show being in Kentucky.

[Vinny Vidi Vici]

You're correct, Doom, the TV series starts them out in Georgia. I have not read the comics but apparently I've seen enough hints that it became fact in my head. I just now looked it up to clarify.

[Doom]

I wasn't certain - thanks for looking it up. But I think I will pretend I didn't see that just so I can have an excuse to watch the pilot again. Also, I miss season one, when it seemed like overall it was more about the plot than the unholy trio.

I do think Morgan may have mentioned traveling from up North and passing through Kentucky. I'm not sure though. Guess I have to watch the pilot again! Sigh.

[Milan23]

Well, I'm a moron...for some reason I thought they were from Texas and thought it was curious they travelled so far but didn't stop to realize how unrealistic that was. Thanks for the clarification.

[Doom]

Rewatched the pilot. What? So anyway, I never picked up on it before but when Morgan is in the house with Rick, explaining to him some of the things that are happening, he says there are more walkers out than normal. He said sometimes the walkers get more active after dark, and that he didn't know if it was the sound of the gunshot or the cool air but there were more out than usual.

The cool air...

Now I want WINTER WALKERS! You know how they kind of power down? Like when Rick rides into Atlanta on Munchies (the horse, haha) and he goes by a burned out bus and those two walkers in there get aroused and come after him, startling the horse? How awesome would it be to have them walk through a snow covered field and have the walkers bust up out of the snow?

Also, we were all kind of annoyed by the napalming because it didn't seem to fit, but if you look at the pilot again, there are a fair number of burned out vehicles. I can't claim to be a napalm damage expert, but it was good enough for the layperson, I think.

[crazyheart33]

Watching "Guts" (S1, Ep2) right now. The dialogue crackles, Rick has balls ("Officer Friendly" indeed) and Glenn is awesome. I had forgotten how cool Jacqui was as well. When Merle holds the gun on them on the rooftop and asks for a show of hands, she raises her hand but is actually flipping him the bird.

[Glorfindel]

I thought it might be useful to have somewhere to discuss this season so far, particularly with the long, long wait until February ahead.

So, season 2.1:
Andrea found courage. Daryl found a heart. The gang found a home. Unfortunately, it was Hershel's home but let's not split hairs. And absolutely nobody found a brain, because they're all still as thick as mince.

Oh, and there was searching. Lots and lots of ineffectual searching. Which was ultimately futile. Good times.

So, season 2.1...

[ginandtonic7]

Great - now I'll have that Limahl song stuck in my head all day...the Neverending Storeeeeeeeeeeeey!

Frankly, I was hoping this group would learn some things and get better at surviving. Obviously I was disappointed. They haven't even learned to scavenge supplies correctly.

[svart katt]

This season started out so good. I thought the premiere was really well done. It was gritty, very tense, suspenseful and with some unexpected surprises. Since then it's been so-so for me. I do like the show, but I'm finding all the interpersonal drama so tedious and self-indulgent. If we are to believe that this is a group of people surviving the end of civilization, then show us that. The Dale-Andrea whining and the Lori whining and the Glenn-Maggie ups and downs and the Rick-Hershel banter seem so out of touch with what's going on in the world. The zombie scenes are just sort of tossed in between. Some of them are just silly, like River Zombie chewing on Daryl's shoe when there's a perfectly good fresh warm human body RIGHT THERE. I don't get a sense of urgency or danger from the story or the characters - they're all just lollygagging around on Hershel's magical zombie-proof farm like they're on summer break from the apocalypse.

It's not all bad, of course. Daryl's storyline is a good one. He's a zombie-killing redneck badass that's coming to terms with being a feeling, caring person and part of a group for the first time in this crazy new world. THAT'S the kind of interpersonal drama that makes a good zombie show. Shane's descent into madness is good, but it needs to be more than just arguing with Rick and Lori. Lori? Couldn't care less if she got eaten; the sooner the better. Dale's story is so dumb this season (hiding the guns? good one, dude) that I also don't care if he gets eaten (he's also been infected with Lori's bug-eye disease). Carol is a valuable member of the group, since she's the only one who seems to actually make the camp livable by cooking and cleaning, but she's not really a captivating character, and I'm not sure how they can change that. T-Dog and Glenn are two of the more resourceful and smart members of the group, and yet what do they do all day? I'd like WAY more T-Dog and Glenn out doing things and a lot less Lori. Some of the zombie scenes have been scary and intense. The Shane/Otis school scene is a standout, and wrangling the swamp zombies, while very very stupid, was freaky. I think girl swamp zombie was one of the best of the entire series.

I hope in the second half we get more danger and suspense, more intense interpersonal drama that has something to do with the collapse of the world and how to survive it, more people doing smart things, and less self-indulgent whining. (ETA spelling)

Edited by svart katt, Nov 30, 2011 @ 6:17 PM.

[Doom]

I hope in the second half we get more danger and suspense, more intense interpersonal drama that has something to do with the collapse of the world and how to survive it, more people doing smart things, and less self-indulgent whining.

That's what I want too. Enough with the whining and chit chat. Bring the ZA back. This season has been mostly a waste. A lollygag of meaningless blather punctuated by a few good moments.

[HelenBack]

A lollygag of meaningless blather punctuated by a few good moments.

Well put. And I've caught those few good moments even since ceasing watching the entire show. It's easy. Just fast-forward until it looks like something's happening besides someone bleating incessantly. There're about 2-3 minutes of real events in each episode.

That's how low they've sunk. What a stark contrast to S1, in which it was surely flawed, but showed such great promise. Now... well, now it's a lot of blather.

[MrsMay]

Andrea found courage. Daryl found a heart. The gang found a home. Unfortunately, it was Hershel's home but let's not split hairs. And absolutely nobody found a brain, because they're all still as thick as mince.

And suddenly I feel like we're in Oz.

[Glorfindel]

And suddenly I feel like we're in Oz.

I'm glad that my extended metaphor was noted!

And let's be honest, this show could be improved by a few musical numbers. And some flying monkeys.

[Clueless]

Reposting my commentary here after having just seen this more appropriate section.

I have just caught up with this show after having digested Season 1/2 over the last 10 days and overall, while I'm enjoying it...I do feel as if there are significant factors holding it back and it seems already to be suffering from a 'how do we make this basic concept entertaining over a long haul' core issue. The devolvement into overdramatic character interactions dilutes alot of the emotional impact this show could have amidst the bleakest of circumstances and outlooks.

1) The acting. In short...it's 'B' level at best. Shane is particularly weak, but alot of these characters are being overacted. Rick, too, either emotes, anguishes, negotiates so intensely ALL the time, that such acts lose potency because they are always performed at an over the top level. The last scene of him shooting Sophia could have been extremely emotionally poignant, but because Mr. Anguished Leader is so anguished...who else could have put here out of her misery. No doubt, this will add more anguish to his plate. As for Shane, we always see Mr. Instense Spurned Lover. And so even when his platform of principle is spot on "you are keeping these things alive?...Because, um...they used to not feed on people...in fact they still are people. Are you fucking crazy!!!!????"...the execution of that moment is done at a level so over the the top that is roll-eyes inducing. Not to mention his more subtle character moments. In all, when you compare Walking Dead against Mad Men & Breaking Bad, which fairly or unfairly, because all these shows call AMC their home - it will be, the lack of anyone resembling an intriguing or interesting primary or secondary character, is going to start to wear thin.

2) Consistency -...zombies never seemed to be able to sneak up on you before...not really even one in Season 1. But now all of a sudden a pack of them can crash a chain link fence to the surprise of Shane/Otis? Or be hiding behind a pharmaceutical drug store counter? And running...? When did this happen? Why could they run after Shane/Otis, but were simply in walk mode with Shane/Andrea? And also, I know kids recover quickly, but Carl's gunshot wound to the abdomen. I buy his survival, but how about a realistic convalesence, instead of having him up and about and learning to shoot guns within days of his surgery? Particularly in light of the fact that a vet performed his surgery so there had to have been some collateral damage to the wound not to mention a process by which he regains even a portion of his energy back.

3) Logic - So wait a second. Hershel's welcome wagon is back in the barn. "Go off and find yourself your own farm" he says. Someone mentioned upthread, but I would consider the current government and economic model of the world at this moment in time as anarchy. As such, previous definitions of yours vs. mine, and civilization and civility as a whole are completely gone. And with Hershel eschewing the use of weapons...in addition to being outnumbered anyway, his declaration of essentially 'go out and survive on your own. Good luck'...it reeks of being a plot device which essentially was cashed in when he had to see his visitors kill one of their own...a child. Bottomline - a poor job of audience manipulation. Also, Lori's baby with Shane/Rick...and her relationship with Shane. Quite frankly, I could see this as being not very difficult to broach. Rick's reaction was the right one, but given how reasonable he's been shown to be throughout the show, Lori's apprehension about the reveal seemed extremely overblown. Or even something as simple as instead of making repeated runs into town to get supplies on horseback, you figure out a way to get a big wagon carriage that a horse could pull of some sort or even use the SUV that Shame has to load that up with all the supplies the store has left?

4) Purpose - mere survival really can't be enough to sustain this show. Yes, there is a ZA...yes, alot of mankind appears dead, yes, all previous rules/laws/codes of society have been thrown out the window...but what else? Aren't there other groups just like this one? Perhaps the TPTB are wanting to create an atmosphere of a microscopic human existence in this ZA world, but it makes for clausterphobic and ultimately repetitive or redundant storylines.

[MrsMay]

I'm glad that my extended metaphor was noted!

And let's be honest, this show could be improved by a few musical numbers. And some flying monkeys.

I'm an English teacher. Extended metaphors are my gig.

And those zombies? Kind of like flying monkeys.


I'm also thinking the zombies should do "Thriller."

[fortesmtng]

I'm also thinking the zombies should do "Thriller."

Maybe if Glen learns to play the guitar real well he could inspire the inner dancer in the walkers and provide a lovely little musical respite for us all. Perhaps he could even be the Pied Piper of the ZA. He could play and they would just dance behind him, following him wherever he goes.

[HeroBrown1]

Maybe if Glen learns to play the guitar real well he could inspire the inner dancer in the walkers and provide a lovely little musical respite for us all. Perhaps he could even be the Pied Piper of the ZA. He could play and they would just dance behind him, following him wherever he goes.

LOL. Funny you mention that. Steven Yeun (Glen) actually sings and plays guitar in real life, and he's quite good:

[url="http://%20<a%20href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBUKaMiDrQk&feature=player_embedded"%20target="_blank">http://www.youtube.c...er_embedded</a>"] http://www.youtube.c..._embedded[/url]

Edited by HeroBrown1, Nov 30, 2011 @ 8:04 PM.

[svart katt]

This link to an article with suggestions for the show was posted in the 2-7 episode thread by HeroBrown1, but it's just too good (and relevant to the thread) not to repost here.

Some of them include "Stop making characters do stupid, illogical things in every episode" and "Give T-Dog something to do other than be black".

[lawless]

Thank you for the article, it's exactly right. And really, T-dog seems to exist only to be black, it's terrible. He's a good looking man, does jokes well, use him! And even more the thing about hiring more female writers -- the sexist portrayal of women really grates.