If there is only one show you watch this year, it should be Game of Thrones. If you're going to watch more than one, make sure you are watching the Walking Dead. The second season finale was on tonight, and it wraps up a pretty good season with satisfaction. As a whole, the series is interesting and a nice addition to the zombie genre.
Zombies star in the overwhelming majority of my nightmares, but I just can't stop watching them. As such, I'm used to certain cliches. In the first season of the Walking Dead, I kept expecting the writers to fall into these typical scares and scenarios, but they did not. That in itself made me even more tense. I just kept waiting for them to do the typical action, for the characters to make the typical decision, for the zombies to be in the typical places. Instead, the writers decided to make the show more realistic than that. Granted, you have to accept that zombies exist, but otherwise, they're tried to make the people more realistic. This is what the show is really about.
There are those who dislike the show because it doesn't feature zombie kills left and right. If you want that kind of experience, there are plenty of zombie films out there, just waiting to give you your jollies. The Walking Dead is more of a character study; the show revolves around these people, with the zombie menace merely a backdrop. At times, this can cause pacing issues.
The first season seemed to move much slower than season two. There was additional exposition throughout season one, as well as less plot movement. Season two, while bogged down at times, never seemed quite as slow as season one. The pacing issue was addressed, and the series has improved. This doesn't mean the talking and discussion in season one was a bad characteristic; it simply means that season two found a better way to keep the character focus while making it more engaging.
Of course, season twos episodes are far from perfect. At times, episodes drag. If there is a character you don't care for, it's frustrating when they feature heavily in an episode. Like everyone, I have my favorites, as well as the characters I wish would just die. Of course, when they put the characters I dislike in danger, I become worried for them. Even if I don't like them, I still care about them. It is a testament to the writing and the acting.
Each actor, even the children, do an excellent job of bringing their characters to life. The characters, which could easily become indistinguishable, remain unique. They have different motivations and reactions. In shows like this, you can easily lose characters to the background, but for the most part, the Walking Dead tries to keep each character involved. Frankly, out of the main characters, T-Dog is the only character that hasn't seemed to have much of a presence. It's not a problem with the actor, as it doesn't appear he has been given the ability to do much.
As the show has progressed, more and more has been happening. In the last three episodes of the current season, there have been major developments. From what the said on the Talking Dead, it appears the show is going to change over to be more like this from now on.
Speaking of the Talking Dead, I love watching that show. The only problem is that it is usually not on until midnight. It would be nice if AMC would move it up, so it was always played right after the episode ended. Watching Chris Hardwick interact with various show personnel is fun, and they provide further insight into the show.
The Walking Dead also excels in its special effects. The practical make-up effects used for the zombie are outstanding, as well as the performances those actors are giving. I don't know that I have ever been skeptical of the effects. Heck, the whole show has seemed pretty believable, save one scene in this last episode. Since I'm working hard to be spoiler free, I can't tell you about it. Regardless, in two seasons, I have only found one moment to be incredibly unlikely. Considering this is a show about a zombie apocalypse, that's a pretty good record.
Aside from the occasional pacing problem, the Walking Dead is an excellent series. Because it's not all about the zombie kills, it is a show that can cater to a much wider audience. If you're not watching the Walking Dead, I strongly suggest you get caught up before the next season starts. Don't be turned off by the horror vibe you get from the synopsis. Instead, give the show a try. You'll be glad you did.
No comments:
Post a Comment