The Walking Dead Season 1 Review

channel: AMC

show creator: Frank Darabont

genre: Horror, Drama

based on the comic book series "The Walking Dead" by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore & Charlie Adlard

The day would come that a comic book series would be adapted into a sophisticated TV series. But not like The Flash (1990-1991) or Smallville (2001-2011). I mean literally a comic book series adaptation that takes elements of the comic and doesn't necessarily bastardize them, make them cheesy and at the same time has the guts not lighten up the material. And the kicker is that when that day came I had to no clue that it would be a independent comic book series with zombies that would be picked up. But bless my heart because we got 6 episodes of pleasant zombie madness.

(minor story spoilers)

The Walking Dead is about Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his search for his family after a zombie apocalypse. Rick is deputy sheriff in King County, Georgia. There with his best friend and fellow officer Shane (Jon Bernthal) encounters a high speed chase which leads to Rick's injury and coma in the hospital. There he will wake up to a dead world where the living once passed on will become the walking dead. He makes it his goal once conscious to find his wife Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and son Carl and hope for their survival. On the way to them he will meet strangers good and bad that will help with on his path and show that are worst things than lifeless dead zombies. the creature known as man.

I wont spoil anymore the show as it would be unfair to the reader who hasn't seen the show just yet. Sadly the story doesn't go further than we hoped of Rick and the survivors as the TV show was only ordered with 6 episodes. This happened as they didn't know the level of success that a zombie TV show would have. Happy to say for us and for them it was an all out success with over 2 million viewers and more watching each episode of the show.

The show wouldn't have been made if it wasn't for Frank Darabont. He devloped the show, sold the idea, directed a few episodes and was head writer and producer. He is famous for his film The Shawshank Redemption (1994). Recognition should be to him for being able to get this on TV and for letting it be a bloody mess (in a good way) with blood, guts, intestines, corpses and heads a rolling.

With Darabont came a great ensemble cast. From lead star Andrew Lincoln  to the guest stars. Everybody did their part spectacularly and sold the world of zombie hell. It also helped that Darabont let subplots be integral to the show. Some suplots like the Lori-Shane dynamic, the sisters, the hillbilly brothers. The show was about survival against zombies and initially Grimes search for his family. But always a emphasis would be put on the emotions of these characters and how their everyday lives have changed them for the better and worse. The characters in each episode has been more important than twists, revelations or shock value entertainment.

Now it would be difficult for me not to comment on some of the differences of the show with the comic. I have read all 78 issues up till now of the comic book series of the same name. Changes aren't major but create serious questions about the direction the show will go. The series ended with climactic episode that signified that danger will be ever present but also hope for the group. The series has followed the comic pretty closely with changes here and there that can leave nobody angry. But what I'm trying to get at is. That in the comic these survivors will meet people, get into situations and into epic fights that will leave jaws a dropping. I just really hope that the show will be played more to that tone. As the 6 first episodes left us happy but also sad and its inability of the survivors not finding villains in other human groups. If this continues with group just surviving with only zombies to face and not try's to get a community started the series will get boring.

To conclude Walking Dead left no one unhappy I believe. Except for the fact that it was only 6 episodes. Second season will be 13 and I believe the story arcs will be handled in a better manner. For now Walking Dead is the best horror show to ever be put on TV and is demanded viewing to any lovers of the genre.

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul