Walking Dead TV Series

[allmessedup]

I'm not really a comic reader, so I have no expectations based on faithfulness to the source material.

I don't expect non-stop zombie action or even zombies every episode, depending on what else is happening. I just want some kind of story progression, and half the time the show seems like it's marking time.

[KGBRadioMoskow]

Originally Posted by Paff

That all said, they do need to amp up the action, and above all, the SUSPENSE. Last 5 minutes doesn't count. In the comics, there was always the lingering threat of zombies. Whether it was a jawless zombie on the side of the road saying "guhhhh", or the tension (and smell) of everyone sleeping in the RV. Right now, it's all cush in that big farmhouse. It's like Little House on the Prairie with an occasional zombie scene (which now that I mention it, would have made that series a lot more enjoyable). I'd like a little more tension and sense of imminent danger, and less time spent learning that no woman has ever said "I love you" to Glenn. Hey, that's just me.

As I've mentioned before, those were my primary complaints about *the comic*. Far too many panels full of self involved banalities, people bullshitting about what they missed out on or don't have or have to put up with - and far too many calm moments where the characters have an excuse to indulge in such ego masturbation. The farm house scene in the comics was one such point, although granted the feeling was they got their walking papers in the comic quicker than the TV show.

I have more tolerance for the above in the TV show for a couple reasons. One, the more passive (watch rather than read) medium makes the above pass faster, so it doesn't *feel* like the characters are endlessly looping in drama queen land. Second, the character behavior is just more consistent - while arguable to be sure, it feels like someone is enforcing a measure of continuity in that area which the comics seemed to gleefully toss in the air at a moment’s notice.

On a side note, I'm waiting for "Big House on the Prairie". Hard core penitentiary meets struggling pioneers. Could be an action film, could be a porno, I don't care which.

Originally Posted by Paff

For example, the current farm scenario also occurred in the comics, but the point was made that they were still sleeping in the RV. Many comments were made about claustrophobia, lack of personal space, and ever-present BO. Again, not a single zombie there, but just knowing what's needed to survive adds so much more interest and suspense.

When they were on the road, the TV show went covered that ground. It didn't need to keep pushing the issue every episode.

Besides, it didn't make much sense in the comics to focus on that problem at the farmhouse, because even without living in the farmhouse Hilton just ready access to water would have alleviated problems significantly. With good weather most of the people should have been sleeping outside, and working outside. While I agree that things are a bit too "clean" in the TV show (and, more importantly, it is a mistake to not push a pervasive sense that their stay is temporary), the simple fact is their circumstance is a bit of an oasis, something the comic understated as much as the TV show overstates.

And isn't dwelling on issues of personal interactions in a stressful environment, without any immediate danger, something you had an issue with above? Fixating on immediate inconveniences, fixating on past regret, it’s all just petty personal drama in my book, neither better than the other.

[KGBRadioMoskow]

Originally Posted by JGrendel

What urks me about the show is this group tends to do first & then think about it later thus causing them to put themselves in needless danger for nothing. For example in the last episode we have laurie going off to find rick & glenn after Rick specially told to stay. She put herself in danger for no reason & now she's overturned on the side of the road & we have no idea the condition of the baby. It's just plain stupid.

My primary and ongoing (posted about it a couple pages back) complaint about the show. The comic had characters fixating on petty personal drama when basic survival should have pushed all that to the side. The TV show has replaced *some* of that with a dumbfounding insistence by the characters to do impulsive and absent minded shit that frankly *should* get them killed.

Originally Posted by Ash28M

Anyone else annoyed by how everyone talks in an over dramatic half whisper on this show. it's starting to remind me of Grey's Anatomy.

Avoid the comic, then. Or, at least, get ready to skip a lot of panels. IMO the TV show is an improvement in that area, so far.

Granted, the comic does make more progress than almost all big name superhero comics - which by design have to bring almost every story arc full circle, leaving the main character essentially moving on to the next story arc with the exact same behavior, just to keep from hamstringing the money machine.

Originally Posted by allmessedup

I'm not really a comic reader, so I have no expectations based on faithfulness to the source material.

I don't expect non-stop zombie action or even zombies every episode, depending on what else is happening. I just want some kind of story progression, and half the time the show seems like it's marking time.

See above.

[Myron Breck]

I just watched the 1st episode last night. Guess I'm a little behind.

[JGrendel]

Originally Posted by Myron Breck

I just watched the 1st episode last night. Guess I'm a little behind.

That's okay AMC did a weekend marathon of season 1 & then season up to the new episode just in case everyone forgot or living under a rock.

[Myron Breck]

Originally Posted by JGrendel

That's okay AMC did a weekend marathon of season 1 & then season up to the new episode just in case everyone forgot or living under a rock.

I don't have cable but I bought Season 1 on Amazon for $9.99 so I thought I'd give it a shot. Pretty good so far, but after all of the complaints here and from various friends, I'm not holding too much hope for the rest of the series.

[JGrendel]

Originally Posted by Myron Breck

I don't have cable but I bought Season 1 on Amazon for $9.99 so I thought I'd give it a shot. Pretty good so far, but after all of the complaints here and from various friends, I'm not holding too much hope for the rest of the series.

Don't get me wrong I love the series, you just get thouse moments when you question the logic, they do this long monologe about how life is precious & then in the same breath go do something really stupid & life threatening.

[Chomp]

Man...the first half of tonights episode was great...probably the most engrossing since the first episode.

And by the looks of some of next weeks clips, it looks like we'll be seeing the prison real soon....thank god, finally getting off the farm.

[allmessedup]

This was one of the better episodes, but yeah, I hope they're about done with the farm.

If these people were making the original Dead films they'd take three hours to get out of the TV station and get on the chopper.

[maybrick]

Originally Posted by allmessedup

This was one of the better episodes, but yeah, I hope they're about done with the farm.

If these people were making the original Dead films they'd take three hours to get out of the TV station and get on the chopper.

That's kind of the point of The Walking Dead, but yeah I agree that they do tend to drag needless things out forever on the TV series. There's been a marked improvement since about episode five of this series. It's plain to see that all the fears about Darabont leaving the series were exaggerated. If anything, it's helped. I used to be pretty "meh" about the show but now I can honestly say that I like it. It still isn't my favorite show on the air at the moment, but I've finally gotten to the point where I look forward to seeing the next ep. And that's good.

[Chomp]

Darabont's departure has definitely been for the better. I'm still scratching my head about the CDC episode as well has the gang run senior citizen living facility episode.

[Shannafey]

Originally Posted by JGrendel

What urks me about the show is this group tends to do first & then think about it later thus causing them to put themselves in needless danger for nothing. For example in the last episode we have laurie going off to find rick & glenn after Rick specially told to stay. She put herself in danger for no reason & now she's overturned on the side of the road & we have no idea the condition of the baby. It's just plain stupid.

You're not kidding! They seem like the stupidest group of people and it keeps getting worse. They aren't that dim witted in the comic!!

[soxfan666]

I have enjoyed the past 2 episodes very much. I felt a real turning point 2 weeks ago when Shane and Lori talked leading into Lori telling Rick that Shane is dangerous. Then this past week I thought the tension between the men was well played. It seems to me that the farm living is at its end point and the group will be moving on towards the end of the season. Each episode is getting better in my opinion.

[Ptflea2]

Originally Posted by soxfan666

I have enjoyed the past 2 episodes very much. I felt a real turning point 2 weeks ago when Shane and Lori talked leading into Lori telling Rick that Shane is dangerous. Then this past week I thought the tension between the men was well played. It seems to me that the farm living is at its end point and the group will be moving on towards the end of the season. Each episode is getting better in my opinion.

Agreed. Really enjoyed the last two episodes and can't wait for the season finale. The ending to last nights show was crazy, hopefully this will get us off the farm now.

[maybrick]

Not sure what everybody has against the farm. Where exactly are they supposed to go? Do you guys want it to be like The Fugitive/The Hulk/Knight Rider/The A-Team/The Pretender where they go to a different town every week to help defend somebody from zombie attacks or something?