Robert Kirkman’s now legendary Image comics series is now in it’s second season as a television series. There’s something about the concept of zombies over-running the planet and a small group of people having to band together to survive that has wide appeal. Unlike many others however, the key to Kirkman’s epic is not the zombies, but rather the people. Season one of AMC’s Walking Dead left me unsatisfied. It became fairly typical and predictable by the end and focused more on plot than I think it should have. Season two starts off strong (probably stronger than Season one’s opener). Here are a few highlights and my impressions of the episode overall.
“What Lies Ahead” begins with a soliloquy delivered by Rick Grimes. It’s not terribly interesting but does establish the mood of the show and serves the purpose of letting us know the plot is now that the survivors are leaving Atlanta. On the highway, the group encounter their first obstacle. A bunch of over turned cars blocking the road.
This pause in movement allows the writers to put some characters together in interesting ways. Interesting dialog ensues. The characters are then sent off in different directions to scavenge for supplies from the abandoned cars. This is where we encounter our first “walkers” this season. A herd of them in fact. Geographically, the way they appear doesn’t really make sense. They sort of are suddenly just … there. Considering Dale was keeping watch from a high point, I found this a stretch. It’s a sticking point and not really what the show is about so I forgave it but it did distract me. The characters avoid peril for the most part – by hiding under cars – but not without some close calls which made for some tense entertainment – Daryl saves T-Dog’s life. Considering the history these two have, that one moment is likely to grow into significant character arcs.
Once the herd has passed folks tentatively come out of hiding. Carol’s daughter Sophia is pursued by two walkers that are still lurking the premises. Carol runs into the woods. Rick follows and manages to lure the two walkers away from the little girl. Grimes gruesomely dispatches the zombies and we get to see Rick’s dark side surface a little bit. The problem isn’t resolved however because Sophia has gone missing. Carol of course blames Rick for this. This is where the show gets very interesting. The enormous pressure and desperation the characters undergo causes them to squabble, fight, accuse, judge one another. Not unlike what one might experience working in a toxic office environment and suchlike.
Actress Laurie Holden steals the show with every scene she is in. She is one of the most convincing actors in the cast. To be fair, her character – Andrea – is also going through a very interesting ordeal so it’s possible the script simply serves her best. She confronts Dale on his refusal to give her a gun when they go into the woods to search for Carol. This scene is the most intense one of the episode. Consider that this is a show where zombies may lurk at every corner. For a simple face-to-face verbal conflict to overshadow a zombie attack it has to be well-written and performed.
The characters meander in the forest some more, not finding Sophia. The Shane-Lori-Rick love triangle (sort of) is developed further. Shane threatens to leave the group behind. Andrea overhears this and proposes to leave with Shane. Lots of praying is done at a church that is found in a clearing. It’s supposed to reveal more about the characters and it does but goes on a little too long. Rick asks God for a sign which he gets in the form of a deer that Carl approaches. It’s a rare peaceful moment but the show ends in typical Kirkman fashion. If the deer was a sign of hope, Rick’s faith will be tested. I won’t reveal what happens at the end of the show but I actually forgot what had happened in the comic and it surprised me. Make no mistake, this is a horror show. Horrible things happen. The characters are put through the ringer.
I liked this episode for the strong emphasis on character interaction during the last two thirds. There was a lot going on character wise and was very satisfied about this. I was a bit annoyed at some of the logistics* and how some scenes seemed tacked on for nothing more than a cheap scare or gross out. But as long as those elements do not become a priority in the show I think I’ll enjoy myself more this season than during season one. What did you think of the show?
* If the zombies operate mostly by smell why can’t that zombie smell Andrea through a 1 inch door? Or for that matter, why don’t they smell the humans when they are hiding under the cars? It’s weird it’s this that bothers me and not the fact that the zombies can smell without a nose. Funny how a geek’s brain works.
the horde sneaking up on them was funny, maybe they were ninja zombies. there were no cars or anything behind them that would cause any sight issues, and the guy is on top of the RV…how ridiculous even by Hollywood standards.
and then the scene where the little girl gets out from under the car…??? what adult would let that happen. the horde just passed the next thing on my mind is 1) what if there are stragglers, we should wait a few more minutes before getting out from under the cars. or maybe the ones that just passes us, they aren’t all that fast what if they are like two cars ahead and turn around, lets just wait whats the rush. 2) a child should probably not be the first one out from hiding. a single adult person should go and check out the situation and then let everyone else know if they can come out.
i like the show, but these two scenes were just dumb. i get the setup they tried to do with the whole search of the woods, but just a bad way of getting there.
the thing you said about the zombie smelling the people and not finding her in the bathroom right away, that seems reasonable. if you thing about it they have been in that camper for some time now so there is fresh smell all over that camper. zombie’s nose, if it has one, is not like a hound that it can track exactly where its coming from, more of just a general area. next comes sight and sound, and since she was quiet, at least at first, and behind a door so the zombie couldn’t see her, it makes sense that it just leaves. you see where she makes some noise trying to put the gun together and the zombie is somewhat aware of that but then she stops the zombie looses interest.
the scene with the cutting the zombie open and the tent weren’t bad, gave us something more to watch, not just them walking through the woods aimlessly.
I noticed that about the girl too. When her mother was up in Rick’s face about leaving her in the woods I yelled at the screen “Well you let her get out from under the car without saying anything fool!” Not to mention that the girl’s mother didn’t go help her when the zombies started going after her.
It’s poor plotting.
Good points about the smelling.
At least, the characterizations are very compelling and for me that’s what it’s all about. Truth be told, I’m not the sharpest tool when it comes to plot. 🙂
The mom needa to stop playing the victim card and start living in the new world, because the only thing that card will get her is a caufin.
I think most people forget too is that the zombies are not the main focus of this serious, its mainly about the survivors and how they deal with the situation.
“I think most people forget too is that the zombies are not the main focus of this serious, its mainly about the survivors and how they deal with the situation.”
Precisely! That’s why I can forgive these other things. If the character interactions and how their behavior is affected stays interesting I’ll keep watching.
