The Walking Dead Review: Taking Lives
Let me start off by saying that I enjoy The Walking Dead. It's a show unlike any other and it's a lot of fun to watch the characters struggle with life no longer as we know it, amped up by the terrors of a zombie presence.
And as much as I've liked the new direction of the show and have still found, for the most part, the episodes to be a relatively entertaining hour of television, the second half of the season needs to feed off that adrenaline kick induced in the final moments of the episode.
There has been a certain slowness and storyline dragging that's kept season two from truly thriving.
It really wasn't until Shane stormed back onto the farm with his gun bag and alpha dog attitude about killing the zombies (pretty much nearing the end of the episode) that a high level of tension and movement took place. I wasn't entirely sure what was going to happen and kept thinking the show would end with the zombies breaking free from the barn in typical cliffhanger fashion.
But that wasn't how "Pretty Much Dead Already" concluded.
Rather, Shane went into full on rabid dog teaching mode with hands-on demonstrations.
First, there was his multiple gun shots to the zombie Hershel was holding to prove they aren't alive, before walking up to it and plugging a bullet right into its head. Shane was definitely making a loud and clear statement.
Then, instead of talking about what to do with the barn full of zombies for countless more episodes, Shane took action and (couldn't he have killed them from up top instead of opening the doors?) released the walkers. Wow, the amount of bullets unloaded seemed endless in a display that felt like a game of Duck Hunter. I know we weren't supposed to feel sorry for the walkers, but man, they were like lambs to the slaughter.
Each glimpse of Hershel as he watched the killing left him more and more shaken. He's hit his breaking point and it will be interesting to see where he and his sanity are headed.
However, the final twist of the night was the reveal that Sophia was a walker and had been in the barn the whole time. While not the most shocking revelation, it was impactful. She meant something to these survivors. They knew who she was and while it was easy to kill zombies with no name or connection, a little girl with a rainbow T-shirt who used to be a part of the group obviously hit home.
Which of course meant that Rick was able to put back on his leader pants and do what no one else could: he finished her off for good. Obviously, a hard choice to make and perhaps it will be one that pushes him further toward the ideas of the survival-hungry Shane.
I have to recognize director Michelle MacLaren, who also directed the season one episode "Guts," for the largely cinematic feel of the episode. From the sweeping shots to the constant movement of the camera focused in on the characters, there were emotional and action filled moments that felt more exciting. The simple angles of Rick shooting Sophia or the camera rising to expose the entire group in front of the barn brought back a vibrancy and entertainment that I hope can continue.
The Walking Dead thrives on the ideas of fear and need to survive. The first half of season two truly lacked any real danger and that's why it dragged on and became bogged down with characters making bad choices (Glenn in the well, anyone?).
Herhsel's farm was in this bubble of protection, full of supplies and food. Everything simply worked out easily. There was no real struggle to survive, no dealing with what to eat, where to sleep, who to trust. There was a complacency that focused more on mini dramas rather than what the story should center on: dealing with the end of the world and attempting to maintain a sense of morality and humanity when the rules no longer apply.
That's what made the first season so interesting. While I enjoyed the transition to the farm, it's time to take another one. Hopefully, some goal that isn't trivial will drive the story and the characters forward and towards the tension, drama and scariness of before.
If anything, the midseason finale did manage to close a storyline - and, potentially, the stay at the farm overall - in a way that felt solid and complete. There was no real cliffhanger or teasing besides the obvious: after a zombie bloodbath on one of the safest places on earth, where does the show and the group go from here? I'll be eagerly awaiting to find out.
What did you think of the episode? What did you think of the first half of the season? Why is February so far away? Sound off below!
Sean McKenna is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow him on Twitter.
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February 15th, 2012 5:35 AM
Actually, I'm a huge fan of Zombies stories.
But Walking Dead is more like a soap drama.
There are dead space between characters which don't related.
And to see characters whining and silly are annoying.
I hope that it'll be sharpen up on a story board and smarten up on characters.
Is this series for kids? Or maybe senior people?
It's not fun when you can predict most of the scene ahead.
Shane and Daryl rock!
Rank: Guest Star
January 8th, 2012 6:43 PM
Definitely the best episode in the first half of season two. Everything arrived to its place. The characters unleashed themselves. Now we only have to wait.
December 8th, 2011 7:51 PM
For the record, the only reason Shane opened the door instead of going to the top of the barn was because he wanted to force everyone to gun down the walkers to save their lives. He wanted to put them in that situation. Had he done it from a safe distance, Rick and Hershel could just knock him back down and put him in his place. He wanted to send a message. The message was that the zombies are dangerous and no matter what, you need to kill them with a bullet in the head.
Seeing that last scene where Rick killed Sophia's zombie, I think Shane accomplished that.
Rank: Extra
December 5th, 2011 12:40 PM
it's a shame the writers have screwed up Andrea so badly. She's one of the best characters in the novels. Here she's just a waste of space and I keep hoping she'll trip and fall and become zombie bait or something.
December 4th, 2011 8:46 PM
whoa!!! what an episode! I was ready for the fact that Sofia was dead, but to be a walker AND to be in that barn... the whole time they were there... that I would have never guessed! I am ready for this "midseason break" to be over :)
December 2nd, 2011 7:52 AM
I really don't like either Andrea or Lori and wouldn't be sorry to see them get eaten! Daryl and Ric are the whole reason to watch this show I think, love Andrew Lincoin's accent almost makes me forget him as Egg.
November 29th, 2011 8:44 PM
I agree parts of this season have been slow but still good. And they had to look for Sophia, she was part of their group. I was shocked when she came out of the barn but with her being missing so long it made sense. Shane has gone nuts. I think killing Otis knocked him over the edge. And there was no need for him to do it. I too think the baby is Shane's and not looking forward to the "I'm pregnant and there are zombies" storyline.
Stephen - World War Z is an excellent book. I was so sorry when I finished it. And so realistic. I recommended to everyone who loves this show.
Rank: Guest Star
November 29th, 2011 7:24 PM
My biggest question after seeing Sophia was if the farm folks knew who she was. My thanks to TIFFANY for clearing that up. That explanation works for me.
@JOHN: When Carl first sees the Walkers in the barn He's looking down from the hayloft he had climbed up to. Made it appear like he was looking down into a pit.
I'm looking forward to the second half of the season. I'm most anxious to see if tonight's final moments lead to some sort of battle between Rick's group and Hershel's (For you spoiler folks, I'd prefer to see for myself what happens).
Thanks for the excellent reviews, Sean Mckenna!!!
November 29th, 2011 6:51 PM
Ok, so here's what I think. Otis being the "manager" of the zombies in the barn, interrupts a zombie having a go at sophia. He manages to save her, but not before she has been infected, being so small she dies and changes before he is able to get her back to the farm. But being so little he is able to put her in the barn fairly easy, without too much trouble. Goes back to his business of hunting, since this seems to be a fairly common task for him. And of course w nearly killing Carl and the craziness, he puts it out of his mind, and then is dead before he can tell anyone else. So no one knows she's in there, or for that matter how many he has "managed" to capture and lock up, ever increasing the risk to those living on the farm. And as for the character stories, the filmmakers have it right. I'ts important to remember that this is about living people and not so much about killing, killing, killing. The contrast between the plot of human story line, versus, a tv/video game spec
November 29th, 2011 6:23 PM
Love Daryl, favorite character, Shane on the other hand, I think has lost it. Absolutely cannot stand Andrea. Loved the last 10 min., was glad to finally put a close to the sophia story, Loved it Rick was the one to take control once again.