I’m not a big zombie fan, but I watched the first episode of The Walking Dead last Sunday on AMC. The setup is basic: a police deputy wakes up in a hospital after being shot and discovers he’s in an abandoned building filled with dead bodies. He learns an illness killed millions of people and then turned them into flesh-eating zombies. The deputy decides to head for Atlanta, but when he gets there, he finds the city has been taken over by “The Walking Dead.” I found the first episode to be a bit slow. However, the apocalyptic premise is compelling and I’ll give this series a few more weeks. The constant shooting of zombies in the head (the only sure way to “kill” them) gets a bit tedious. This series is based on a series of graphic novels by Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore first published in 2003.
We liked the first episode too – Jackie is a huge fan of “end of the world” stories – and I’ve ordered the first collection from (yes!) the Brooklyn Public Library. Someone there must have a subversive sense of ordering.
I couldn’t believe he just rode into Atlanta like that once he saw how deserted it was without a little more caution, and it was awfully coincidental that the one group that heard him broadcasting included his wife and friend – wouldn’t it have been logical for him to give his name when he sent out the message and wouldn’t they have recognized his voice? – but we’ll definitely keep watching.
Once again an English actor (Andrew Lincoln) is playing American. In fact, Lennie James (the black guy with the kid) is also English, and previously appeared in JERICHO, another show Jackie liked.
One side note of fascination for me: apparently in the books the unnamed (in the TV series) town in Kentucky where the cop comes from is Cynthiana, which is the home town of comic book artist/co-creator Tom Moore. It was also the home of (the late) former DAPA-EM member David Rose, and we visited him there back in the 1980’s.
You could easily believe zombies lived there.
Many of the zombies seem to be former bankers, Jeff, which should delight Rick. Talk about “zombie” banks!
I really liked it. Didn’t even mind the slow buildup.
I’m curious to see where they’re going to take this series, Patti. I’m sure the focus will be on the survivors, especially the people still flying around in helicopters.
The idea that the bankers died, but I should have known they’d find a way to come back and bite people. . As far as the show is concerned, I’m just zombie-vampire-werewolf ‘d out.
I know I’m vampired out, Rick. But I’ll give the zombies a little more slack.
I meant to say “I like” the idea that the bankers died….
I like this show, and I kinda like zombies. A lot of normal people out there seem like the walking dead.
Yes, Drongo, they’re called Republicans.
I wonder why zombies are always so ill-groomed?
Because dissheveled hair is scary? Actually it’s sexy, frequently, unless a fair amount skin is missing from the face beneath it…
I liked the zombie-themed Hallow’s Eve episode of the NBC sitcom COMMUNITY better than I did what I’ve seen of DEAD SET or the pilot of THE WALKING DEAD. But all have their points…jutting though flesh here and there…
I’ve liked DAWN OF THE DEAD and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, but I’m not a huge fan of zombies, Todd. I’m on the fence with THE WALKING DEAD. There’s so little on TV worth watching, I’m stuck with a zombie program on Sunday nights if the NFL game sucks.
I bet when the NFL scheduling geniuses came out with this year’s lineup they didn’t anticipate the Cowboys being barely better than the Bills!
The Bills just don’t have any talent, Jeff. A decade of terrible drafting resulted in a collection of players who are mediocre. The Cowboys have talent, but the players seem to have quit on Wade.
This Sunday night I managed to catch BORED TO DEATH and CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, and missed THE VENTURE BROS…it is pretty slim pickings beyond these, since I’m waiting to watch the DEXTER episodes with my friend Alice (she comes over to watch them in lumps on demand).
We’re still waiting for your Noir Con trip report, Todd.
I was working, or helping a friend, or feeling tired or poorly, and then I went to the Society Hill Playhouse where a lot of cf people were. It was fun while it lasted!
More details later. I’m spending too much time trying to articulate why Woody Allen has never succeeded for me and I suspect for himself as a filmmaker, as it is.
Yes, I’m following your comments on Patti’s blog, Todd. Woody Allen peaked early. The mediocrity of his films for the past decade result from his placing style above substance.
I genuinely do think he thinks he’s a past master. He was always stuck at journeyman, at best.
But nonetheless despite thinking he doesn’t have to do better, he thinks he is doing better, plateauing. Or so I suspect.
After ANNIE HALL, I think Woody’s work concentrated on style over substance, Todd. Every fifth movie or so, substance would take hold and the quality would go up. But only for that movie. Then it was back to style.