AMC’s new series, “The
Walking Dead,” a television
series with an apocalyptic
zombie theme, is worth taking
to time to watch. It is based on
the graphic novel of the same
name written by Robert
Kirkman.
Kirkman’s award-winning
novel was released to critical
acclaim and the television
series, AMC’s fourth to date,
looks to follow in the novel’s
successful footsteps. After the
airing of the first three
episodes, it has already been
picked up for a second season.
Frank Darabont, the director
of “The Shawshank
Redemption” and “The Green
Mile,” is directing “The
Walking Dead.”
Rick Grimes, the show’s protagonist,
is played by actor
Andrew Lincoln. This is his
first major role.
Grimes is a small-town sheriff
from Cynthia, Ky. living in
a world overrun by zombies.
To survive, he and his family
must band together with other
survivors.
Grimes is wounded in the
first episode. Awakening from
a coma, he finds himself
amongst hordes of zombies in
a town devoid of other
humans.
Grimes begins searching for
his family in the destroyed city
of Atlanta. In the series’ most
recent episode, entitled “Tell it
to the Frogs,” he is finally
reunited with his family.
Both the cinematography and
action in the first episodes is
impressive, overcoming individual
performances that are
forced at times, as well as
some shoddy dialogue. All-inall,
this reviewer feels that this
series is still a must-see.
If you are a fan of this genre,
the series combines several
common genre themes with
new, interesting ones.
The audience is provided a
more in-depth view of what
surviving might entail than
usual. Various characters find
themselves in situations where
they are constantly torn
between helping each other
and ensuring their own survival.
Drama is also added to
the series because Grimes’
wife, believing her husband
dead, becomes romantically
involved with his partner.
We are given lots of scenes
where the human characters
are in battle of attrition with
the zombie hordes. Often the
conduct of these battles is
complicated by dissention
among the humans. The special
effects are spectacular and
creepy; the undead look so
realistic, as does the damage
inflicted upon them.
The show is full of gory fun,
and the suspense is unrivaled
by any full length film. The
best thing the show has going
for it is its realism, which
leaves its audience fully
immersed in the action. “The
Walking Dead” looks to be the
big winter television hit this
year.