Did anybody expect The Walking Dead to become the sensation that it has so quickly become?
True, the first trailer for the new AMC series seemed promising for sure, but the series has seemed to defy anybody’s expectations, however high they might have been. Today Entertainment Weekly announced a cover story on the show with perhaps the best praise the it has received to date: “The Best New Show on TV”.
While the first few episodes demonstrated quickly that the series is like nothing that has come before it—a long form drama about a group of the living survivors of a zombie apocalypse—it’s the past two episodes that evoked what is at the heart of the comic book: human drama.
I’ve only read the first four arcs of Robert Kirkman’s long-running title, but what has struck me is the amount of focus, however uncomfortable, on how this dark new world affects the people who inhabit it. It’s fascinating and gut wrenching.
In “Tell it to the Frogs” there is a charmingly authentic scene where the ladies of the camp list what they miss about their former lives. Things changes dramatically as Shane, whose boiling point has been reached, finds a vessel for his rage. Then there’s the wonderful scene in which Rick and Lori lie together for the first time in weeks and share a quiet discussion that is touching and romantic. Lori, who is keeping a dark secret, reveals that she has been wearing his wedding band and quietly asks “Do you want it back?” It is the scenes like this that are as surprising as those where the zombies come seemingly out of nowhere.
The cast, led by Andrew Lincoln as Rick, is well suited for the material. My personal favorites are Laurie Holden (The Mist and The Shield) as Andrea and Jeffrey DeMunn (The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile) as Dale. Holden brings a genuine presence to her role, especially in a scene with her sister as they discuss fishing with their father in last week’s “Vatos” episode (penned by Kirkman). There’s a reason why writer/producer Frank Darabont continues to work with DeMunn; he’s a character actor who can say as much with an expression as he can with his lines. As DeMunn gets more to do on the series, I’m sure he’ll grow to be a favorite of audiences as well.
The Walking Dead and its success is an indication that the television landscape is ready to welcome more alternative programming. Now cross your fingers that we won’t have to wait eleven months for a second season!
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