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Title: The Walking Dead (Season 1 - 2010)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on August 13, 2011, 09:57:11 am
The Walking Dead (Season 1)

(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/DVD%20Covers/The%20Walking%20Dead/TWDMedRez.jpg)

Trailers

Season 1 Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1v0uFms68U

Related Threads

The Walking Dead (Season 2) (http://pennycan.createaforum.com/tv/the-walking-dead-(Season-2)/)


My first introduction to The Walking Dead was at last years Comic Con, where AMC had a booth set up to promote the series. I would say THAT was the most popular booth there. It was packed and it took awhile to get up near it to check out what was going on. From this, my interest in the show was pique and made sure to check it out. So, I got to watch the Pilot episode on the AMC website when it premiered. And that was it. They were not hosting any additional episodes online and since I don't really watch TV anymore, I was left pretty much in the dark.

I avoided all spoilers about the show knowing that one day I would pick up the DVD set. Well, that day is here. I will give a episode by episode review and see if the hype is warranted or if it's overrated.

Marathon Started 08.13.11
Title: Re: The Walking Dead (Season 1 - 2010)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on August 13, 2011, 10:07:03 am
Episode 1: Days Gone Bye

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I am a HUGE fan of Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile) and really, he was the sole reason why I first got interested in checking out the episode. I wanted to see if there would be hallmark shots in the episode that would clearly be marked as "Darabont-esques'. There are a few noticeable shots.

As for Days Gone Bye, I thought they set it up perfectly by having Deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) waking up in a hospital after being shot, during which time something infected and changed the majority of the Earth's population into "Walkers" (Zombies). We the viewer are kept in the dark along with Rick, which makes his confusion all the more real since we are in the same boat. Anytime you can get Lennie James (Jericho, Human Target) in your show, it's an automatic win. I hope to see more of him because they guy just exudes so much cool. Overall, this episode is nicely paced in spite of there really not being a whole lot of Walkers. That is till the very end. Nice cliffhanger with the voice in the radio mocking Rick inside of the Tank.
Title: Re: The Walking Dead (Season 1 - 2010)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on August 13, 2011, 02:30:56 pm
Episode 2: Guts

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Two episodes in and I'm digging the series. Guts is exactly what it sounds like. I was curious as to how Rick and the remaining survivors were going to get out of the Department Store. But not like THAT. Taking and Ax and hacking a corpse and then smearing Zombie guts is not something I wanna see again.

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As soon as I heard the first inkling of thunder, I KNEW that the rain would come and wash off the stench, tipping the Zombies off that they were human.
Title: Re: The Walking Dead (Season 1 - 2010)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on August 13, 2011, 07:06:27 pm
Episode 3: Tell It to the Frogs

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I now get why there was some grumblings about the lack of Zombies in Season 1, at least in the first 3 episodes anyway. Personally it doesn't bother me because I enjoy the time it takes to build up characters and their relationships with the others. When you get to know them, it will ramp up the fear factor for them when they come into harms way when they inevitably come across Walkers.

As for this episode, I knew that by the time Rick and his posse, including Darryl went back for Merle, that he would have sawed off his hand to escape from the cuffs. I know Rick is a good guy and is willing to "do the right thing" in going back for him. But Merle is without any redeeming qualities to justify keeping him around when you know he is going to make trouble for the group that puts their lives in danger.

I never did like Shane from the very first scene he was in. And now I think he is a total douche bag for lying to Lori, telling her that Rick was dead, all so that he could get into her pants. But I did like it when the women fought back against Ed, culminating with Shane layingthe smack down on his candy ass. Taking out all that aggression of losing Lori, onto Ed's face is like a kick to the nuts.
(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/Smilies/0%20All%20Smilies/Kickedinballs.gif)

So far, really digging the series.
Title: Re: The Walking Dead (Season 1 - 2010)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on August 14, 2011, 05:21:02 pm
Episode 4: Vatos

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That was fuuuucked up and what I would say was brilliant writing because the entire time, the viewer is waiting for Merle to make it back to base camp to wreak havoc on those that wronged him by leaving him chained up to the rooftop. We are so invested in his anger and what will happen when he gets there that you forget all about the Walkers. At least I did. So when the Walkers invade and tear up the camp it was startling to say the least.

Poor Amy. I liked her of what I did of her on the show. They better put her down now because we all know what's coming if they don't.

I liked the twist involving the Gang Bangers turning out to be guardians of Senior Citizens at an old folks home. I never saw that coming. Once again....brilliant.

I have a feeling that Darryl will turn against his Brother Merle now that he is somewhat seeing it from Rick's point of view. I wouldn't call it "bonding", but I do see a Cain and Able scenario playing itself out here. Just a hunch.
Title: Re: The Walking Dead (Season 1 - 2010)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on August 14, 2011, 07:56:08 pm
Episode 5: Wildfire

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Okay, now I get why some people (namely Zombie fans) were a little bit ****ed off at the lack of Zombies in the series, especially in Wildfire. Two, count 'em two Zombies: Amy and the Walker in front of the CDC. This episode deals strictly with moving base camp and heading 100 miles to the Center For Disease Control. Not a whole lot happens other than transporting Jim who was bitten in the camp raid in an effort to save him in the hopes the CDC has a cure waiting for them. But that was not meant to be. Jim request that he be left on the side of the road rather than put the group at risk when he eventually turns. Kinda sad to see them just drive off like that. But they gotta do what they gotta do.

The ending of the episode when the shudders roll up at the CDC looked like it was right out of Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. This may have been the slowest episode of the series so far, but it was still close to top notch in my book.
Title: Re: The Walking Dead (Season 1 - 2010)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on August 14, 2011, 09:10:20 pm
Episode 6: TS-19

(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/Star%20Ratings/HTL_04star.gif)

This was the "weakest" episode of Season 1. This isn't bad at all, just that the entire episode takes place in the bunker if the CDC as we see what the virus is and how it transforms a human into a Walker. The process looked cool and is a different take on any other Zombie flicks I've seen....which isn't a whole lot to begin with. The other thing that made this one weaker is that there was no cliffhanger at all, other than escaping the annihilation of the CDC. Now I know for a fact that the series was picked up for Season 2 after episode 2 or 3, so the writers could have given us something to really hang onto till Season 2 got around. Oh well. The final thing that makes this the weakest of the bunch is hardly any Walkers, with the exception of the few the gang pops running out of the building.

Well, that's my take on the entire series. Was the hype warranted? Yep. Really a fantastic series in spite of a couple of hiccups. This is definitely a Buy for me.
Title: Re: The Walking Dead (Season 1 - 2010)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on August 14, 2011, 09:12:19 pm
FYI, I think it blows that Season 1 is all of 6 episodes. What the hell......

(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/Smilies/0%20All%20Smilies/HTL_mad.gif)(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/Smilies/0%20All%20Smilies/banghead.gif)
Title: Re: The Walking Dead (Season 1 - 2010)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on October 15, 2011, 01:31:24 pm
I have my review of The Walking Dead: Volume 1 (Days Gone Bye)  (http://pennycan.createaforum.com/comic-books-and-art/the-walking-dead-volume-1-(days-gone-bye)-robert-kirkman-tony-moore/msg2821/#msg2821) up now.
Title: Re: The Walking Dead (Season 1 - 2010)
Post by: Mac on October 15, 2011, 03:25:56 pm
Quote
FYI, I think it blows that Season 1 is all of 6 episodes. What the hell......

They were testing the waters... to see if this had any potential.
Bhwaaaaaa-haaaaaaa-haaaaaa... fooled them.

Now that it's a certified hit, let's see how they mangle it up.

Title: Re: The Walking Dead (Season 1 - 2010)
Post by: Chiprocks1 on October 15, 2011, 03:28:17 pm
Quote from: Mac on October 15, 2011, 03:25:56 pm
Now that it's a certified hit, let's see how they mangle it up.

They are half way there by firing Frank Darabont.  (http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/Smilies/0%20All%20Smilies/HTL_mad.gif) (http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/Smilies/0%20All%20Smilies/facepalm_anim_test-03.gif)