And just for reference.

Comic Prison.



TV Prison

The ratings for this show just keep going up and up. The season 2.5 premiere episode in February - which aired after the roughest run of the show to date, the search for Sophia - was the highest rated episode of the time.

People love to bitch and moan about the show and nitpick it apart, but I think those who really hate are just a very vocal minority.

I love the show. It's not perfect and has some flaws, but I enjoy it and have a blast watching it. Luckily, there's only a one week gap between the end of "Walking Dead" and the begining of season 2 of "A Game Of Thrones", so my Sunday nights will be salvaged for another 10 weeks.

That Lori meme is fantastic!

+1, freaking hysterical

Just watched the finale, to me it was one of those seasons where the next to last episode was by far the best one, the finale wasn't nearly as good but if it did its job setting up next season then that's fine. I had some complaints, mostly ones shared here. The biggest thing to me in an episode like this is the red shirt treatment. Watching Rick and Carl run among the zombies and go untouched while the unnamed randoms are snatched up as though the walkers are agile hawks swooping in from the sky. Just a little too silly for my tastes.


There was a line from Herschel during the episode that I don't think anyone has mentioned, something to the effect of "Jesus promised us the resurrection of the dead, I just always thought he had something a little different in mind." I dunno if that was supposed to be comic relief or not but I think I laughed harder at that line than anything in the series so far.

I gave Herschel a big FTW last night on that one, was a good line that his delivery made pretty much great.

I love the series. Agree the search for Sophie went on too long, but all in all the episodes were good.

One thing, I expected more from Rick. After shooting Shane, he knew of the "everyone is infected" scenario and I didn't think he would have just lost that sense of presence when he turned his back and walked towards Carl.

Sure it makes sense and created the enhanced drama. But it would have been better if he kept looking back and then double tapped his zombie noggin when he got up.

Great show, I can't wait for season three.

I think one of the most interesting things about the graphic novels (and it appears to be translating to the TV show) is how flawed the characters are.

Rick is super conflicted and full of self doubt. He rarely seems comfortable with his decisions.

Lori is just plain unsympathetic towards others (including her family) most of the time and self absorbed.

Carl is impulsive and is also unsympathetic.

In the TV show, those displays may appear poorly written or stupid at first glance, but I think they are, at worst, good attempts to show different aspects of the characters (as opposed to the characters doing what we think they should do or what we might do).

And in part, frustrating though it can be at times, this is what makes this interesting. It's very very easy to go overboard with making characters unsympathetic & having audiences turn on them, something they'll have to be careful about. So far however, they've managed to keep enough people on the side of enough of the humans (even if not always the same ones) to keep you pulling for them. Narrow as some of them may be, there's also an onion layer or two to nearly every character and I think viewers have managed to connect with that. Flawed people in a brutal situation, trying to come to grips with it & maybe just doing the best they can at the moment, imperfect though it may often be.

And last night I was surprised to find myself actually pulling for the survival of even some characters that tend to annoy me.

I almost wonder if they aren't intentionally trolling the audience with some of the characters. Lori is probably one of the worst mothers ever in TV history. Her tone from week to week is so dramatically different. And the actress is pretty annoying. Anyways, I'm sure if/when they finally kill her off, the ratings will go through the roof because finally her pox upon us will be relieved. We'd probably put up with 6 straight bottle episodes if her death is extra awesome gruesome.

Hell, she had to survive last night if only to give us the inevitable "OMG it's a zombaby" dream sequence.

Don't forget we have Mad Men returning next week. Lori just doesn't know where her kid is. If the zombie apocalypse came, Betty Draper from Mad Men would be throwing her children at the walkers to make sure she got away.

My problem with the writing is that too many characters are just caricatures or stereotypes to one extreme. I'm ok with flawed, I like flawed. I think Daryl (sp?) is a great character. He's rugged and cares first about survival, but there's a human element to him and an ability to do things for the good of the group even if they don't benefit him, but at the same time he can get frustrated and rebel against the idea of being Mr Helpful. Solid, layered character.

Shane and Dale were just too much of an extreme for my liking. Dale being incapable of even acknowledging the fact that letting Randall go posed a risk and going hardline "WE'RE LOSING OUR HUMANITY". Dale hiding the guns.. come on, these aren't flaws. This is a ridiculously overdone character. Its not even a character, its a viewpoint, an unwavering, unthinking point of view on the situation. I feel Shane was the same way. They tried to write a storyline in with Shane with Lori and Carl so I am more forgiving here but to me Shane was just the opposite of Dale, the "fuck everyone, survive at any cost" point of view and less of a character that I can find myself caring about.


I do think they've done well with Rick and Daryl and there is potential there for others, I can't wait to see what they do in season 3, and I think the show will be way better off without Shane and Dale.

I actually thought Dale was one of the most realistic and well acted characters on the show. I don't have trouble with someone not wanting to play judge, jury, and executioner since, as far as we know, the world and society essentially only ended a couple months ago. As an older person, he was probably the least well-equipped to adapt to the chaotic, new world (and even if he could do so easily, he seemed to want to hold on to those values). I can see myself not being willing to kill someone and especially so if I hadn't been in any really threatening situations with other survivors (as opposed to Rick, Shane, Hershel, or Glen). In my mind, he may have been thinking about things in a Lord of the Flies-type of way.

I thought the actor that played Shane was the worst on the show, but I think the character was a really good and interesting antagonist. As opposed to Dale, he was well-equipped to survive and adapt in the new world and, in many ways, it seemed as if it was preferable to his life before the outbreak. He essentially had it all (was the leader of the group, had a woman and child that depended on him, and seemed stable when the group had worse people in it like Merle and Carol's abusive husband). He was the alpha-male until Rick returned and took it all from him. After that, he was extremely frustrated and had trouble fitting in and I think they showed that well (beating the crap out of Carol's husband, planning on leaving, hooking up with Andrea). He kind of had the opportunity to try to fit in or "turn heel." When he killed Otis and shaved his head, that kind of symbolized that the die had been cast for him, in my opinion.

That would be awesome.
Almost, I'd rather go with a character about 13-14 and go with someone like the guy from Doogie Hauser, MD. Not Doogie, but his friend. If you cast someone who looks really young for their age, you'd probably be okay.
Carl is a POS. Lori is a POS. I think it's an interesting (albeit let's kill em off) dynamic that Rick killed his best friend for his wife and son who are arguably the most annoying folks on the show. I think there's a pretty good argument to kill Lori and Carl instead of Shane. Love triangle problem? Solved. Dumbass kid problem? Solved.

The only problem with that is the alpha male situation. *shrug*

Michael Neal ‏ @slapclap
The black guy T-Dog on The Walking Dead who lugs stuff around while the actors talk. Is he a grip? Does he know he's ALWAYS in the shot?

Caissie St.Onge ‏ @Caissie
Just caught up on The #WalkingDead finale. How many times do you think Laurie will let that fetus wander out of her uterus next season?

Never played any of the Telltale games(Back to the Future?), but a 5 part Walking Dead game comes out starting next month. Should be on XBL as downloadable.

Bump...

The Telltale Walking Dead game gets released later on today.
Save 10% on The Walking Dead on Steam

Finished EP 1 of The Walking Dead... I loved it!! Can't wait to do a replay and choose different paths...

I liked this.

Just started playing and enjoying it so far. The gameplay is a bit meh for me, but the story I am enjoying very much.

This is fun.

But where was Zombie Kirk Cameron?

Got the game.

Good News -- it has a lot more gameplay time than I expected and the story line is very well done. Very consistent with the feel of the franchise.

Bad News -- choppy graphics. I tried to change the settings on my MacBook and it screwed it up to the point I cannot play it on that machine any more. Works better on my PC laptop.

Looking forward to checking out the game - looks awesome.

I started reading the graphic novels tonight. Already on issue 19. The prison arc was incredibly well done.

Got these from someone on Reddit today!

AMC Announces ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 3 Preview Weekend on Saturday July 7 & Sunday July 8 - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers

via press release:

Programming Event Features Marathon of All 19 Episodes From
Emmy®-Winning Series’ First Two Seasons
Wrapped with Special Episodic Behind-the-Scenes Footage
Weekend Culminates with “Talking Dead” Live Primetime Special, Including Exclusive First Look Scene from “The Walking Dead” Season 3 and
World Television Premiere of Black and White Version of Pilot Episode
Fans Can Enter “The Walking Dead” Watch to Win Sweepstakes
to Win “Stagger On” Role as a Zombie
New York - May 31, 2012 - AMC announced today “The Walking Dead” Season 3 Preview Weekend on Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8 beginning at 11:30am each day. Airing just one week before Comic-Con, the two-day programming event will feature a marathon of all 19 episodes from the series’ critically acclaimed first two seasons, culminating with a “Talking Dead” live primetime special on Sunday, July 8 at 9pm. The one-time-only airing of “Talking Dead,” hosted by Chris Hardwick (Nerdist), will be followed by the world television premiere of the black and white version of “The Walking Dead” pilot episode at 10pm. The special version of the series’ first episode was created specifically for fans of The Walking Dead, as it holds true to the original black and white comic book, written by Robert Kirkman.
Throughout “The Walking Dead” Marathon, Hardwick will introduce each episode from the set of season three in Atlanta, giving viewers a glimpse of the new sets. Along with several cast members and producers, he will set up the storyline from each episode, and discuss the classic moments and unique characters featured. In addition, every episode with be wrapped with exclusive character and scene-specific content from the first two seasons, including behind-the-scenes footage and sit-down interviews with the cast.
In the hour-long “Talking Dead” event, shot live in Los Angeles, Hardwick will give fans a first look at “The Walking Dead” Season 3, including a scene from the new season, and brand new video interviews with the cast, a tour of the new set and a sneak peek at the props and wardrobes featured in Season 3. Hardwick will also sit down with in-studio guests including the show’s executive producers and other celebrity fans. Viewers will get information on the show’s presence at this year’s Comic-Con, including a look at the construction of “The Walking Dead” booth, updates on AMC’s “The Walking Dead” Social Game, and other show-related news and topics.
At one point during the live show, Hardwick will reveal a special code to viewers, which they can use to enter “The Walking Dead” Watch to Win Sweepstakes, at Domain Names, Web Hosting and Online Marketing Services | Network Solutions. The winner will receive a trip to Atlanta and a “stagger on” role as a zombie on the hit show.
The on-air event will be complemented by activities online at amctv.com, where fans can find more exclusive behind-the-scenes videos and participate in Fan Favorite polls, which cover such topics as Fan Favorite Weapon, Fan Favorite Walker, Fan Favorite Walker Kill and Fan Favorite Survivor. The Poll winners will be announced by Hardwick during the “Talking Dead” live event Sunday night.
“The Walking Dead” reigns as the most watched drama series on basic cable for Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54. The series has garnered an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Make-up and a Golden Globe® Award nomination for Best Television Series – Drama, among other accolades. Critics have heralded the series as “the most suspenseful show on any network” (Boston Herald) and “the greatest thriller ever produced for television” (Entertainment Weekly). The series tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home.

Well, good. This will allow me to DVR all of season 2, and get me caught up. I just finished season 1 on netflix.

Also I saw some toys the other day that were cool. Wind up walkers.

Didn't realize this was getting so nasty. Dropping AMC would be a deal-killer that sends me (reluctantly) back to cable after almost 20 years with Dish Network.
Why Breaking Bad and Walking Dead Might Go Black on Dish Network | Underwire | Wired.com

Not that you want to pay for the show, but if Walking Dead is actually not on Dish you can buy episodes for like 3 or 4 bucks. I doubt this will be anything other than the typical saber rattling.


Then again, people probably said that about NFLN on TWC back in 2004.

Yeah, I think it's $3 on iTunes the next day or something.

I'd normally agree about the posturing but that $2B lawsuit (or whatever the mondo amount is) that's pending might make this a little diff than usual.

The Walking Dead Escape

The Walking Dead Escape FAQ

That looks AWESOME. Zombie Apocalypse setup at Petco Park (during comicon I think?).

For all you Walking Dead enthusiasts (and who isn't these days) there is a Walking Dead WW game starting on Monday.

You can get a chance to kill Lori, something we all thought about last season.

And dont forget AMC is having a Season 3 Preview this weekend if you need to catch up.

Walking Dead Season 3 preview this weekend, along with a live Primetime Talking Dead Sunday night!

The Walking Dead Takes Over On-Air and Online With the Season 3 Preview Weekend - The Walking Dead - AMC

The Talking Dead on Sunday had a lot of good stuff in it. The prison looks pretty sweet. Although I have a bad feeling this will just end up being another farm with steel bars.

Depends on how closely they follow the graphic novel. The Prison has a ton of potential if they do.

I think there are way too many story lines and cool characters involved to disappoint. Kirkman seems to be super-excited about this part of the series.

Just saw the season 3 trailer that was unveiled at ComicCon. OMG, if for nothing other than the final few seconds.

Lots of speculation sure to follow. My takeaway from the trailer, FWIW, is that at least the first half of S3 is going to have a slow pace but with a significant upgrade in intensity versus S2. Of course they cherry pick what they showed us here but most of the scenes felt, let's call it "muted". At the same time there was plenty of tension. The Governor appears more than suitably creepy.

Also of interest maybe is a reference to how "we spilled blood to secure this place" (the prison). Maybe your eyes are sharper than mine but there were at least two core characters that I did not see in any scenes beyond the taking-of-the-prison stuff that makes up the front half of the trailer. Question is, does their absence provide a clue or just a red herring?

Looks like the way Rick's group finds the Governor is going to be similar to the comic.

I am more excited about Woodbury than anything.

Looks awesome, I like the direction it is going (I have read the comics).

Indeed.

That trailer was fucking sweet.

I cannot wait!!

Is that zombie T-Dog at some point about a minute from the end?

I gave up at the Season 2 break. Should I reconsider and give the rest of Season 2 a chance? Season 3 definitely looks more exciting than Season 2 ever could be.

I'm surprised you gave up at the break. While most of the first half of Season 2 sucked, I'm not sure how you could see the last episode of the first half of Season 2 and not come back for at least the first episode of the second half.

In any case, yes, watch the second half of season two. I am going to guess that maybe 3-4 of the best episodes in the series so far are in those last six episodes, and the fifth episode (second to last of season) in particular is awesome.

Herschel, Herschel, Herschel {shakes head}

'Walking Dead' actor charged with DUI *| ajc.com

hes getting into character

Season two is now on Netflix streaming!

but i'm already watching Lost!....sigh...so much netflix to do...

Started watching S2 over the weekend to get caught up.
I hope it gets better, but at this point (episode 4) I'm cheering for the zombies.

The "second half" of S2 is stronger than the first.

about the 15th time Hershel tells them "I suppose you'll be on your way soon" I just about gave up watching too.

There's some borderline classic TV in section 2, though.

Can't wait for season 3 to kick off this Sunday! This is looking like it could be the most interesting season yet!

I really want to like this show, so I am not giving up.
Looking back, carefully, in the thread, I see am/was not the only one not liking most of the characters at this point.

Lots of people had issues with the first half of the second season and bits and parts of the second half. It was a pretty popular opinion.

Heck, I am probably one of the biggest "The Walking Dead" slappies around and even I felt like some parts of season 2 dragged and were irritating.

Season 3 is looking very promising. The show has strayed from the comic in many ways, but they are still staying on track for the major plot points (so far) and season 3 covers what is easily the best/most compelling story arc of the comic series to date.

You're doing it right. By the time of the halfway point of S2, I was rooting to see a full-on zombie buffet of the entire cast. It got better the last couple of episodes.

I thought the last episode of the first half of Season 2, and five of the six second half of S2 episodes formed pretty much the best episodes in the series.

I agree. As much as I loved season 1, I thought season 2 was even better. Maybe I'm a rare bird that actually liked a bit more of the focus being on character development (whether the characters are likable or not), but I thought the entire season was good, and that the slower pace in the first half of the season set up the crazy second half really well. I hope they can continue a balance. It certainly wouldn't be very good if it were just about the characters, but I think it'd be just as bad if it were only about killing zombies, too. I'm hoping for further flashbacks so that we can start to figure out how the zombies came to be in the first place.

Gee Shane certainly does out-redneck Daryl AND Merle combined!

Acting just like John Turturro from O Brother Where Art Thou! :)

It really picked up midway through S2, really enjoyed most of the second half of S2.
Episodes 7 - 12 were great, but, to me anyway, it went back to stupid mode after the big fight in E13. Hopefully they get back on track for S3.

Did anyone else think Rick's speech at the end reminded them of Queeg's meltdown in The Cain Mutiny?

well it's true. There's lots of just standing around acting all angsty. They are definitely trying to be Lost, but the probably is the acting talent and the writing isn't there.

The first interesting thing at all that's happened in this season is them finding walkers in the barn. And that's what episode 7?
(the one I just watched)

And at this point I'd say there's only one character I find at all interesting and that's Daryl. (which is a huge surprise to me). I did like Glen but really he just kinda faded into the background. I pretty much hate everyone from the farm. Although Maggie is a little interesting.
And I no longer like any of the other main characters as they just stand around crying and talking blahblahblah so none of them are likable anymore.

I was actually worried at the last episode of season one that the series was already becoming formulaic. That they all run from place to place finding a new person each episode and in the process one of them dies.

Well now I wish it WAS like that.

Your views (as of the end of the first half of season 2) are pretty much in lock-step with a lot of people who watched the show.

The second half is better and there are certain events that I think (no guarnatees of course) will help alleviate a lot of problems with the show.

The show is by no means perfect, but I do enjoy it so. I can't wait for Sunday!

Anyone going to New York Comic con? There's a Walking Dead panel with the cast there.

okay the SECOND interesting thing of season 2 just happened. Sofia came out of the barn as a walker. Very nice poignancy that. And I really didn't see it coming although I didn't think there should be a reason she was still alive.

So I'm assuming next episode we can just completely leave the farm of boredom. There is no reason they should stay with Shane at all tho.

He's worse than Merle.

Actually I would like it if the group of Daryl, T-Dog, Glenn, and Maggie just took off from the farm and the series just followed them. Okay we can bring Dale along too for his bugeyed looks.

I really hate everyone else actors AND characters.

Can't wait for season 3. I started watching the series over again on Netflix and it even peaked my wife's interest - so she is watching from the start with me :)

Can't believe Dish still doesn't have a deal with AMC. Ludicrous.

I assume they are still doing an 8/8 split?

A new episode of the game tonight to get myself ready for the new episode on TV this weekend, very excited.

Yup - 8 in the fall, 8 in the spring.

The game is outstanding. I am big fan of both the show and the comic, but Telltale's game has been the best piece of "The Walking Dead" story telling - in terms of characters, writing, pretty much everything - of the three.

I haven't played Ep 4 yet.

I'm guessing because in the game, something actually happens. :rolleyes:

The game really is incredible. It's remarkable enough that they have a character that's a child that isn't annoying as hell.

And having just finished episode four, holy shit does it manage to keep up the quality and intensity of the story.

Here. We. Go.

AMC's online stream for Dish customers finally started about 15 minutes into the episode.

Major p.r. fail on their part to manage a widespread server crash/inability after working so hard to hype their magnanimous gesture.

Good to see Carl being a bit more bad ass. I feel that he will fulfill the badassery that he has in the comics.

And it looks like blondie is ready to go pedo and jump him.

Welllllllllllll, that was an interesting end.

Canonical in some respects (at least as my haven't-read-em-but-have-read-summaries ass understands it) ... and the discovery at the end was no surprise at all IMO. Inevitable, as the overriding theme of this season seems likely to be human v human more than human v walkers.

Indeed. Knew they'd find the four prisoners still alive (happened in the graphic novels, of course).

Looks like we'll get to meet The Governor next week. This excites me to no end.

Was it just four? I'd have sworn there were 5 or 6, but Lord knows it was a brief glimpse.

You could be right, I was basing it off the GN's

I'll try to phrase this without spoilers, it's a TV show question (not GN).

The quick decision that Rick made in the final scene (regarding another member of our merry band) ... has that technique ever been discussed on the show? I think it's somewhat common zombie lore but the TWD universe has its own "rules" and it felt like a leap to me.

Am I forgetting about a previous reference to that option in that situation?
I believe it's true to the source material in terms of storyline but strictly from the TV show, was it more of a leap than they've made in the past (typically I believe we're given some insight/exposition on things like that, at least a vague reference or discussion or something)

I don't remember it ever being discussed on the show at any point with any character. From there, I agree, it does seem to be a stretch.

I don't really see it as a stretch. It's a total panic move, nothing more. Given the situation, Rick was just trying something, anything, that might save Herschel's life.

If I recall, and it's been ages, I believe in the comics they try a similar thing and it was a similar panic-move, let's try this and see if it works, type of situation, as opposed to based on any great insight or knowledge of how bites work.

Solid episode. So many zombies...

I was surprised they didn't have a double tap rule, if you run into a body on the floor...stick it in the head. No matter what.

Graphic Novel spoiler for those who haven't read and plan to.

Yeah, they weren't exactly handling several aspects of the clearing sequence particularly well. On the one hand, they're amateurs rather than professionals & so mistakes are to be expected. On the other hand, if they've lived this long then there's a temptation to assume that they have to be smarter than they showed inside the prison.

The Scooby Doo character of the "oh shit, walkers" scene in the hallways was perhaps the most unintentionally funny moment of the show to date.

I'm pretty far into season two now and things really haven't improved much at all. Still a lot of overacting going on as well as some plain ole bad writing.

Sofia ending up in the barn as a walker was the only thing that's really happened this season....as well as the reveal that Daryl seems to have been the father.

The episode where the walkers chase Whatshername (She's so dull I forget her name) out of the car crossed with the shootout in the town bar were kind of interesting but the funny thing is this season, everyone keeps getitng hurt and needs operating on by every other cause EXCEPT the zombies. It's all about them injuring themselves.
And putting them in the zombie situations is so contrived.

I really want to play the video game now. Because when this show is at its best is when it feels like a video game. So I may as well get to play it :)

Umm ... huh?

edit to add: Oh wait. You mean Shane as father of idiot slut's baby, as opposed to Daryl as father of Sophia. Right?

What? Where the hell did you pick up on this? Sophia's father was killed off pretty early on in season one.

Yeah, I'm good with this as well.

No facts really. Daryl screaming at SOfia's mother about her letting her go off alone and that he was the one going after her every day. Pairing that with how horrible a monster her real husband was makes me think that SOfia actually was Daryl's daughter bloodwise.

Of course if the show were more interesting I would not maybe have to contrive things like this. But they seemed to be inferring this was the case.

no, see above why I think Daryl was Sofia's true father.

Pretty good start, I liked it. I take minor issue with the idea that they rain down gunfire on the known quantity of walkers in the fenced in field area, and then set out to go into the unknowns of the rest of the prison entirely hand to hand to preserve precious ammo. I don't really care much about things like this, but the fact that it was one scene right into the next made it stand out quite a bit.


I also take issue with Carl being a badass now. They spent so much time last year showing us how much of a kid Carl is, with Shane and Rick hammering it into him that he needs to grow up, and they open this season with "some time passed, he's all grown up now". That's really, really weak.


I do love that everyone hates Lori now. And I love that she vocalized the idea of a zombie baby killing her from within. DOOO ITTTTT.


Overall I thought it was a really good start, looking forward to where it goes next.

Seems stretchy. No indication that Darryl & Merle knew the rest of the survivors prior to meeting them along the way to Atlanta.

I think watching so much Lost has trained CF to look for plot twists in every scene of every show he watches now. ;)

Daryl is an intense, emotional guy. He's the type of guy that will risk his life for anyone, but he'll also lash out at people when he's angry.

well yes I DO watch Lost and Walking Dead back to Back. ;) Wasn't THAT much of a reach thinking that might be the case seeing as how most of the second season comes across like a soap opera.

And I agree, Daryl is by far the most interesting (and watchable) character they have on the show.

There's no chance Daryl was Sofia's dad.