[Diametro]

10 Things Killing The Walking Dead
By Diametro


10) Slashing budgets not zombies ...

What would you do if you had the biggest series premiere in a cable channel's history? Cut the budget based on an arbitrary management decision made before the show became a bonafide smash? No? Well, that's exactly what AMC went ahead and did. And frankly, it shows. If viewers were looking for better production values and more exciting action set pieces during the season 2 opener, they were treated to a low-budget, small-scale claustrophobic interstate traffic jam, a scrubby forest and the inside of a small church. Yawn. And like five zombies were dispatched. In an infected world of many, many millions? Really ... ?!?!?


9) Too many monologues ...

Apparently, the zombie apocalypse encourages long, uninterupted speeches like the several delivered by group leader Rick as well as the annoying short-hair lady. TWD is at-risk of parody if this signature trend continues.


8) Zombies without rules ...

One of the more dramatic -- if fairly unbelievable -- TWD zombie tatics involved our survivors slathering their bodies in zombie entrails to escape a building and slip past "the geeks" on the street. OK. Apparently, TWD zombies track prey mostly by sense of smell (And zombie blood does not spell doom.) Well, the "geeks" must have had colds or been in quite a hurry during the "What Lies Ahead" traffic jam as every flesh eater passed within inches of the survivors -- merely hiding under cars no less! -- without the slightest notice. Of course, there's much more -- such as when a zombie picked up a quite-large and unrealistically available rock to shatter a department-store door; zombies don't use tools -- but I'm giving the first season a pass here ...


7) Big personnel changes ...

It's hard to say how much last season's showrunner and executive producer Frank Darabont orchestrated the show's overall look, feel and execution. But he undoubtedly got many to tune in and give the premise a chance with his evergreen directing credit "The Green Mile" and of course "The Shawshank Redemption." Now that he's gone, we'll only know his immeasurable worth if season 2 continues to limp along like its first unfortunate 90-minute episode. In addition, all the first season writer's were canned by Darabont.


6) Isn't that convenient ... ???

During "What Lies Ahead," even with the old guy as lookout using binoculars, somehow the zombie "herd" manages to sneak up on the survivors anyway. This results in the unbelievable "get under the cars even though most of us have guns" moment and eventually allowing the nobody-cares-about-her-anyway little girl to prematurely leave her hiding spot and run off into the woods. (And why would she be the first to leave anyway?) This is similar to the season one celebration-party slaughter that happened because there was no lookout. I guess they are learning. Slowly ...


7) Stupid survivors ...

I can forgive the little girl for being "Apocalypse illiterate" but Daddy Rick? What's his excuse for leaving that little girl so far behind only so he can clobber the two geeks in seclusion? (By the way, I wonder if they are going to keep up with this nomenclature inspired mostly by the fact that "zombie movies" don't seem to exist in TWD universe.) I can't remember what Deputy Grimes mumbled but it kept the storyline going for another 40 minutes.In great zombie projects, stupid survivors don't stay alive very long. In addition, despite the underabundance of humans lurking, TWD characters seem have a knack for having their "private" conversations overheard, which of course, always marks a major plot point. "Three's Company," anyone? ..."Come and knock in our door ... "


6) Poor zombie detailing ...

First off, few if any of the actors portraying zombies in TWD actually seem undead (but for what it's worth, that's my general criticism of the genre ... Producers need to focus less on flashy f/x makeup -- exposed gums and all -- and more on what makes the re-animated dead look, um, actually dead ... And not featured extras having the time of their life ... ) But they are blowing the small stuff, too. If you took a look at the shoes and pants of the zombies shuffling by during "Ahead," they are for the most part, clean and intact. C'mon! There would be dried blood, mud, torn trousers galore, bare feet and missing toes, etc. not to mention more than a few Bubbas running around in their stained Confederate undies. Second unit: You're dropping the ball!


5) When the world ends, nothing happens ...

It's a bad sign when six hours of last year's action is re-capped in roughly six seconds. That means "What Lies Ahead" could be summarized in two one-second shots: the 12 cars used to signify an interstate traffic jam and the little girl nobody cares about running into the woods. Glad I caught that.


4) Humorless heroes ...

If there's one thing every great zombie project has in common is a healthy dose of humor. If nobody's laughing in the project or with it, soon enough, people will be laughing at it. From both versions of "Dawn of the Dead" to "Shaun" through even the mostly lamentable but partially aweesome "I Am Legend," viewers and on-screen characters get to blow off emotional tension through laughter -- often at the expense of the zoms. Apparently, TWD's release is through navel-gazing soliloquy.


3) Need for improvement not decline ...


Zombie fans and those inclined to get their apocalyptic rocks off are jazzed about TWD because it offers a new format for the genre that continues week to week. Instead of spending the first 40 minutes of a zombie project introducing characters and the premise, TWD can spend more of its time detailing the day-to-day stuff that fascinates us ala the totes brill "The Zombie Survival Guide" by Max Brooks (coming soon as a project starring Brad Pitt!) However, TWD as a zombie project -- and not just a showcase for decent acting -- still has a long way to go before "it's there" in my opinion.

2) Forgetfulness ...


What transformation happened to the missing one-handed racist guy's survivalist brother? He went from a borderline psychopathic loner to team player with a heart of gold faster than "Return of the Living Dead" zombies shout "More Brains!"


1) "In Your Head" ... i.e. Not enough zombies!

TWD producers,I know y'all are trying to save money (in the face of record ratings no less) but we came to see us some zombies. It seems the series' idea of a good time during End Times is withholding making zombie. Yes, the season finale was fantastic -- in which there were but one or two incidental zombies throughout. But that needs to be the exception. Not the rule. Otherwise, we can do all this "characters grousing about The End" stuff more believably in a viral plague or nuclear holocaust scenario. Give us the geek squad!

[rharmelink]

Diametro, on 18 October 2011 - 12:21 PM, said:

Of course, there's much more -- such as when a zombie picked up a quite-large and unrealistically available rock to shatter a department-store door; zombies don't use tools -- but I'm giving the first season a pass here ...

The rock may have been unrealistically available. Maybe a car crashing into a building and knocking some brick loose? Or the weight of a tank crushing a curb or breaking up a sidewalk?

However, it's NOT true that zombies don't use tools. Even in Romero's NOTLD, at the very beginning when Barbara is running from the zombies in the cemetery, she locks herself in the car. Once he realizes he can't get into the car, the zombie IMMEDIATELY looks around on the ground, picks up a rock, and smashes the window. Not only did he use the rock as a tool, but he RECOGNIZED it as a tool to get him into the car! Here's the scene:

http://www.youtube.c...kumjeq8#t=8m10s

Diametro, on 18 October 2011 - 12:21 PM, said:

...the "geeks" must have had colds or been in quite a hurry during the "What Lies Ahead" traffic jam as every flesh eater passed within inches of the survivors -- merely hiding under cars no less! -- without the slightest notice.

They may have passed within inches, but their noses were a good 6 feet or so away. How close do you have to be to smell someone's bad breath? I know I can smell someone with too much cologne or perfume when I'm in an elevator, but it takes quite a stench to smell it on them outside in the fresh air when they're some distance from my nose -- especially if they would be lying on the ground. In season 1, only the nearest zombies really picked up the smell when the rain started to fall. Their noses were maybe 1-2 feet away from Rick and Glen.

To me, a better complaint would be that they didn't do a better job of smelling and pinpointing the blood pumping out of T-Dog's wound. I thought they were going to do more with that mishap.

And the average vehicle doesn't have that much clearance under it. I would think a better hiding place would have been to climb up into the cab of a truck and hunker down. Out of sight, and much better scent shield.

[DarthJoe8]

I Am Legend wasn't a zombie movie and for the most part sucked...


Nice write up.

[razorreilly]

I agree with a lot you said. Especially the incoming herd scene. The distance or lack of when they were spotted is one example but I was thinking that they would of seen them when they were driving. There is alswya the arguement that they could of come out of the woods. So I just try not to look too much into it.
The church scene was cliche. There just happen to be zombies sitting in pews that looked to be in bridal atire? I hope it gets better and stilled overall enjoyed it but seemed lacking from last season.
I also liked I am Legend.

[Underdude]

If they're walking down a highway clogged with debris and vehicles, it's more difficult to see something only 5 or 6 ft tall. On top of a trailer will help but not too much when you have to be silent. A relay system may have worked..

As far a redneck boy.......
Attitude maight change when you're the only redneck left. Dont'cha think?

[Vinnie BBQ]

Funny how people invent their own rules about how zombies should act/move in movies/series etc. along these many years of the genre's existence.
This has changed so many times by directors/writers, cause everybody had their own ideas. Some of them I liked, some I didn't. Big deal...

Fu/ck the rules!

As for the first episode of this new season:I loved every bit of it. The most exciting up till now imo. Cant wait till next week!

[DarthJoe8]

I hear what you're saying about the "rules" but I disagree somewhat. Every monster has "rules". Sure, some stories really stretch things but the fundamentals need to be there in order for the monster to be "believable".

Vampires have rules.
Mummies have rules.
Zombies have rules.
etc....

They established that zombies use smell as a tactic for finding food, then they don't use it when they have the chance. Like they kept showing the heavy bleeding with T-Dogg but did nothing with it. That said, when Andrea alerts the zed with noise and the zed investigates it was clear that he was sniffing the air and that's why it got aggressive and banged on the door, Andrea screaming totally did her in.

[UNDEAD FRED]

Just my personal opinion, The Walking Dead has no problems, love the show. I will take fast running zombies, shamblers, ones that say "BRAAIINNNSSS" or "Send more paramedics, ones with red eyes, and vomit blood, ones that can smell you, see you, or just feel your there its all good just as long as they dont sparkle in the sunlight they are all good.

[zombiekilling101]

Zombies do use tools. Assuming your basing your rule system off of the GAR universe. NIGHT 68, a zombie (who moves pretty fast) uses a rock to break Barbras car window open.

[Vinnie BBQ]

DarthJoe8, on 18 October 2011 - 05:45 PM, said:

I hear what you're saying about the "rules" but I disagree somewhat. Every monster has "rules". Sure, some stories really stretch things but the fundamentals need to be there in order for the monster to be "believable".

Vampires have rules.
Mummies have rules.
Zombies have rules.
etc....

But what about the early days? Zombies had a pretty different set of rules (if you want to call them rules) in the early movies opposed to the movies that came out 40 years later with the only exception that theyre still dead and walking. The flesheating zombie came much later than the zombie that was just out for the kill. And then I'm not even talking about the caribeean voodoo zombie thing.

IMO opinion Romero took it a bit far with horse-riding, grasmowing and gun slinging zombies, not a set of rules, but just an opinion. That was my point....everybody can have an own opinion on zombies wether you agree with them or not, but it shouldnt be a set of rules and it keeps the genre somewhat fresh.

just my 2 cents.

[Trioxin Martini]

This post should either be titled "10 Things Killing The Walking Dead (For Me)," or just be titled "Zero Things Killing The Walking Dead" with nothing posted.

http://insidetv.ew.c...son-2-premiere/

Yeah they're really dying over there aren't they (No pun intended)

[Dash]

That's just the way it is, once something is actually good, they mess the whole thing up, or cancel it outright.

[Diametro]

Anyone know why I can't edit my post ... ??? (Seems like it's because it's the first post ... Haven't run into that before ... )

[wbgrafix]

Trioxin Martini, on 19 October 2011 - 07:47 PM, said:

This post should either be titled "10 Things Killing The Walking Dead (For Me)," or just be titled "Zero Things Killing The Walking Dead" with nothing posted.

http://insidetv.ew.c...son-2-premiere/

Yeah they're really dying over there aren't they (No pun intended)

this thread is one of the reasons i don't usually open up threads like this, but i did anyway. people can't watch a show for the simplicity of it being a good show. they have to pick everything apart and get it in their heads that the show flat out sucks.

this show is going to turn into another LOST. people love it or hate it. there won't be in betweens.

as someone who has loved the zombie genre for 25 years, i personally love the show. rules, no rules. i don't really care. the lack of zombies is made up by compelling dialogue and storylines within the characters themselves.

i'd rather a great story and 5-10 minutes of actual zombies than 50 minutes of zombies and crappy storyline.

zombiekilling101, on 18 October 2011 - 09:42 PM, said:

Zombies do use tools. Assuming your basing your rule system off of the GAR universe. NIGHT 68, a zombie (who moves pretty fast) uses a rock to break Barbras car window open.

not to mention a zombie used a rock to knock out the truck's headlights and another one also picked up the old table leg that ben used as a torch.

[Trioxin Martini]

No one will ever be 100 percent satisfied with a show. Is TWD perfect? Hardly, but considering alternatives and recent admissions to the Zombie genre, it's in a class by itself.

Zombie fans are a very particular bunch. Some prefer fast, some slow, some smart, some want only the instinct to feed. Some are ok with basic tool usage, others are ok with learning zombies. Some like rising from the dead, some like infection, and any combination of these different variations. Finding two zombie fans who have the same set of rules they follow is difficult. Considering this, TWD has done a damn near unbelievable job of not only holding the attention of enough zombie fans, but converting NON zombie fans to the show's following.

Not many shows do what TWD has done, it consistently improved ratings throughout season 1, and it's a fantastic sign that the season 2 premier outperformed the Season 1 finale. To say that it is being "Killed" is a laughable overstatement.

[razorreilly]

What TM said. We are a particular and picky bunch and should be open to debates and discussion on the topic

[Underdude]

It's a great show......

[Kemper]

The only thing wrong with the opening episode was too many commercials. They have more episodes so probably less money.

[retro zombie killer]

I have to say I love the show too. Which is weird as I am usually pretty nitpicky on what zombies can and can't do. Those zombies lurking in the church didn't bother me as I have seen lurkers before in zombie movies and in the comic The Walking Dead. Other then that, the zombies are pretty much right on for me in their actions.

One thing is the zombies do seem some what sparse but if the show is going by the virus instead of the just everyone who dies comes back as a zombie rule then that makes sense that the Zombies would be sparse.

[Diametro]

I never said I didn't like the show ...

In fact, I LOVE IT (I was disappointed by TWD's season 2 opener, though as compared with "What Lay Before"; I won't hold back there). It's the only show on TV I will actually show up for and watch "live" lol ... But there are always ways to improve (and if the opener is any indication of where season 2 is going, imo it's getting worse) ...

Those are simply my 10 suggestions as to areas the producers should focus on ...

As for zombies "not using tools" ... that is just how I feel ... When you examine the instances of zombies using tools in zombie projects, it's often to provide convenience to the filmmakers or to expidite the plot ... (and hell ... if my dream of making a zombie film ever comes to fruition, I'd probably end up commiting some of these "sins" myself ... Making movies is a tough business FULL of compromises ... I know because I've done it ... )

In a "perfect" zombie world, however, walkers don't need to run, use tools or do any of these other "advanced" actions because they've got the greatest advantage going: NUMBERS ... and they only grow as time goes on (unless, of course, you believe zombies have a "shelf life" or need some kind of sustenance to stop a withering process, which I will admit is unconventional in terms of what's out there in the genre for the most part) ...

Make a mistake, fall down or whatever and guess what? There'll be a zombie to lend you its maw ... Ten zombies may not be able to bust a door in ... But eventually, by sheer weight and pressure alone, 100 or 1,000 zombies will ...

How this becomes complicated for filmmakers, however, is the difficulty of getting large amounts of zombie extras together and the real danger of creating "stampede"-like and actor-endangering situations with mobs of zombies "getting into it." As a filmmaker, you really do have to worry about the safety of your cast and crew in that not only is it the right thing to do, but an accident could jeopardize the project from even finishing ...

To return to TWD ... "Realistically," the massive number of zombies that would have been present in downtown Atlanta -- and the lack of other prey to draw attention away -- would have been more than enough to overwhlem those department store doors ... However, that would have required much more "production value" than that single geek -- of maybe 20 total in the scene -- picking up a rock and starting the influx that way ...

I just don't like it ... And much would have prefered, for example, the same zombie pressure being brought to bear against a plate-glass display window, which would have been much less tricky from a production standpoint to bust through without resorting to "unrealism" ...

However, it still would have been a "stunt" in filmmaking terms, and much more expensive than the method that ultimately brought them inside ... (And anyway, I emphatically ask again, what the heck is a large rock doing in front of a downtown department store ... ?!?!? Take a look some time ... You won't find any ... Let alone a zombie taking the time away from its single-minded focus on its prey, and then putting two and two together; then using the physical dexterity required ... After the first hit, the geek would have probably dropped the rock due to lack of coordination ... These are much more complex combinations of motor skills that ya'll are making it out to be ... )

Zombies using tools ... I .. JUST ... DON'T ... BUY IT ... (Now, maybe over time -- maybe "successful" zombie do evolve or given different circumstances it MIGHT happen ... But it was all just too quick and convenient to keep my disbelief at bay ... )

When something is THAT important to the plot, the method to get there should be impeccably thought out ... There's always a way imo to make it "zombie realistic."

TWD producers should be striving for and have the opportunity to make the best, most definitive zombie project ever -- the culmination of everything that's come before it -- and not just another entry in long line of zombie projects, differentiated only by it's weekly format and more "dramatic" approach ...