When the new series “The Walking Dead” came to AMC on cable, at first I was excited and wary. It was exciting because it was a show about zombies. What more do you need?
However, because it filled the 9 p.m. slot previously filled by “Breaking Bad,” I figured it was probably just filler till they made the next season of an already great show. Those thoughts were wrong.
“The Walking Dead” is set in the Deep South in Georgia. It takes place after the collapse of society. It begins with the protagonist waking up in a hospital bed recovering from a gunshot wound, only to find that most of the population is dead or has become what they call “walkers.” There are, however, survivors. They are scared and strong. The protagonist in particular shows incredible courage and leadership. The survivors are what make “The Walking Dead” great.
“The Walking Dead” is not driven by zombies. It’s driven by the characters. The interactions between all the different personalities are masterful. When someone dies, you feel it. This show invests you in its characters. It then proceeds to put them in the most visceral mortal danger. It puts you on the edge of your seat and holds you there until it feels like letting up. You come for the zombies and stay for the characters.
“The Walking Dead” is exceptional. This is what the horror genre should be. It mixes drama and emotions with absolute dread. However, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. But, as with anything in the zombie genre, gore is the name of the game. It is so gory that I’m forced to question how they got away with it. That being said, this show is not for the faint of heart.
Every great television show has to leave you with moments that stay with you, so called “water cooler moments.” “The Walking Dead” delivers. It delivers moments of such suspense and horror it will leave you thinking about it long after the show is through. When it tears out your heart after a character dies or when they have that hair-raising close call, you want to talk about it.
“The Walking Dead” gives television exactly what it needs—not more reality TV or game shows or another sitcom. It gives us a fun and scary premise with good writing to boot. It gives us well developed and flawed characters placed in very hard situations. It is violent and funny without being sadistic. It is dramatic and suspenseful without being exhausting. This is the epitome of the zombie genre. Good acting, good writing, and good makeup make this one of the best pieces of work ever in the zombie genre.