The Walking Dead Season 2 (AMC) - Page 2

Oh fuck, the fucking nitpicking has started already. Fuck you guys, I'm moving to Bermuda.

This show is filming in my town all next week. I drove by the road where they're going to be filming and can't figure out what they would want with it. It's a pretty short road that ends in (fenced in) housing projects, has a train track crossing it, and (and this would be my guess) has an old abandoned mill type building behind a fenced in small government building (Department of Public Safety or something). 

fucking hell this shit is taking too damned long. This better not suck. Long wait + sucking = ... well sucking.

Underwhelmed so far. The show feels very much like it's spinning its wheels, plot-wise. Not even an effective bottle episode.

enjoyed it... thought it was solid from beginning to end.  I'm sure the nitpickers are licking their teeth though.... 

Stupid kids. 

Good first half, meh second half. Didn't need so much fruitless walking around in the woods, two conversations with Statue Jesus or that arbitrary cliffhanger.

Loved the cutting open of the zombie in the woods to see what he'd eaten, that was a pretty inventive scene. Other than that, the episode didn't need to be 90 minutes.

The tent scene was pretty superfluous (who would tent up in the middle of the woods anyway? that would be fucking terrifying) I think it's improving from last season though, we'll see if that holds up when they get to the episodes after Darabont left.

I thought it was a solid ep, though I had a few problems:

1. Why, after completing dressing down Dale and giving him the business, did Andrea walk away without getting her gun? Wasn't that the whole point of the verbal ass-kicking?

2. It makes no sense for Lori to be pissed off about Shane wanting to leave. It's basically exactly what she wanted -- and is probably what's best for all involved -- and now she's going to bitch about it?

I'm also not sure how I feel about the show leaving things with Sophia up in the air rather than resolving it one way or another in this episode. I can't imagine that a missing kid story with no conclusion is going to sit too well with the general audience. (I'm not even sure it sits well with me.) But it's also sort of the brave, realistic thing to do.

We'll see if she just turns up ...

That was awful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacob Singer 

That was awful.

 

Nah. The zombie "herd" moving through was wonderfully tense.

So the zombies can't smell people anymore?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy dunlop 

So the zombies can't smell people anymore?

Hmm, fair point, though there were a LOT of decomposing bodies in the area.

Anyone else think Rick Grimes' opening monologue was pretty bad? Couldn't tell if it was the writing (George Lucas effect) or something with his acting and accent. The rest of the show he sounded okay.

Also like how the name of the church was "SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH".

I started the Talking Dead talk show and it was pretty entertaining. Hope they keep it up.

We had a pumpkin carving/Walking Dead party.  The episode was pretty slow. Also, Baptists don't do crucifixes. I am with Deanburger. That didn't need to be 90 minutes long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy dunlop 

So the zombies can't smell people anymore?

I understood it as zombies using smell to differentiate, not for hunting. Although, I don't really understand how a walking corpses sense of smell improved from his prior existence anyways.

Season preview at the end of the show promises more sad and lonely (hopefully drunk) Shane in a bathroom. I imagine that's where he decides to shave his head!

Quote:

Originally Posted by zak chase 

Hmm, fair point, though there were a LOT of decomposing bodies in the area.

 

Yeah, I guess.  It didn't bother me too much here - I loved the sequence overall - but I think it ends up making 'Guts' even worse.  I disliked that episode to begin with; getting all lathered up with zombie grue felt like little more than showing off the amount of gore the writers could get away with.  This episode kind of confirms that, yes, that was the case.  If they're going to make these silly little rules, they shouldn't be sidestepping them this early on.

I liked this episode though.  Felt a bit bloated and probably could have easily fit into a 60 minute block, but I'm looking forward to where it goes from here.

Yeah, I read it as the hordes of dead bodies nearby covering the smell.

Grimes' opening monologue was terrible (and his accent seems to have gotten worse) but once they got into that extended suspense/chase sequence it got pretty good. There are still a lot of problems, but the characters actually felt like characters this time out, which is something I often couldn't say about last season, and the plot actually seems like it might be going somewhere. The characters made stupid decisions, but they felt like the kind of stupid decisions human beings might make, as opposed to stupid decisions that feel orchestrated by clunky writing.

Points for having everyone remain relatively calm and not playing the "it's dramatic if they fight all the time!" card. Even cartoon redneck is starting to seem like a semi-likable human being. Also, maybe this is a minor point, but during the sequence where they were searching the cars I kept expecting a hackneyed "zombie jumps out at someone" moment, and the fact that there wasn't one shows signs of progress to me. Also, it made the sequence where the kid rescues the implements wonderfully tense.

Still some dumb shit, like the talking-to-Jesus stuff...though, again, I was dreading a moment where someone prays and then the kid suddenly shows up, so good on them for leaving her fate unresolved. And the cliffhanger was pretty excellent, I thought (though it could potentially be ruined by whatever happens next week, obviously). Signs of potential improvement here.

One kid down, one to go.   

I was entertained.

The characters actually showed distinct and sometimes textured personalities. The tension worked. The grim and gory elements worked. The cliffhanger worked. If not for an over-reliance on monologues (two prayers back-to-back? Really? Do we get to vote one of them off?), I'd say the episode was an excellent start.

I'm most pleased that the monologue at the beginning makes it more likely my favorite character from season one will return at some point.

The episode was 60 minutes long, right? People keep saying that "90 minutes was too long", but it's not really fair on the show to lump the excessive adverts in. Strange criticism to make, but I guess that's the Walking Dead audience base for you.

Apparently the brilliantly tense opening was all from the Darabont scripted first episode, while most of the rest was from the Kirkman scripted 2nd episode. AMC didn't like what the director had done on the Darabont premiere and that's a part of the whole firing thing. A strangely cannibalised premiere then, which sort of explains the off-pacing. If the rumours are to be believed.

I thought it was a little wonky that they would even chance hiding under the cars. I mean, talk about trapping yourself.

I'm sure you could spin the smell thing away. I thought it was a little lazy, but the scene still worked for me enough in its execution to allow me to let it slide.

I hated, hated, hated the finale last season, but this opener won me back a little. The characters were coming across as more defined and layered and not like the absolute cardboard cutouts that were parading across the screen last season.

Plus, generous zombie...er...walker fu!

So, from the opening speech tease, the big whispered revelation from the CDC seems to indicate, more than ever, of [spoiler]Lori being pregnant[/spoiler], no?

Love Triangle 101.
 

It was boring. Too much running around in the woods. Too much Shane-angst. Not enough actual movement forward, WRT the story. It's only 12 episodes, right, split over two 6-week mini-seasons? We just lost an hour, and almost nothing happened. What did happen could've been done in less than half the time, and likely with more tension. The zombie herd part was pretty great, and I love that Norman Reedus' character (can't remember the name) is becoming a bonafide badass without the bigoted hillbilly overtones. I was surprised the guy who seemed to cut an artery lived; the camera seemed to make a big deal out of all the blood, and I assumed the walkers would sniff it (and him) out.

Chalk me up as someone who wants the Shane-Lori thing to be done or blow wide open. It's boring and annoying as it is.

I also felt Andrea's speech was very atonal from the S1 finale, and that, as portrayed on the show, they've done a horrible job nailing down her personality. It felt very retconned, and injected to introduce more intra-group friction rather than being true to the character.

Frankly, I'm going to give it another couple of episodes, but if they're both as slow and pointless as this one, I'm out.

I don't mind a slow pace if the characters and dialogue are good, because what exactly is it we're rushing towards? The comic almost felt like it moved too fast...one of the most drastic changes from the comic is the Shane character and the series has drastically improved on that aspect.

Right now there are several characters I can get behind: the RV guy, the Asian kid, Shane, and the crossbow guy. Blondie looks like she could get better and the wife is just kind of there, bordering on annoying. Rick isn't as awful as Jack and black guy with the group < black guy we met earlier.

Good to get the zombies back, but I find it hilarious anytime anyone talks.  When anyone says something to the group, the rest of them roll their eyes with a look like "shut the fuck up" or "Here she goes again."

First off, let me say fuck you to NickP.  Just because.

Next, this was a perfect politician episode.  It flip-flopped the entire time between what the show oughta be and what it was last season.  The writing is still stilted and and delivered by people who can't act.  I'll nit-pick the fact that Rick seems to be a little more southern this season as his accent is even worse than last.  His opening monologue blew goats.

I'd buy the herd scene a little more of them being covered up by the smell of dead bodies if when looking through vehicles more characters had expressed revulsion at the smell instead of ham-fistedly having Daryl remind us of the fact helping to save T-Dawg.  No other characters winced at the smell anywhere until Daryl climbed into the tent.

Andrea can go suck it with her gun monologue, that felt like a re-shoot for some reason.  Darabont departure perhaps?

Why wasn't the church crawling with more walkers because of the bells?

I will say, as others have, that the characters felt more like characters but Rick becoming the Rodney Dangerfield of the zombiepocalypse is going to get old really quick.

And, Prankster, remaining calm doesn't necessarily mean the writer's didn't have them fighting all the time.  Andrea/Dale, Shane/Lori, Rick/Carol... shoddy tension manipulation without zombies.
 

I thought it got pretty bad last season. This was more enjoyable. Largely, I think, because they spent a little more time with the characters. Which is hit and miss, because who wants to spend more time with some of the characters? I do wish there was a little more levity on the show. Or a character that was just a tad less serious about absolutely everything. The prayers, of course, were painful to watch. I thought Shane was pretty great in this episode. They retooled his character, looks like. 

Anyway, I watched the talk show after. I mean, what? But I like Hardwick, so good for him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent Z 

 

Love Triangle 101.
 

 

Is attempted rape part of that curriculum too?!

So I enjoyed this, but with a few points and issues:

1.  I didn't find the opening monologue to be terrible, and it was only after reading internet reactions that I realized people had trouble with Rick's accent.  I must have been deaf for a couple minutes, then.

Comics spoiler:

2. 

3.  The herd scene was intense, and set a tone that the episode itself could not match.

4.  It's baffling to me that Rick would leave Sophia in the woods.  What does she weigh, 50 pounds?  70?  He couldn't carry her on his back the entire time and just run away from the not-so-fast zombies?  Or even better yet, just easily find a rock (like he later did) and bash their brains in right then and there?  Just sorta odd that Rick's a policeman and made a decision like that.  He was rarely afraid to act in the comic.  There I go again, referencing the comic.  I wish I never read it, and maybe then the show wouldn't be failing to live up to it.

5.  The body that Darryl pulled on top of T-Dog looked REALLY REALLY fake.  Yes, I know it was fake, but it looked REALLY REALLY fake....and like it weighed 20 pounds.

6.  Andrea wanting to leave camp with Shane.

Look, I liked most of it, and for me the show gets a pass because of how well done it is....and zombies.  And for how much I love the comic.  Still, this was about a 7.5 for me.

The good thing is this: now that they are about to be knee-deep in Hershel's farm, things should get a little more consistent.  Some really good story stuff should happen there, and I think Rick in particular is about to have a big chance to shine. 

Michael,

Keep this thread spoiler free of the comics, please.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy dunlop 

So the zombies can't smell people anymore?

Really?  I take it you have never hunted before, or heard the saying "keep downwind".  

Another Walking Dead thread that consists of lame complaints and people running to the shows defense (to which I am one).  

I really enjoyed the car scene.  Created tension, which is damn hard nowadays with zombie stuff.  

I love Darryl and the gutting of the zombie.  Was a nice call back to "JAWS", as well as showing Darryl is a skilled hunter.  

Curious to see where the kid getting shot goes, I assume that when we find that farm that was in the trailers, but who shot him?  

Two more things:

1. The zombie makeup is fanfucktingtastic. Seriously. I'm loving what they're doing, visually. As noted above, some of the bodies are really fakey, though.

2. Did anyone else seem to think the preacher zombie seemed a bit more....alert....than the usual walker? Something akin to a rigored grin was on his/its face, and the body movements seemed less jerky than most. For a second, I thought the gang was dealing something more than ordinary walkers - which would've been interesting - but nope, they were dispatched really easily.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickP 

Really?  I take it you have never hunted before, or heard the saying "keep downwind".  

 

Another Walking Dead thread that consists of lame complaints and people running to the shows defense (to which I am one).  

It's not lame to critique the show's dialogue, plot or pace. Or are you saying we shouldn't criticize it at all? It was a very lackluster season opener. There were some neat moments, but for 60-70 minutes of show, very little happened, the characterizations and motivations on display were shoddy and/or inconsistent, and there's no sense of direction or reason to care about what we're seeing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TzuDohNihm 

Michael,

 

Keep this thread spoiler free of the comics, please.

Sorry, I'll edit to make spoiler tags.  Thought what had or hadn't happened in relation to the comic up until season 2 was common knowledge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickP 

 

Another Walking Dead thread that consists of lame complaints and people running to the shows defense (to which I am one).  

 

If we play our cards right, it might turn into an actual discussion!

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickP 

Really?  I take it you have never hunted before, or heard the saying "keep downwind".  

 

Another Walking Dead thread that consists of lame complaints and people running to the shows defense (to which I am one).  

 

Hard to be downwind when you are smack in the middle of the herd.  Your apologia is borderline retarded.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TzuDohNihm 

 

Hard to be downwind when you are smack in the middle of the herd.  Your apologia is borderline retarded.

wow... really?  really?  WOW.  I guess when you don't have a real response, it's time to throw out insults.  What's next, the "mother remark" or the "fag" 

Cars stink of gas and oil, and most of those also stunk of death as they were essentially in the middle of an army of corpses -before- the zombies arrived. Problem solved.

This show is tearing us apart! Also I didn't watch it. I feel an obligation to check it out because, you know, TV show about zombies. But I got a lot of other things to do first! It's not high on the list. 

Man, this show is just lousy. 

Thinking more on it, I like Rick's plea to the Jesus statue, cause it makes the final punchline just that much punchier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zak chase 

Is attempted rape part of that curriculum too?!

Straw Dogs 101

People who make excuses for this show are just digging a deeper hole.  Only good part is the make up. 

The kid getting shot shouldn't have been the last seen.  would have been better if it ended at that farmhouse.

I think I'm gonna wait for the reaction to at least a couple of more episodes before I give this show any time. I grew progressively more sour during the first season and you guys aren't filling me with anticipation, even though I only skimmed this out of fear of spoilers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Murder 

Apparently the brilliantly tense opening was all from the Darabont scripted first episode, while most of the rest was from the Kirkman scripted 2nd episode. AMC didn't like what the director had done on the Darabont premiere and that's a part of the whole firing thing.

God, they're so retarded. This was the best episode since the pilot. Several great tense, and intense, sequences. Trailer zombie makeup was amazing. Even the characters are a little better than in season one. I like how Daryl doesn't raise a fuss or even talk much anymore, he's just a straight ahead redneck Rambo. Acting wise, Reedus seems to be channeling Michael Madsen a bit? Lincoln is still basically a rather goofy but strangely watchable lead, I think the horrid accent is part of his charm now. Bernthal still looks like he drinks in the shower.

They must have had like 7 different zombie themed ads during the breaks. I knew it was a pretty huge cable hit but that's crazy. With the Darabont thing, and the fact that it's such a success with the mainstream, I do worry a bit. I mean, obviously it's not a perfect show, but I can accept the faults as long as the zombie stuff stays hardcore. Otherwise I might as well be watching Falling Skies.

Is that post show thing with Patton Oswalt worth watching?

what's the deal with all the non-zombie dead people on the freeway.....?

did they explain it in the show?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Rabattino 

 

1.  I didn't find the opening monologue to be terrible, and it was only after reading internet reactions that I realized people had trouble with Rick's accent.  I must have been deaf for a couple minutes, then.

I always feel alone on this. Are people complaining that the actor isn't maintaining the accent? Or is the accent just annoying to them in general?

I never had a problem with it, and feel like I need my ears checked after hearing of such reactions.