If they were smart they'd release it within the next two weeks. But I guess march falls at the halfway point to next year's season.

The writing on the show is no match for the brilliant writing in grizzly falls or the grim reaper

I've tried watching it, but I can't muster any interest in this show.

I can fathom why they'd want to charge off in this weird direction for the finale. The Walking Dead surprised everyone with its ratings and I imagine they wanted to give viewers a send off for the characters in case they weren't coming back for season two. The whole "It's our choice to survive" stuff. The ridiculous ticking clock bullshit and a sympathetic antagonist that ended with a heroic moment and thrilling (air quotes) escape gives it a stupid sort of closure. I think it's a misstep that won't be repeated now that they know they're going to have a season two. I sincerely hope their character upkeep improves (Hey ya'll, I am pumped to be partying with you people who left my brother to die). I hope they start focusing on what happens to people after they get used to the zombie apocalypse. Criticize the comic book all you want but that's the compelling aspect that sets it further apart than your standard zombie stories (though that's not unique, I am aware). Fanwanking: this season's arc should have been about Shane/Lori/Rick triangle once the Atlanta adventures were over. The conclusion to that story is much more shocking and underscores the fact that their lives will never ever be like they were. Also, talking AI plot device? Really, TWD? Really?

Funny thing about these apparently huge ratings is I'm really not getting the impression the show crossed over in any significant way. Hey, maybe it's the circles I walk in. I'm defiinitely not some great industry watcher or anything. But it's not some big deal or geek watercooler conversation show like Lost or Battlestar. I'm not doubting it's popular but are there any other factors at work? Size of the cable audience or the survey method has changed or something?

You guys are crazy. The show is great. Why anyone would make something for a fanbase so out of control is beyond me. Haters gonna hate but the amount of hate is blinding the fact that they made a show about Zombies! Go watch reruns of growing pains and shut up. This acting like you could do better crap is sad.

Comment #5—Like you said, it might just be the circles you run in. You mention "Battlestar" as something that DID have people buzzing, but that was a show that, outside of Internet talk, I never heard a word about, at least from anyone I know. On the other hand, I know a lot of people that watch TWD, but I know that they're not exactly an accurate representation of the overall viewing audience. These days, even big network shows aren't pulling the numbers that they used to, and cable has a lot to do with that. Even if most cable shows can't come close to the ratings of TWD, there's just so damn many of them, and it really adds up.

You know, do you think Frank Darabont is aware of the quality of the show's writing? He did just fire his entire staff and is going to field out writing duties so it makes me think that he sees the shortcomings of the material. He has the solo writing credit on the first two episodes which of the 6 are the best. I just can't doubt the man who wrote Nightmare on Elm Street 3: the Dream Warriors.

Anyways, I liked TWD more than I hated it and I am willing to give season 2 a go as long as it doesn't approach Heroes Season 2 stupid (Sidebar: if the cheerleader was bit, would she turn into a zombie?).

Muzz – I'm pretty sure the comic book isn't read by 10 million people. So, yeah, it crossed over.

CHUD just can't stop shitting on this show can it? Is it perfect? No. Is is still one of the best hours of TV on cable? Hell fucking yes. Lighten the fuck up CHUD. ERROR POSTING COMMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree Bob. All you arm chair directors are forgetting the fact that crapping on someone else's work is the ONLY writing you do! For free in the case of commentors! "This is how I would have done it…blah blah weak characters… not enough action… sensitive gangsters wtf… too much action… wheres the grenade… her character SUX… talking AI offends me… purse grenades r weak…" STFU! The whole infrastructure and effort it took to create an original GENRE SHOW that NORMALS are talking about? Thats fucking amazing. Why would you want to hurt that? I know ONE ubergeek who ever talked about BSG, and THREE single moms over 40 who are EATING THIS SHOW UP. Don't like it? Watch tyler perry then.

#11- The widely held assertion that this show deserves extra love because it’s an “original genre” show is so overblown.
I would argue that the fact that it’s popular, as you say, amongst “normals,” is proof that it’s a just a moderately entertaining, front to back rehash of all the common tropes present in the Zombie/Apocalypse genre, precisely because “normals” haven’t seen the hundreds of other films/shows (that true genre fans have) that cover this territory far better.
My mom loves the show too, and I usually hold that as concrete proof that something sucks.
Just because something has zombies in it doesn’t mean it should get special treatment, and just because something has crossed over into the mainstream successfully doesn’t make it good.

The Walking Dead is a good example of what television is capable of. In a time when the CW and reality TV thrives, I think it's important to view this show as an important stepping stone to usher in a new potential for the genre viewed within our living rooms. Shows like the UK's Dead Set and HBO's Dexter are far superior examples of brilliant television, but…come on, people….a fuckin' TV show about zombies is numero fuckin' uno in the ratings!! This is cause for excitement…not hate. I shudder to think what the next stupid installment of the Tag Team Bashing has in store for the finale.

Comment #13—"Dexter" is on Showtime.

do you guys NOT GET HOW CHUD WORKS. This whole website, when the review shit, likes to go against the grain. They are the website equal to Armond White. Look at Devin, with Avatar, and The Dark Knight. I think he secretly was told, when he worked here, to saying negative shit against popular items. Why? Because that negativety gets fanboys PISSED, and gets them to come back. Obviously, by me even writting this, and am being an example of Chuds business plan. Now that Devin is gone, they are choosing the go after another popular item, that being The Walking Dead. If the show wasn't popular, they would love it. Contrarian is what I beleive it's called.

@GK "My mom loves the show too, and I usually hold that as concrete proof that something sucks" – I'm going out on a limb and assuming your mum loves you – so is that concrete proof you suck? Joking aside though I personally thought it was great and have loved the show for what it is. It's not trying to be Mad Men or Breaking Bad, it's a TV series takling the zombie apocalypse FFS. I think it does it well and I will definately be watching series two.

@GK Oh your Mom loves it? Well then I change my mind then. Fuck the Walking Dead, because your mom sucks.
We would be better off with a bunch of Zombies walking around. Because what we have now judging from the comments here are a bunch of Haters that can't like anything if it's popular. A bullet in the head would cure that just fine.

@PlanB—Sorry…my bad. I was watching Boardwalk Empire this morning and had HBO on my mind. But, yeah….The Walking Dead sucks! There…now am I cool like Chud?

This show is brilliant when it comes to action and stepping up the pace. But its characters are PHONY and BORING as characters/people. The "country" speak is shameful in its hack quality. It was a mistake hiring Brits to play such quintessentially American archetypes. I know the lead isn't American anyway. Leaning on "reckon" and the overly laconic God speculations and lines like "Mrs. Anderson's apple pie, well, hehe, that was something special, to be sure, I tell you." That's NOT from the show, but it could be. I LIKE the show a lot. I just don't know how last night's episode could be considered well done. It was awful. That scientist had the door button the whole time? He was gonna KILL everybody? Then he just changes his mind? WHAT? Don't buy it.

@Bob-If you read the full thread, the comment about my mom is in direct response to JFGI touting the fact that he knows three single mom's that watch TWD, as if that is some sort of proof that the show is good. My argument is that popularity does not equal quality. Creed was popular. Titanic was popular. I hope the Tag Team Review does rip the finale apart. It deserves it. The CHUD folks know what they are talking about when it comes to TV and the genre, and at least they articulate their reasoning. Because when someone simply says, the show is not that great, you fanboys gnash your teeth and yell about how popular it is. Or you say, as you did Bob, that we should kill ourselves. Nice.