I started reading the books long before the TV Show was even given a pilot episode.
The first book that I bought out of Waterstones Book Store probably around ten years ago now, blew me away.
I couldn't put it down. Read the entire book in one go, then read it all over again!
I've been a huge fan of Dawn of the Dead (the original one of course) and Romero's Night of the Living Dead.
It's something about the concept of zombies suddenly being a thing. Trying to imagine my perfect survival plan should the dead ever walk the Earth.
It's something most if not all fans of the Zombie genre have likely thought about and discussed with friends during a drunken hazy debate.
The kind of debates that would often turn into arguments or heavy debates, the more inebriated you would become!
It's also been a conversation I've had at work with my colleagues as well. That perfect Zombie Survival plan.
My plan has always been a rather straightforward one. Get a mode of transport. Grab what supplies you can (food, water, etc) and get away from where people are.
Using a selection of items for weapons from baseball bats, golf clubs or hammers, as, lets face it. I'm from Scotland and unlike in the United States, guns aren't as easy to come by over here. And I would never trust myself to accurately hit the side of a bus, nevermind a Walkers head, while in that situation.
And being from Scotland i'm fortunate. Because unless everyone shares my plan, the Highlands should be pretty sparse of humans, which would mean there should be far fewer zombies stumbling around.
Of course, if the zombie Apocalypse should happen, it may be difficult to distinguish against zombies and people who have had a few too many to drink on Perth's High Street on a Saturday or Friday night!
But to the subject at hand. The things I feel that make the Walking Dead a brilliant show.
Please keep in mind that I'm talking about the TV Show, not the books here.
As i've said at the start of this article, i've loved the zombie genre for years. So when a TV Show came out, with the zombie Apocalypse as its storyline, where the story continues and we see how the new, darker, world affects the characters, i was simply over the moon.
The first episode, with Rick Grimes, waking up from a coma at his Hospital, learning how the world has changed. The mere fact that the viewers were taken on Rick's journey. Absolutely loved that.
And like many, I was also upset when (spoiler alert if you haven't seen it yet) Rick's Horse got chomped down on by the Walkers in Atlanta. (I'm an animal lover).
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| Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes |
Andrew Lincoln, who plays Rick Grimes, has been amazing in the TV show.
From the fact that he's a British actor who does a really good American accent, to how he has portrayed Rick over the course of the seasons. Showing us how Rick Grimes has become darker and darker, in order to ensure the survival of his kids and his group during the Zombie Apocalypse.
Another important key feature with the Walking Dead, is that no character is safe.
There have been several moments where characters have been killed off and its given me a nasty shock.
For instance, the death of Dale in Season Two or Beth in the current season. Even Hershel's exit from the show was a major "Holy S**T!" moment.
Most of the characters all gel together, although some i prefer more now than i did in the first couple seasons of the show (Carl and Carol anyone?). Even Daryl I wasn't too fond of in Season One. But from Season Two onwards, Daryl Dixon has become one of the strongest characters on the show. And often a character who incites a great number of confused emotions, while watching the actor, Norman Reedus, portray Daryl.
The fact that in the Walking Dead TV Show, there are characters who aren't in the books, like Daryl and his brother Merle or Bob, it gives the show more of an edge.
This edge is important for the viewers who also read the books, as we know to expect certain things. For instance the death of Shane or the Governor taking the prison from our heroes.
The state of humanity.
This is an important feature in a show like this to make it more realistic. Seemingly normal people, thrown into a hellish existence where any day can be your last day.
These characters have to change in order to survive this world.
In the first season we saw how the characters still tried to hold onto the belief that the Dead returning to life was just a temporary thing. But as the seasons progressed you saw the characters taking drastic measures to ensure they each survive.
From moments where Rick tore a "Claimers" throat out with his teeth in order to protect his son. To the group dealing with Cannibals in Season Five (Tainted Meat).
It's the evolution of the characters that keeps me intrigued and ensures I watch every new episode as soon as i can. The characters with the greatest changes in personality and behaviour are certainly, Rick, Carol, Carl and Daryl in my opinion.
The love issue. The problem with most network tv shows is that they often get bogged down when it comes to the concept of love and couples getting together.
The Walking Dead doesn't do this. We have the young couple, Maggie and Glenn, who have been together since Season Two, but the show is never bogged down and held back by this.
There is no lovey dovey angst, no love triangles, no romance drama's where character state that they love each other then think up as many reasons as possible to drag it out until it just gets boring (Like Smallville, Arrow and pretty much almost every other TV show out there)!
And of course there is the behind the scene's shenanigans that we hear about on Youtube, including a prank played on Norman Reedus;
This all being said, don't get me wrong. The TV show has its faults.
Season Two was difficult to get through, as was the second half of Season Four. And everyone laughs at the magically teleporting Walkers that sometimes appear out of nowhere!
But then no TV Show is perfect. Every big show from Breaking Bad to Game of Thrones has its faults. Just like life, there are good moments and bad moments, however that doesn't stop us following our favourite TV Show characters each week, does it?
The Walking Dead returns February 8th for the United States and Canada. And February 9th for the United Kingdom.
Thanks for reading and let me know your thoughts below.
Do you have a zombie survival plan figured out? Who are your favourite Walking Dead characters? What did you think the highest or lowest point of the TV show is/was?
