Wednesday, November 24, 2010

AMC's The Walking Dead

It's Wednesday before Thanksgiving. This will be my last post for several days. I should return to blogging on Tuesday, November 30th. It's going to be nice to have 5 days outside this hell hole office for once. I plan on getting a lot of writing and critiquing done.

I would like to take a moment to thank each and every person who has ever visited my blog. Whether you follow, comment, read, lurk or try your very best to hock viagra I love you all. Seriously. Okay maybe not the spammers so much, but they need love too. Mostly I love you writers. You people are so giving, so kind, so helpful and so supportive. When I first set out to write a novel I knew not a single other serious writer. Now I know, literally, hundreds.

You people RAWK!


Ahem. Anyway, back to the topic at hand: my favorite new TV Show! What better topic for the "Friday" before the holidays, right?

So, my favorite new show is The Walking Dead, on AMC. I believe it comes on at 10PM on Sundays, but ever since we got a DVR I'm completely spoiled and out of touch about actual air times. Americans and our luxuries, no?


The Walking Dead is a show about a Zombie Apocalypse. It's set in Atlanta, where I live, and actually filmed on location. I'll go over my complaints first, since there are very few.
  • For whatever reason AMC does not offer an HD signal, not in my area and not on my provider (AT&T U-Verse). Considering how many HD channels I have to pay for that I never watch, this is a bit of a bitch.
  • Occasionally the acting and or writing comes across as a little stilted. None of the lead actors on this show have a lot of experience or are well known, but I suspect this feeling is more based on occaional poor writing. Most of the writing like the plot and character develepmont, as well as pacing and tension is excellent, but every so often the dialogue comes across as a little forced.
  • Commercials. I know, it's not fair. This isn't HBO, but I think I've gotten spoiled by shows like Boardwalk Empire, True Blood, and Entourage. I know they have to pay the bills but I HATE friggin' commercials. Yes I have it recorded and I can skip them but it's a pain. There is a reason I am willing to pay for HBO.
Now, on to what I love about this show. There are many things, so ... screw it, I'm still going with a bullet point list because I love bullet point lists.
  • It's a Zombie Apocalypse! I mean come on, who doesn't love Zombies? They're awesome, but this show also takes the whole thing quite seriously, which is really cool (not that there is anything wrong with taking a humorous approach to the shambling masses). And nothing against Twilight, but it's great to see horror go scary again.
  • The setting and cinematography. It's filmed on location in Atlanta, which is near to home, but I also love that they use no CGI (as far as I can tell) and the angles and shots they have featuring the city (and from the skyline) are gorgeous.
  • The makeup. As I said there is no CGI. Every Zombie hoard is made up of real extras (that means actors) who are costumed and made up beautifully. You can also win a chance to be a Zombie on the show on the AMC website (I think).
  • The characters. There's a bit of an ensemble cast, which as my crit group knows, is something I love. Obviously some characters play a much larger role than others, but they're all compelling so far.
  • The network. Okay, I'll admit that I've only watched Mad Men a few times, but AMC seems to be a network on the rise to me. And, although it's not premium, they somehow get away with more violence, more swearing, and more adult content than broadcast networks.
  • Based on a comic book series. 'Nuff said.
Ah well, I could probably go on, but it's Friday, or something like that.

Have a wonderful holiday everyone, even if you live in France, or Greece (you two know who you are), and make sure you get enough BRAAAAAAAAAIIIINSSSS!!!!

35 comments:

Jess said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you, and best of luck with your writing/critiques :)

(I hadn't heard of The Walking Dead, but it sounds pretty cool!)

Shain Brown said...

I just caught the first episode last night on Hulu, and I thought it was great. The writers seem to have quite a few surprises in the upcoming episodes to throw at us.

This weekend I plan on catching the next few episodes I have missed. So, at that point I will tell you what I think.

Have a great Thanksgiving Holiday weekend...

Anonymous said...

Hey Matthew,

So glad you reviewed this show. The Walking Dead is on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, and I was curious, having just gotten my copy.

Vampires are still my hell-creature of choice, but I like the whole zombie thing. Laurell K. Hamilton writes about them in her Anita Blake series (Anita is an animator, meaning she can raise the dead), and until I read one of her books, I really had no interest in zombies.

It's so cool that the extras are in costume. I just saw a documentary on ILI (Industrial Light & Magic) I think it was on PBS, and it had me pining for the old Star Wars movies, the good old days when all the 'magic' was created one frame at a time (without Lucas' added scenes).

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Rest those typed-out fingers. :-) See you next week!

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Good luck with catching up on some writing. A break from the blogosphere can be rejuvenating.

I've heard about The Walking Dead, but I haven't watched. Um, so...you suggest it? Hah.

Stina said...

I've never heard of The Walking Dead, but then I don't watch much tv.

Hope you have a great holiday and blogging break. And good luck with the writing and critting. :D

Shannon said...

I've never heard of this show, but it looks really cool. I'll set my DVR to record it and will check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!

Happy gobble gobble day!

Creepy Query Girl said...

Thanks Matthew! That show sounds awesome (online streaming anyone?) Have a great turkey day!

DEZMOND said...

what I love about THE WALKING DEAD is the humane side of it. We've first seen such profound psychological and ethical things in the first episode when the sheriff went back to the park to put that poor legless zombie out of her misery and then in the latest episode we've seen that Latino gang which saves old people from zombies and takes care of them in some old building. This gives the whole show some depth.

Anne Gallagher said...

Happy Thanksgiving Matthew.

Tracy said...

Me no like zombies so much, but I'm glad there's a show out there for those of you who do (and I've seen enough mention of the show to know there are plenty!!)

On a sidenote, since you live in Atlanta, can I come crash at your place for a while so I can stalk the cast of Vampire Diaries (also filmed in Hotlanta)? I promise I'll be good and clean up after myself.

Happy Thanksgiving, Matt!!

Unknown said...

I've loved zombies ever since the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers (though I guess that was more aliens using humans as host bodies than zombies, but still). I don't watch tv, but I'll have to check out The Walking Dead sometime on Netflix. Happy Thanksgiving!

IanBontems said...

Good Call Matt!

I'm with on this show. We're an episode behind over in the UK, but at least one of our own is one of the stars (good ol' Matthew Lincoln).

I've been waiting for this kind of thing for ages; Dawn of the Dead as a TV series. My brother has all the graphic novels and has shoved them my way, so I know some of the excellent things ahead for the cast.

Old Kitty said...

I detest and loathe commercials!! That's why I fly the flag for BBC and spit at anyone moaning about paying a TV licence to keep BBC free of these horrid commercials!! I also hate ads the various channels have on their streaming sites!!!

Ok, nuff ranting! This looks like a great show! Hopefully if this carries on the writing and actors will also evolve better!!

Take care
x

Sarah Ahiers said...

oooh yeah, we've beenw wacthing Walking Dead and loving it (tho our cable has been out for the last few days so we haven't seen the most recent episode).

Serioulsy though, in an apocalypse situation, just don't let the racists and bigots join your group. They'll probably get you killed before the zombies do

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Ted Cross said...

That show looks fun. I'll try to look it up on DVD when it comes out. You should try to be an extra!

LTM said...

bleah. SO not into this show. It's supposed to be really scary, though. And I've heard... am I spoiling if I say gather all your belongings, grab a raft and row out to the middle of a large body of water?

zombies. gross. :p

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Have a super break~

Emily White said...

I don't mind commercials for two reasons:

1. I don't watch enough tv for commercials to annoy me.

2. I REFUSE to pay to watch television. Let someone else pay for it! (i.e the guys making the commercials)

But because I don't pay for tv, this particular show is not one I'm able to watch. I'm glad you're enjoying it though! I'm sure it will come out on Netflix soon enough and I'll be able to watch the first season without interruption.

Talli Roland said...

Have a great Thanksgiving, Matthew! Enjoy the break. :)

I've not heard of this show and it will probably take five zillion years to come to the UK, but it sounds really interesting!

Colene Murphy said...

I can't WAIT for this to come out on DVD. I can't watch it now, but I did see the first episode and it was crazy addictive!!

Happy Thanksgiving Matthew!

Carol Riggs said...

I've heard of the show, but zombies AIN'T my thing, man, and I don't watch TV anyway. Except for DVDs and Instant Netflix. I'd rather write. *cheesy grin*

Lydia Kang said...

Sad to say, I'm not a huge zombie fan as brains=food has never been a good equation with me.
Have a great Thanksgiving!

Jessica Bell said...

Have a great time off, spunk! :o) I'm taking time off too even though it's not a holiday here I'm taking some time to get stuck into revisions. Happy Thanksgiving!!! ;o)

Joanna St. James said...

Hey Jess Nice picture, Happy Thanxgiving Matt and have you stalked the set yet?
have u also played the zombie farm game? its on my hubs IPhone every 30 seconds it says Brains i love it.

Lenny Lee said...

hi mr matthew! we been watching that program. my brothers love it! my sister hates it. for sure its pretty scary. my one brother that lived in haiti a while loves zombie stuff and says their real! yikes! ha ha. im gonna miss you. i hope you and your family have a really fun and happy thinksgiving.
...hugs from lenny

Kathryn Rose said...

My husband and I are watching it too, and I agree with you on some of the dialogue or acting. Otherwise, it's pretty good. Did you read the graphic novel?

DL Hammons said...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING Matthew!! :)

I'm digging the DEAD also.

Lindsay said...

I'm watching The Walking Dead as well. Love it. But what's not to love about zombies?

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Denise Covey said...

Have a happy holiday Matthew!

Bryan Russell said...

I wonder if I get that station...

Unknown said...

I must admit I hadn't heard of The Walking Dead. Living at the bottom of the world probably hasn't helped matters either ... We do exist honest.

Happy thanks thanksgiving my friend.

mshatch said...

I can't believe I missed this show! I frakking love zombies. I'll have to netflix it. thanks for the review.

Angela Ackerman said...

What the heck? How DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS TV SHOW? I have heart palpatations! Dang this living in Canada--boy I hope I can find it on one of thr networks up here!

Oh, have a great Thanksgiving and some well deserved time off! You RAWK too!

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

Kimber said...

Zombies so freakin' rawk! I am obsessed with anything and everything zombie, so of course I absolutely love The Walking Dead. Plus, I love that the show is filmed in Atlanta which is very to close to where I live.

Anonymous said...

The image is great! Tells a thousand words for sure. I haven't seen the series but will look for it on Hulu.com.

Christina Lee said...

I hope you ahd a GREAT and relaxing weekend! I've been dying to see this show (I mean, I DO have a zombie first novel collecting dust on my shelf)!