The Walking Dead - Frank Darabont/Robert Kirkman

[Mr. Spencer]

Now watch it turn to shit.

[Wrathborne]

Did Someone Say Shit?

[Stu]

I thought season two, episode three was the best yet. It had everything i want from the series. Great dialogue between the characters, and interesting plotlines that haven't been done in the comic books. Darabont hasn't been missed yet.

I loved Lori and Rick's dilemma, because as a parent you always want the best for your child - but how do you agree on what's best in their situation? Daryl and Andrea's talk through the woods was interesting because i can't remember those two crossing paths much. Then Andrea again, but this time with the breakdown of her friendship with Dale.

Three brilliant, seriously interesting story arcs. The relationship dynamics were built on brilliantly, and that ending was just incredible. You knew there was more to it - but that?! Brilliant, didn't see it coming at all and i can't remember the last time i was both open jawed and had chills whilst watching a TV show.

I raved about the show to a few friends who'll see it tomorrow night in the UK, but someone who had seen it said there wasn't enough zombie killing and that it was too soft! I just found it annoying that people think that's all the show is about - to think that completely misses the point.

[Wrathborne]

I knew what Shane was gonna do..and I didn't like. I didn't like it because it didn't look like it worked, they still had like half a block of distance between them and the zombies, that was enough time to keep limping onward.

I understand the stress of the situation and all, but it still looked like the two of them could have made it.

[Stu]

Yeah but i'm guessing this is a new Shane now, one who was going to do whatever it takes to make sure Carl was saved - if throwing Otis to the wolves as bait to slow the chasing pack down then so be it. It makes more sense from a "holy fuck Shane has turned evil" perspective than a "hang on...they still had plenty of space between them!" angle admittedly.

[Dracarys]

I didn't find it very believable just turning into a bad guy like that.

[Vito]

Fantastic Episode indeed, never saw the ending coming.

And i think the Walkers would catch them sooner or later, they where already exausted and injured(Shane at least).

[Darkmoon]

I dunno how I feel about where they're taking Shane. I have the odd feeling he's going to end up in the Governor role at some point, although that would be sliding into raw evil at a truly neck-break speed. His character was pretty sympathetic in the comic...he came across as someone who'd managed to hold people together and keep them safe, but was paralysed at what to do next and as others started looking to Rick for leadership instead (and loosing Lori and Carl back to Rick) he started to become unhinged. In this it seems more like evil for the sake of evil...the pack wasn't close enough yet for that to be remotely justified. He had time to shoot the guy, fight with him to get the pack off, rip out a chunk of hair...

Also not sure I liked the whole Otis thing. Some of it just seems to be saying, 'Yeah, we're different to the comics and we'll prove it by killing off the comic characters! Also, making them fat!' I'm aware, though, that I am heavily biased by my all encompassing man-love of the comic series (and that they skipped out on one of my favourite scenes) and the nigh on perfection that has in showing all the characters changing to fit the new world. And it's not like Otis' death will have a huge impact. It might even make a possible scene later more interesting.

I am really liking Daryl. He's quite a surprising character in a lot of ways, and certainly the most interesting of the non-comic characters (not that there are many left - just him and T-Dog now I think) and is currently more interesting than some of the comic characters, or at least there own screen version. He's also probably the most useful character out of everyone, which is kinda cool.

One thing I would like is to see Andrea start perking up and heading towards badass territory. It keeps giving off this weird feeling that the women can't really do much be but zombie bait and scream a bunch, to the point of not allowing them to carry any serious weapons (which is perfectly understandable given that guns draw in zombies like no one's business, but...) and since she is one of the most dangerous characters eventually, it would be nice to see some more of that. But she picks up her degree in ass kicking at the prison (along with the other lady of awesome, Michone) and I'm not sure we're going to see the prison this series, I'm kinda worried we're going to have too much of a big men with guns, little women wilting violets situation for a bit too long. Neither Lori nor Carol are much of a fighter, although Carol's pickaxe moment back in season one does help a bit.

[Stu]

I didn't find it very believable just turning into a bad guy like that.

It's not like it's out of the blue is it?

[PracticalAl]

So the show isn't very consistent with the comics, huh? That's a shame.. Are the comics a lot better than the show?

[Darkmoon]

The show has...elements from the comic. The first episode up to the tank is nigh on scene for scene, but after than things change. The rough flow and events is similar, in that they were at Atlanta, left Atlanta, arrived at Hershel's farm...but there are a lot of characters that are missing (or replaced), they never visit the CDC, Shane doesn't make it out of Atlanta, Carl doesn't need that set of gear when he gets shot, etc.

I like both, don't get me wrong, but so far my vote has got to be with the comic. It's probably the best representation of what that kind of stress will do to the human mind over prolonged periods, and what it will make people do, I've ever read in fiction. Unlike most of these stories where the main characters remain relatively unscathed even during the worst events mentally, the Walking Dead's cast suffers and breaks. Even the major characters. And because of that they feel far, far more real than the band whose mentality is still stuck in how our current society works.

[PracticalAl]

Ah, thanks for that info. Someone had told me that the show is very similar to the comics.. Guess they were full of shit, haha! I'll need to read those comics someday. I've seen a few pages, and I really like the art style.

As for Shane doing what he did, it didn't really bother me. I saw it coming. The show needs a good antagonist aside from the zombies (and Darryl's brother who.. is.. coming back at some point? Bit of a loose end there..) What does bother me is Andrea. She's so whiny and ungrateful to the old guy (Dale?) who saved her life. The fact that he feels he has to apologize to her for saving her life? Oh, please! If Andrea wants to die so badly, than why doesn't she just kill herself? I can't stand suicidal characters, they're such cowards..

[Darkmoon]

There are a lot of similarities, and as I said the first episode is almost scene for scene. And so far, the rough over all story is similar. They never went to the CDC in the comics, but did go to a sorta walled in estate where they thought they would be safe and had a few issues there. Mostly, the show is adding in story - the old people's home wasn't mentioned in the comic, the CDC wasn't there, Shane snuffed it earlier, etc.

Also, my wife has the opposite view of Dale and Andrea - that Dale had no right to make that decision for her, no right to take her gun from her, no right to make choices on how she lived or didn't. As I mentioned, I'm a little disappointed in how she's come across so far. She kicks some major ass in the comic. But most of the woman are coming across a bit too dainty and feminine for me. It makes sense - Daryl's a hunter, Shane and Rick are cops and Dale is...experienced with guns. But they need show the laddies as more independent. Maggie's baseball scene is good, for example.

[Alexia_Ashford]

Every time I see Dale on the Walking Dead, I can't stop thinking of him as Judas from Lady Gaga's music video.

[Stu]

So the show isn't very consistent with the comics, huh? That's a shame.. Are the comics a lot better than the show?

Why is it a shame if you don't even know what the comics are like?

The show suffers by sometimes using plots from the comics, but other weeks it has the ability to blow you away - like this week.