Walking Dead- Season Two (Probably will be spoilers)

[Syka]

Anyone else watching this?

Personally, I still find the quality astounding for a cable program and can't wait to see where it goes from this crazy opener...

I broke my cardinal rule to not watch a TV show/movie without first reading the source material, but I read a synopsis of the graphic novel. Those who have read the graphic novels, what are your thoughts on the deviations from that story line?


Also...zombie herd ftw.

[Kindablue]

Oh my gosh it was awesome. The deviations from the books don't bother me for the same reason that Kirkman gave in the after show (The Talking Dead, which was also pretty good), that the whole point of a horror/suspense series is to keep the audience from predicting what's coming next, and you can't do that when you let them read the script first. The last few episodes of season one were kind of disappointing, and this one really made up for that.

[Serpentine]

Wait... Season Two's out?! My Boy said it wasn't coming out 'til next year! D:

[Maelstrom]

I with you Syka -- I have not read the comics yet, either....but I can only find the French versions around here, and I hate reading translations. I'll have to wait until I visit the US (or maybe next trip over the Channel) to pick them up.

As for the TV series, it *is* fantastic. Just finished watching the season 2 premier...and the end was, well, a shocker... yikes.

[Anderlith]

I thought the new episode was so tragic! I hope that the deer is okay!

[Mr.Bookworm]

Originally Posted by Syka

I broke my cardinal rule to not watch a TV show/movie without first reading the source material, but I read a synopsis of the graphic novel. Those who have read the graphic novels, what are your thoughts on the deviations from that story line?

I think it's well done. I was actually surprised when (volume 1 spoiler) Shane survived. As long as they keep up the quality, it makes it a lot more interesting to watch, too.

Also, it looks like he's incorporating stuff from later on. The idea of zombie herds didn't come up until Volume 10-ish.

Originally Posted by Anderlith

I thought the new episode was so tragic! I hope that the deer is okay!

Um. That's a joke, right? Internet and lack of tone and all.

[Anderlith]

Originally Posted by Mr.Bookworm

Um. That's a joke, right? Internet and lack of tone and all.

Yes, I believe it was.

[Kindablue]

Originally Posted by Mr.Bookworm

Spoiler

I think it's well done. I was actually surprised when (volume 1 spoiler) Shane survived.

Volume 1 spoiler:

Spoiler

I'm convinced that he's going to live forever. Every time Shane and Rick go into the woods together, I feel like the writers are making fun of me.

[Starbuck_II]

I thought

Spoiler

The black guy was going to die when he cut himself on the car with the zombies coming

.

I missed the last 30 minutes of the episode. Did I miss much?

[Maelstrom]

Originally Posted by Starbuck_II

I thought

Spoiler

The black guy was going to die when he cut himself on the car with the zombies coming

.

I missed the last 30 minutes of the episode. Did I miss much?

Yeah, quite a bit...

[Mr.Bookworm]

Originally Posted by Starbuck_II

I thought

Spoiler

The black guy was going to die when he cut himself on the car with the zombies coming

.

Oh, yeah, I actually said out loud

Spoiler

black dude dies first!

I was pleasantly surprised when that turned out to not be the case.

Really, I think one of the things I like the most about the Walking Dead is that it's not really about a bunch of idiots who make terrible decisions and die from them.

In this episode, they come back from searching for Carol to rest up at night, drop under the cars instead of trying to fight it out, avoid using guns because they know it'll give them away, and a bunch of other little things that show a degree of common sense and intelligence that a lot of zombie story protagonists don't have.

Oh, yeah, and they follow proper gun safety (as far as I noticed), which is always a nice touch.

I missed the last 30 minutes of the episode. Did I miss much?

Yes.

Among other things, a huge cliffhanger that you will recognize if you've read the graphic novels.

[0Megabyte]

Man, my favorite change now is the

Spoiler

Shane thing. I guess it makes sense. Kirkman, iirc, has stated that he kinda regrets getting rid of Shane so soon in the comic. That dynamic wasn't nearly milked for all it was worth. It deserves a more extended treatment, and it looks like the show is going to do that. Have him be alive when the baby comes, for example? Oh man. Fun stuff.

Also, I kinda hope they pull Morgan back in more quickly. There's no plot-centered reason for them to hold off as long as in the comic, especially since Rick was using his messages to him as an awesome "captain's log" moment, as well as reminding us of him. I mean, since they have Shane back, why not bring Morgan in more quickly? I also notice they skipped meeting Tyreese and his family... though they can wait for awhile to add them, since they have the Hershell family coming up! This is going to be so much fun.

[Ricky S]

It was alright but no where near as good as the comic book was. The deviations are ok for the most part but some of them are pretty random. Like the CDC lab at the end of season 1. That didn't need to be in there.

[Anderlith]

Originally Posted by Ricky S

It was alright but no where near as good as the comic book was. The deviations are ok for the most part but some of them are pretty random. Like the CDC lab at the end of season 1. That didn't need to be in there.

You sir have missed the point. The comic & show are different

[Syka]

The CDC lab did kind of need to be in there, too. It shows just how hopeless their situation has become in a pretty effective way. Even the organization that is supposed to be solving this problem has fallen apart.

[Lord Seth]

Well, the premiere got some very impressive ratings. It's also nice to (not counting sports) see something other than Jersey Shore get the #1 cable spot for once...

[thorgrim29]

Faith in humanity slightly restored!

Also, good episode, Laurie seems more reasonable then she was in season 1 about her affair with Shane, Daryl continues to be badass, Carl gets a character, all good. Not sure I like where Andrea's going tough.

[Ricky S]

Originally Posted by Anderlith

You sir have missed the point. The comic & show are different

After reading the comic the show just seems really lacking. There hasnt been enough character development yet so I can't really sympathise with them. They are just like some randoms wandering around in a zombie land.

[Eruantion]

So, did anyone catch the new episode?

Personally, I think some cliffhangers (namely Sophia) shouldn't be drawn out like this. Maybe it's a short attention span, but it seems like everyone's still, "Oh, yeah... still need to wait for Sophia..."

[Gator]

Yeah, I'm not thrilled with the pacing. Reserving judgment until I see more, but if they're only doing thirteen episodes, they need to make each one count.

[Tyndmyr]

Originally Posted by Syka

Anyone else watching this?

Personally, I still find the quality astounding for a cable program and can't wait to see where it goes from this crazy opener...

I broke my cardinal rule to not watch a TV show/movie without first reading the source material, but I read a synopsis of the graphic novel. Those who have read the graphic novels, what are your thoughts on the deviations from that story line?


Also...zombie herd ftw.

Comics are a LOT better. People in there behave rather less stupidly in general.

[Candle Jack]

Originally Posted by Tyndmyr

Comics are a LOT better. People in there behave rather less stupidly in general.

You and I must have read different versions of the Walking Dead, then.

[Reverent-One]

Watching it, and enjoying it. The latest episode was a bit slow, but it had some nice character moments.

Originally Posted by Tyndmyr

Comics are a LOT better. People in there behave rather less stupidly in general.

I'm not seeing a lot of stupidity in the show, a few of the character's aren't very smart, sure, but they're offset (and outnumbered) by the more capable characters.

[leafman]

I just started watching this on season 2 premier night (caught the 6 hour marathon of season one before the premier). Having not read the comics and not knowing what to expect I like it. Apparently in the Walking Dead-verse they don't know about zombies like we do, but they seem to make intelligent decisions anyway (for the most part).

Originally Posted by Gator

Yeah, I'm not thrilled with the pacing. Reserving judgment until I see more, but if they're only doing thirteen episodes, they need to make each one count.

Just saw that AMC has renewed for a third season

[psilontech]

Love me some walking dead, was reading the comics long before the show was announced.

I don't too terribly mind the changes made between the book and the series, I've quite enjoyed Shane sticking around, but

Spoiler

I hope it doesn't deviate too terribly far from the comic. The Prison arc was with little doubt my favorite. That ****ing mayor, man.

Spoiler

Also looking forward to the character changes that Rick is going to go through. From "We don't kill the living!" to "These *******s just ****ed with the wrong people!" while hefting a rifle.

[GenericGuy]

Spoiler

DAMMIT SHANE!!! I LIKED OTIS AND FOR HIM TO DIE LIKE THAT!!!. I know he was probably going to end up dead anyways, being kinda a minor character, but still Shane just crossed my moral event horizon

[Candle Jack]

That was cold, Shane.

Could have at least had the decency to shoot him in the head.

[Vonotar]

But then he wouldn't have been screaming and attracting attention, sadly.

Got to say I really did not see that coming, right up until the flashback I was expecting Otis to have pulled a save yourself moment.

[0Megabyte]

Man. The fat guy dies first, I guess. I was kinda feeling, before that point, "hey look, here's a fat guy pulling his weight in an action/horror series. Sure he made a terrible mistake, but he's risking his life to correct it, and is being useful about it!" And then

Spoiler

the ****er Shane shoots him. I mean, yeah, I can see how, if Shane lived, other characters from the comic would die. But still, damn man. At least it wasn't like "oh look, the guy is expendable" it was "oh look, Shane's a complete bastard."

In any case, it shows a character who isn't angsting about "do I have the will to survive in this awful world blah blah blah?" Shane, at least, knows the answer to this question: "I'm gonna live. Screw the rest of you, if need be."

It's actually something useful they're doing with the character. It's great, in the sense that I was worried how he'd fit, since he was already dead at this point in the comic. He makes an interesting foil for Rick in this way.

[Fawkes]

I love the comic, and I love the series.

My thoughts on the changes: (spoilers, of course)

Spoiler

I just can't get over how much more I like the TV version of Shane. It's just so well fleshed-out, and the tension's building so much better. That said, I don't think he'll be making it out of season 2.