Topic: The Walking Dead, AMC series

[EhJayArr]

This episode had a ton of action. A refreshing amount.

Yeah, I'm probably bitching too much. Can't hold the show responsible for not being exactly what I personally want it to be.

[lukebourassa]

Many people want the show to have "more action" but I often wonder what this means... because if your characters are just running around shooting zombies, there's no time to set-up believable long-term conflicts within the group. I'd never turn my nose up at more splatter and gun play, but the tension between the living characters is what really compels me to keep watching every week.

[EhJayArr]

Many people want the show to have "more action" but I often wonder what this means... because if your characters are just running around shooting zombies, there's no time to set-up believable long-term conflicts within the group. I'd never turn my nose up at more splatter and gun play, but the tension between the living characters is what really compels me to keep watching every week.

More fighting action would be nice (think Season 1 as opposed to Season 2), but my main beef is that every single bit of plot and character development has to be painstakingly talked about and explained ad nauseum. Show me development through actions sometimes, not just with words. (Daryl has been an exception to this. His "lost in the woods" episode was awesome, and his current emotional state has me interested).

[seaotter]

It has the perfect amount of action. The drama builds tension that makes the action so much better.

[EhJayArr]

It has the perfect amount of action. The drama builds tension that makes the action so much better.

The endless talking about EVERY SINGLE THING kills the drama for me.

[seaotter]

It has the perfect amount of action. The drama builds tension that makes the action so much better.

The endless talking about EVERY SINGLE THING kills the drama for me.

different strokes

[MikeHz]

It only has to be better than whatever else is on. These days, the competition isn't all that "stiff."

[PANTS!]

It only has to be better than whatever else is on. These days, the competition isn't all that "stiff."

Its kinda like escaping from zombies in that respect.  It may not be the fastest runner ever.....

[Strudel]

The endless talking about EVERY SINGLE THING kills the drama for me.

It helps keep everything grounded. If they walk around pretending what they're seeing and doing isn't emotionally scarring, then the characters might as well have no personality and they should just turn the show into 80's grindhouse.
I do understand where you're coming from, but this isn't Stargate Universe (Those piece of crap writers were one amnesia plot away from turning the show into a daily soap).

 

[EhJayArr]

It only has to be better than whatever else is on. These days, the competition isn't all that "stiff."

I heard this in my head with a slight pause before "stiff" and a '?' inflection...

[stonesean]

Many people want the show to have "more action" but I often wonder what this means... because if your characters are just running around shooting zombies, there's no time to set-up believable long-term conflicts within the group. I'd never turn my nose up at more splatter and gun play, but the tension between the living characters is what really compels me to keep watching every week.

Couldn't agree more.

The previous storyline that ended up with the destruction of zombie Sophia could have easily been condensed to 3-4 episodes rather than the 7-8 that it did run.

However, that would have not exposed us to the relative comfort and routine of the farm, and had us witness the effort that the group was willing exert to save Sophia.

The deliberate pace gave Shane's complete, and super quick meltdown and Sophia's fate that much more impact than had it been the finale of a single episode or two-parter. 

This show isn't about running from / destroying zombies.  Just like all good sci fi/fantasy it's not really about the situation as presented.

[mindme]

As I probably said previous, I think the makers quickly realized you can't sustain a series based on "oh is there a zombie behind THAT door?" They need to concentrate on characters.

One thing I wish they would do is give us more flashbacks. How did each of the characters come to join this merry band of survivors? One of the thrills of zombie stories is the start... the dawning realization something is going horribly wrong with the life/death cycle.

[seaotter]

This

[EhJayArr]

As I probably said previous, I think the makers quickly realized you can't sustain a series based on "oh is there a zombie behind THAT door?" They need to concentrate on characters.

One thing I wish they would do is give us more flashbacks. How did each of the characters come to join this merry band of survivors? One of the thrills of zombie stories is the start... the dawning realization something is going horribly wrong with the life/death cycle.

That would indeed be awesome.

I'm definitely not talking about "zombie popping out unexpectedly" kind of action, I'm actually pretty annoyed by that. I'm interested in complex escape/survival (or death) stories. Walking Dead is becoming a soap opera that happens to take place during the zombie apocalypse, which--as somebody else said--is still way better than most current TV shows... it's just not the "something different" that it could so easily and awesomely be.

Like this.

[Jay_One]

Watched Season 2 Episode 8 today. Pretty uneventful as usual.

Buried dead people. Herschel started and quit drinking. Rick shot two guys.

I understand that the genre could be described as survival drama, and it's not about plot, but the characters. Personally, I find it hard to understand characters with no actual events or interaction other than conversations and arguments.