Written by: Kevin Berge
Man, this show is so redneck. (Image Courtesy of: undeadwalking.com)
Quick Take: The Walking Dead Season 1 is a slow burn that is hampered by its own pacing and shortened length. Where other seasons are defined by the characters who grow into their roles, this opening season is too much an introduction to an unlikable group of predictable stereotypes. Still, it is well written and acted.
Season Reviews: 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
***This is a review of the first season of The Walking Dead and thus serves as an introduction to prospective viewers, letting them know what the series is all about. It will not contain any spoilers for the show.***
Few television series have become as popular and helped define entertainment as much as The Walking Dead over the past decade. While ratings have been down across the board for all other shows, The Walking Dead has been a ratings juggernaut for AMC, making it clear why the network has made the talk show Talking Dead and the spinoff Fear The Walking Dead.
What made The Walking Dead so successful is a bit hard to pin down. It is gruesome and often disturbing in ways that should not widely appeal, and its story structure often feels like a loop of the same ideas just with new settings. There is just an intangible quality particularly surrounding the cast of characters.
The first season of The Walking Dead does not always hold those same intangible qualities that made the series so popular with its typical AMC mini premiere season format. At only six episodes, it can be difficult to grow attached to the characters with multiple of the less exciting characters at the forefront.
It took me a while to give The Walking Dead a second chance after I got through the first season which often felt too much like a melodramatic gore fest. Even those who later become fantastic characters are bores from the start.
This does not last too long though as the series does step up majorly down the line with some truly memorable and exciting moments. Even in its weaker moments later on, the show has never lost my attention more than at its beginning.
In its first season, The Walking Dead follows Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) who wakes up suddenly in the middle of the zombie apocalypse with the dead rising back as Walkers and must reunite with his family, Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and Carl (Chandler Riggs). Alongside his best friend Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal) and a host of damaged individuals, this group must find a way to survive together before they all fall apart.
***This is a review of the first season of The Walking Dead and thus serves as an introduction to prospective viewers, letting them know what the series is all about. It will not contain any spoilers for the show.***
Few television series have become as popular and helped define entertainment as much as The Walking Dead over the past decade. While ratings have been down across the board for all other shows, The Walking Dead has been a ratings juggernaut for AMC, making it clear why the network has made the talk show Talking Dead and the spinoff Fear The Walking Dead.
What made The Walking Dead so successful is a bit hard to pin down. It is gruesome and often disturbing in ways that should not widely appeal, and its story structure often feels like a loop of the same ideas just with new settings. There is just an intangible quality particularly surrounding the cast of characters.
The first season of The Walking Dead does not always hold those same intangible qualities that made the series so popular with its typical AMC mini premiere season format. At only six episodes, it can be difficult to grow attached to the characters with multiple of the less exciting characters at the forefront.
It took me a while to give The Walking Dead a second chance after I got through the first season which often felt too much like a melodramatic gore fest. Even those who later become fantastic characters are bores from the start.
This does not last too long though as the series does step up majorly down the line with some truly memorable and exciting moments. Even in its weaker moments later on, the show has never lost my attention more than at its beginning.
In its first season, The Walking Dead follows Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) who wakes up suddenly in the middle of the zombie apocalypse with the dead rising back as Walkers and must reunite with his family, Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and Carl (Chandler Riggs). Alongside his best friend Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal) and a host of damaged individuals, this group must find a way to survive together before they all fall apart.
How does anyone die to enemies this stupid? (Image Courtesy of: amcnetworks.com)
Much of the actors going into the series were relative unknowns. Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually) is a solid lead while Steven Yeun (My Name is Jerry) is the most likable of the bunch. Chandler Riggs (Get Low) and Sarah Wayne Callies (Prison Break) are almost unbearable at times. Jon Bernthal (The Ghost Writer) also seems to struggle with his role in the story early on.
It should be noted that the fantastically directed (by Frank Darabont) premiere episode "Days Gone By" is still one of the best the series has ever had with a tight focus and intense pacing. The series has returned often to this tone and focus with fantastic results. It is a shame they didn't show more of it in the first season.
This is a pure drama with the action more driven toward thrills and horror in a slow building manner. The show uses its setting often for its gore with characters forced to drench themselves in the blood of the Walkers just to survive and Walkers ripping people apart with their mouths. It is wholly a mature show in its representation of wounding and death.
Based upon the comics of Robert Kirkman, this first season is purely based upon issues 1-6 though with much more fleshing out than the comics contained, revealing the characters and the world with just a bit of mystery-building. It takes its time particularly with the relationship between Rick, Shane, and Lori.
I know this does not sound like a ringing endorsement of the show, but it is more just a warning of what to expect. The foundations here are solid from the start, but this follows the typical issue of AMC shows. Six episodes is not enough to get to know this world and the characters and leads to boring lead stories.
Of course I am aware that my opinion of this first season is actually an outlier as the first season received many awards. If you find yourself immediately taken by the series, it is all the better as proof the series is for you.
It should be noted that the fantastically directed (by Frank Darabont) premiere episode "Days Gone By" is still one of the best the series has ever had with a tight focus and intense pacing. The series has returned often to this tone and focus with fantastic results. It is a shame they didn't show more of it in the first season.
This is a pure drama with the action more driven toward thrills and horror in a slow building manner. The show uses its setting often for its gore with characters forced to drench themselves in the blood of the Walkers just to survive and Walkers ripping people apart with their mouths. It is wholly a mature show in its representation of wounding and death.
Based upon the comics of Robert Kirkman, this first season is purely based upon issues 1-6 though with much more fleshing out than the comics contained, revealing the characters and the world with just a bit of mystery-building. It takes its time particularly with the relationship between Rick, Shane, and Lori.
I know this does not sound like a ringing endorsement of the show, but it is more just a warning of what to expect. The foundations here are solid from the start, but this follows the typical issue of AMC shows. Six episodes is not enough to get to know this world and the characters and leads to boring lead stories.
Of course I am aware that my opinion of this first season is actually an outlier as the first season received many awards. If you find yourself immediately taken by the series, it is all the better as proof the series is for you.