The first episode of “The Walking Dead”, the adaptation of Robert Kirkman's critically acclaimed comic book series, aired last night on AMC. Read more about the premise and background of the show.
While that breakdown is guaranteed to be 'spoiler-free', if you haven't yet seen the show or read the comics, you should know that the following review does give up the goods relating to the first episode. Consider yourself warned.
The Zombie Apocalypse Through One Man's Eyes
Rick Grimes, our leading man, is a hardworking police officer and family man; he is a man of few words (though not to the extent of a Clint Eastwood character) with a strong moral centre. Rick is hospitalized after being shot during a standoff with a car-load of criminals. He drifts in and out of consciousness and finally awakens to a world that has clearly transformed in his absence: The hospital hallways are filled with debris, the walls are smeared with blood, and a chained up door sports the ominous warning “Do Not Enter. Dead Inside.” Outside, the hospital parking lot has become a morgue, filled with bodies covered in stained white sheets.
Rick's character matches well with Morgan Jones, who is trying to keep his son, Duane, safe from the living dead after the death of his wife. Although their relationship starts out on a rocky note (a shovel to the side of the head tends to have that effect), it becomes clear that Rick and Morgan share a similar demeanour and values. Their soft-spoken manner, sense of compassion and determination are contrasted nicely by an opening scene featuring Rick and his patrol partner, Shane, who is clearly painted as more of an Alpha male: stubborn and outspoken with a hint of misogyny. Shane is also granted 'villain' status once we see that he's gotten cozy with Lori, Rick's wife, after they flee the city and she believes Rick has died.
The characterizations fall in line with author Robert Kirkman and artist Charlie Aldard's original vision and the episode does a solid job of depicting Rick as a likeable and dependable everyman with a hero's sensibilities buried inside his unassuming personality. It also sets the stage for the interpersonal drama that will unfold in the midst of the zombie outbreak.
Never Typecast a Zombie
One big concern among comic and horror fans was the fear that AMC would water down the appearance of the zombies for fear of alienating the general audiences. Charlie Aldard's artwork in The Walking Dead comics portrays zombies in a familiar, yet unique manner, and strives to give each zombie his/her own personality. Exposed wounds, dried blood, tattered clothing and expressions that range from vacant to vicious all give Aldard's zombies that special something. Fortunately, after episode one, Aldard's style appears to remain intact. From their individualized looks to their voracious appetites and the often bloody and disturbing endings they face, AMC has accurately captured the singular zombie as a menacing character and the swarm as an ever-present, always dangerous entity.
Hitting the Mark
As of right now, it seems safe to say that AMC's “The Walking Dead” promises to give viewers a solid mix of character depth and slow-burning suspense, with a healthy dose of zombie-related gore thrown in for good measure. At one time in the not too distant past, the sometimes slow, methodical pace and realistic violence might have caused average viewers to shy away from a show of this type, but the success of cable shows like “Dexter” and “Boardwalk Empire” prove that audiences are ready for the next step in television entertainment.
Episode one of “The Walking Dead” hits almost all of the marks. If AMC can continue to deliver a solid product, the gamble they made by producing TV's first prime time zombie feature should pay off by the end of the season.
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