The Walking Dead

[Steve]

I've gotta say, normally I'm not a big fan of prequels. It's like starting the beginning of a book when you've already read the last chapter. If I already know the end, do the details of the beginning really matter?

Sometimes they do. Yeah, I'm up for another round of Dead. It's marked on my calendar too. August 23rd. This YouTube is different than the opening trailer.




And the next season of the original Dead is already circled, October 11th.

[East]

[SIZE="7"]OMG!!!!! Get out the lube!

It's HERE!!!!!!![/SIZE]

[trywait]

6pm pst

[East]

OK....My impression of Fear The Walking Dead....

I knew already how hard it would be to have the comparison with a juggernaut hit like The Walking Dead...and I prepared myself for a letdown.....

...and I ended up thinking to myself how happy I am that they made a completely different show...with a completely different vibe...and by the end...I had forgotten any connection to TWD..except the commercials kept reminding me....

The kid who is a drug addict...GREAT ACTOR! Love him....

Both of his parents are decent and I like the character development...getting to know them is a great way to intensify the suspense later on....

The locale...PERFECT! ...and I LOVE that they chose East LA...smart choice! I have started equating LA with complete bullshit shows about nasty mealy mouthed no talent rich people I really wish I was never introduced to...so this was refreshing LOL

HEY! That gives me an idea...maybe the zombies can go over to Malibu and eat the Kardashians...and Caitlyn! ...and then snack on the Real Housewives of Orange County for dessert!!!!!

I do think it was slow...but well written and acted...and they did way more than enough to get me to tune in again...I want to know what happens....

[Steve]

When they released the trailer I had some small idea how the story would start. Well, at least I thought I did.

I love Frank Dillane (played Nick Carter...the son). He's another Brit who has the American accent down pat. His portrayal of the drug addled, failed son was pretty perfect. The "...what's viscera?" line cracked me up. Liked his look, liked how vulnerable he felt, loved how he phoned his dealer (realistic) when he couldn't cope, and that he folded into his dealer's embrace in the diner (probably good direction, but he still played it really well). Easy to relate to, easy to empathize with, realistically rendered character. There's a young Johnny Depp feeling about him. I want more. Hope they don't make him expendable too soon.

Did anyone else notice the opening scene and the set which was worthy enough to be in the original WD? It had an almost identical feel to the beginning of the original WD in that the main character wakes up midst chaos. The only difference was Rick waking up in a fairly neat hospital room, whereas Nick woke up in a set worthy of a season 6 WD. It's only as the scene unravels and you see the long shot of a normal day in LA that the audience understands the timeline. I thought it was a nice nod to the original series.

Yeah, me too East. I kept thinking the story was moving like molasses in January. Then I remembered that they couldn't very well move the story too fast. If the "apocalypse" happened all at once in the opener, you'd be reduced to another series like the original way too fast. The story had to move a little slow, even if the family drama seemed to drag on too long.

What I missed, and their needed to be more of, was blasé disbelief (and in LA I don't remember many people believing in much of anything someone tells them, or even stuff they see). I know southern Cali people are inured to seeing drama and gore daily, and I liked the nod to kids watching that stuff on their smart phones almost taking it for granted ("...and there's the kill shot"). But I would have liked to feel more of the complete "WTF is going on" vibe. Nick (the son) had it best with lines like "...if that was really coming out of my head then I must be insane. And I don't want to be insane." The delivery, such a heartfelt helpless plea, was excellent. His expression left me feeling uneasy, and I knew what-the-f*ck was happening. More of that vibe would have helped.

This is a small bitch of mine: I always hate it when television/movies cast 22 year old actors -Alycia Debnam Carey- as high school students. She plays the part well though and is also good at masking her Australian accent. The relationship written between her character and her brother's is nicely complex.

I enjoyed the broken family dynamic. The self made family vibe blended with the LA I remember very well. Also it starts the series with a sort of built in "family of strangers" kind of mentality that the original show had to develop over the first and second seasons.

There's something inherently likable about the substitute father Cliff Curtis, played by Travis Manawa. He's a tad too idealized as the perfect teacher in one of the shittiest areas for schools in the country, but I like watching him. He hides his New Zealand accent well. With all the foreign born actors it must feel like The Walking Dead International on set.

Madison Clark, the actress playing Kim Dickens, embattled divorcee and mother to drug addict Nick, feels completely idealized as a school counselor. The school scene were she intercepts and covers for the student bringing a knife to school felt unrealistic and didn't do her character much justice. We were supposed to empathize with her character at that moment, and instead the whole thing felt like a forced way to introduce the student who was apparently terrified of an impending zombie apocalypse that no one else knew about. I gagged a little where writers actually thought an LA high school counselor would reassure a student with a lame line "that the authorities (or did she say police?) would tell people if something like that was really happening." Nuh-uh. Didn't buy it. Like kids trust authority (esp. cops) in LA? Most of the adults I knew didn't trust LA cops. Although I did like the student Tobias (Lincoln A. Castellanos). With pockmarked makeup and costumed in poor neighborhood east LA wear, he did a good job playing the part of a marginalized, scared to death student. Looks like he's in at least one more episode this season.

Lorenzo Henrie (another 22 yead old "kid") as the divorced dad's son Chris Manawa, is pretty good from the little I've seen of him in this debut. There will be more of him in upcoming episodes.

I do wonder how much flack FWD is going to take for writing in a black drug dealer. Sure it happens IRL, but to write it into a script seems like inviting PC criticism. I can hear people screaming, "Stereotype! Stereotype!" now.

This first run of FWD is only 6 episodes long. That's typical with most new series... backers don't want to spend money on a full season not knowing if it'll hit or flop. Also I think producers didn't want to have FWD compete with WD. Too much of same subject might have done more harm than good to both series. AMC did commit to two seasons though. The second extended season will air next year (probably right after the original WD season 6 finishes).

I liked it and want to see where it goes next. I'll be watching more of FWD. Still, I can't wait for WD Oct. 11th.

[Emiliano]

I watched it last night too and overall I'm feeling positive about and agree with what others have already posted.

It was slow, and I was watching it late. I did have a moment in the middle where I almost forgot what I was watching. But again, they have to set the stage as a regular day in the world.

My biggest thing was how casual they were about the sons addiction. If I had a kid that was addicted to heroin I feel like I'd be so much more harsh and on his ass about it. But then again, I've never had a kid with a heroin addiction so maybe the mom is further along in the acceptance of her son than I am with my hypothetical heroin addicted son. :/ I did like how at one point she was fed up and said she almost doesn't care if he came home or not. I guess I like realism in my zombie shows.

I do like how it's like viral video that gets out about the zombies and that's how word spreads. I can see how it would start slow and then quickly escalate, and there's a terror in the unknown with that.

I'm excited for the next episode. Like I said before, I'm more interested in watching society collapse than the aftermath of the apocalypse when everyone is a zombie hunting badass. It's just scarier to me. I did go to bed last night feeling creeped out. I am easily scared by paranormal stuff, but with the Walking a Dead I can look out my window when I scared to remind myself I'm not in the zombie apocalypse... With this show seeing the lights of the city and hearing people on the street doesn't reassure as much.

My NYC-centric mind also wishes it was set here instead of LA, but I'm sure I'll learn to get over that. I just think it'd be a great setting because of the density - how quick it's all go to hell, and the scenes of bridges, tunnels, subway trains, slow walking zombies getting pushed out of the way on crowded sidewalks....

But yeah, nothing about it has made me lose interest yet.

[CellarDweller]

I can only say I loved the show.....I spent a few times feeling creeped out, waiting for the attack.

[Steve]

I can only say I loved the show.....I spent a few times feeling creeped out, waiting for the attack.

Me too, me too. Especially that one time in the school where the mother is trying to get the principal's attention and she calls his name out about four times before he finally turns around and you realize he just eavesdropping in on class rooms for teachers evaluations. I kept thinking, that man's gonna turn around and have white film on his eyes and start spitting hiss.

[East]

My biggest thing was how casual they were about the sons addiction. If I had a kid that was addicted to heroin I feel like I'd be so much more harsh and on his ass about it. But then again, I've never had a kid with a heroin addiction so maybe the mom is further along in the acceptance of her son than I am with my hypothetical heroin addicted son. :/ I did like how at one point she was fed up and said she almost doesn't care if he came home or not. I guess I like realism in my zombie shows.

I agree with everything you wrote..but I wanted to add something ....

I though the same thing initially and I was annoyed...until she said she "needed" to see where he was sleeping. I thought it showed her strength which will help me believe she is the badass that they have promised...only someone really tough emotionally would be able to do that...and it will help me understand her better...

Same with the line about being happy he wasn't home...just waiting for the phone call and the relief. Again..she obviously loves him...but heroin...it becomes the only thing the addict loves and it is very hard to watch and deal with...so as a mother...it showed an honesty and tired resilience that is also a good ingredient for a badass...

I hate bad character development LOL..and that is why American Horror Story pisses me off every season...so these little insights help me believe that she is the kind of woman who could survive a zombie apocalypse. Most people are gonna bite the big one...so it is interesting to see the dynamics of the people who are gonna survive. I hope they continue to to unfold more of the same...

I thought it was also interesting ..the conversation the father had with his son who didn't want to visit....and now he relented in the end. It shows me that he could handle stress well LOL...and that will be an important asset later on....

[East]

When they released the trailer I had some small idea how the story would start. Well, at least I thought I did.

I love Frank Dillane (played Nick Carter...the son). He's another Brit who has the American accent down pat. His portrayal of the drug addled, failed son was pretty perfect. The "...what's viscera?" line cracked me up. Liked his look, liked how vulnerable he felt, loved how he phoned his dealer (realistic) when he couldn't cope, and that he folded into his dealer's embrace in the diner (probably good direction, but he still played it really well). Easy to relate to, easy to empathize with, realistically rendered character. There's a young Johnny Depp feeling about him. I want more. Hope they don't make him expendable too soon.

THANK YOU STEVE!!!! YES!!!! Johnny Depp! I was trying to think of who he reminded me of...and now I remember..Johnny Depp from his Gilbert Grape era...similar vibe ..and they could be brothers....

He is a wicked good actor...and I had no idea he was British...

Did anyone else notice the opening scene and the set which was worthy enough to be in the original WD? It had an almost identical feel to the beginning of the original WD in that the main character wakes up midst chaos.

Didn't think of this til you pointed it out..but yeah...it was a great opening ...and seeing inside the building was a fascinating trip...they chose the building well....

What I missed, and their needed to be more of, was blasé disbelief (and in LA I don't remember many people believing in much of anything someone tells them, or even stuff they see). I know southern Cali people are inured to seeing drama and gore daily, and I liked the nod to kids watching that stuff on their smart phones almost taking it for granted ("...and there's the kill shot"). But I would have liked to feel more of the complete "WTF is going on" vibe. Nick (the son) had it best with lines like "...if that was really coming out of my head then I must be insane. And I don't want to be insane." The delivery, such a heartfelt helpless plea, was excellent. His expression left me feeling uneasy, and I knew what-the-f*ck was happening. More of that vibe would have helped.

Over the years...one thing I have noticed about alot of LA peeps...they are often "bored" by everything...so I kinda chuckled a bit and wondered if the writers intended to portray that or if it was an accident .

We have our own version of the "bored" Silicon Valley person too...the ones who don't have the latest tech advance or app in their hands...so it would be funny if it unfolded here on MySpace or something ...no on would even notice...

I enjoyed the broken family dynamic. The self made family vibe blended with the LA I remember very well. Also it starts the series with a sort of built in "family of strangers" kind of mentality that the original show had to develop over the first and second seasons.

Yeah...I thought the family dynamic was perfect...and except for the son..I didnt' pay attention enough to the other younger cast but I thought they were all decent enough....but the drug dealer thing....

What I noticed was instead of doing the usual gang stereotype...they went the nice boy next door route...and even though I could see that his skin was black..he reminded me of a white drug dealer from the burbs due to his attitude....or maybe that is an LA thing?.....I was even thinking initially he was gay....