Blog Archives
Walking Dead: Differences Between the TV Show and the Comic Book Part 2
Previously, I wrote about some of the differences between The Walking Dead TV show and the comic book it is based on. I covered everything up through the mid-season finale of the third season. Now that the season is over (and has ended with a whimper) I will look at all of the storylines the show dropped from the comic book series.
Spoilers for the early issues of the comic book follow. It is possible some of these story lines could be repurposed for the fourth season of the show, but even if they do they will probably be unrecognizable given all the changes the show has made to the source material so far.
Walking Dead: Season 3, Episode 16 “Welcome to the Tombs”
The season three finale of The Walking Dead was unbelievably anti-climactic. The show stretched three hours worth of plot into 16 hours of TV all building up to a showdown between the group in the prison and the citizens of Woodbury. And then when it finally came to pass, it was a complete non-event. The battle scene from the mid-season premiere (which was obscured by smoke most of the time) was far more impressive.
This episode needed to deliver the goods in order to redeem a season that spent most of its screen time running in pace. It should have given us a hail of bullets, a griping final showdown and a cathartic takedown of the season’s villain. Instead, it gave us an hour of head-scratchers that seemed completely disconnected from the 15 hours that lead up to it. Read the rest of this entry
How I Became A Movie Zombie…
Acting is so often a very random experience. While there are companies and people who you definitely think you will work with again, some opportunities appear to pop up out of nowhere. Such was the case with my most recent foray into grownup pretending.
Walking Dead: Season 3, Episode 15 “This Sorrowful Life”
Merle’s a tricky character. He made a memorable first impression during one episode in the show’s first season. He was a violent racist with no apparent redeeming values. After that one episode, Merle remained offscreen for the rest of the first season and most of the second. His one appearance was as a figment of his brother’s imagination. So fans were understandably excited when Merle returned to the spotlight in season three.
Since Merle’s return, he’s been difficult to pin down. He’s still an unrepentent racist. He has committed unsavory acts including torturing Glenn and handing Maggie over to the Governor. He also gave killing Michonne a pretty good try. And yet, the Merle of season three seems like a different character. He’s much more sympathetic and often charming. He does bad things, but gosh darn it he’s just misunderstood.
Walking Dead: Season 3, Episode 13 “Arrow on the Doorpost”
The Walking Dead finally brought us the long-awaited one-on-one showdown between Rick and the Governor. If you were expecting an explosive confrontation, well, that didn’t happen. Instead, the show served up a heaping helping of filler. But as Walking Dead filler goes, it wasn’t half bad.
Walking Dead: Season 3, Episode 12 “Clear”
Last episode focused primarily on Andrea – the worst character on the show. This episode of The Walking Dead can only be an improvement. While this episode didn’t do much to advance the season’s plot, it did play to the show’s strengths. It wasn’t great, but it was as good as The Walking Dead gets.
Walking Dead: Season 3, Episode 11 “I Ain’t A Judas”
After watching Seth MacFarlane’s lame Oscar opening, I found myself looking forward to The Walking Dead like never before. It may not make a lot of sense, but at least William Shatner isn’t going to show up for 20 minutes of brain-dead banter in his Captain Kirk costume. MacFarlane died on stage and no one had the decency to put him down for good. Thank god for the mindless zombie soap opera that is The Walking Dead!
Walking Dead: Season 3, Episode 10 “Home”
Last week’s episode was pure silliness. All of the characters were forced to make horrible decisions in order to set up conflicts for the second half of the season. This week’s episode wasn’t any better written. But it benefits from being comparatively less ridiculous.
Walking Dead: Season 3, Episode 9 “The Suicide King”
The Walking Dead came back from its winter break and apparently no one got what they wanted for Christmas. Because they were all cranky! Everyone fought whether they had a reason to or not. Because drama. Lots and lots of faux drama. I’ll cover the whole ugly mess after the jump
