The Walking Dead

[number8]

How they are able to get away with the gore, I'm not sure.

They talked about that at the NYCC panel. Apparently AMC does not give a fuck. Darabont and producer Gale Ann Hurdt could not stop singing the praises of the network the entire time. Darabont actually prepared two cuts of the film, figuring that the gorier version would be released as an Unrated DVD. Then he showed it to AMC's Broadcast Standards and they saw the gore and just went, "That looks really cool."

[[ETM]]

Jesus Christ, the atmosphere... wow. My gut is still tied into a knot.
Although, I don't know if I'm gonna enjoy this fully. I can't help it, all the gore and dead people, and all I think about is [

Show Spoiler

the damn horse.

]

I'm doing it wrong.

[Dukefrukem]

Just watched it... yeh it's totally badass.

[Henry Gale]

They talked about that at the NYCC panel. Apparently AMC does not give a fuck. Darabont and producer Gale Ann Hurdt could not stop singing the praises of the network the entire time. Darabont actually prepared two cuts of the film, figuring that the gorier version would be released as an Unrated DVD. Then he showed it to AMC's Broadcast Standards and they saw the gore and just went, "That looks really cool."

That's awesome. I mean, Breaking Bad has its big moments of violence and visible blood afterwards, but I'm never sure if it's because it's always unexpected and that much more shocking due to how relatively calm the action of the story tends to be around it. Here though, it's absolutely R-rated zombie horror violence, just in TV format.

[MadMan]

I've only read some of the comics, but that's enough for me to get started. I'll be trying to watch the first episode on Halloween night. The previews for this keep getting me pumped up.

[RoadtoPerdition]

It is time. If any non-HBO channel can do a zombie TV series right, AMC can.

[megladon8]

That was fantastic.

[EyesWideOpen]

That was fantastic.

Agreed.

[megladon8]

Agreed.

The zombie he went back to kill - the one that was cut in half and dragged itself across the grass.

Some of the best zombie effects I have ever seen.

And I really, really like all the actors involved so far.

Rick is likable and realistically charismatic. He seems believable as someone who is trustworthy and noble, but still very much a real, normal person.

Very impressed so far.


EDIT: I also loved the conversation at the beginning about "the difference between men and women".

[EyesWideOpen]

The only problem I had was [

Show Spoiler

the kissing between Lori and Shane (this implies some sort of romantic feelings Lori has for Shane when in the comics she sleeps with him once when she's feeling her lowest and alone) which doesn't happen in the comics but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they'll make it work.

]

[Ezee E]

The already mentioned moment in the park with the half-zombie was excellent. Otherwise, just what you'd expect for a zombie show. Nothing to get me too excited about yet, but enough to at least keep my attention for another week.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Great start. Love the show's slow rhythm, which allows Darabont and company to recapture some of the awe and despair that would come from such a scenario (something most ADD-suffering zombie pictures have no interest in), and McCreary's score haunted me during the lady-in-the-park scene.

[Sxottlan]

Nice start. Not much of a zombie fan, but I'm intrigued as to how they'll pull this off on television.

McCreary's score haunted me during the lady-in-the-park scene.

Definitely. And the cross-cutting with the father trying to pick off his wife.

[[ETM]]

The leaked screener had either a bad audio mix or the music wasn't done, because it was inaudible most of the time. I'm looking forward to seeing this properly today.

[[ETM]]

Great start. Love the show's slow rhythm, which allows Darabont and company to recapture some of the awe and despair that would come from such a scenario (something most ADD-suffering zombie pictures have no interest in)

The early reviews for the following episode(s) indicate that, at least in the immediate future, the pace picks up and that the pilot was perhaps an anomaly in that regard. The second episode in particular is insanely fast.

[Ezee E]

The early reviews for the following episode(s) indicate that, at least in the immediate future, the pace picks up and that the pilot was perhaps an anomaly in that regard. The second episode in particular is insanely fast.

Nonetheless, this proves that Darabont needs to be directing more stuff. A day later and it's resonating very well even if its following the cliche story of a zombie holocaust. The emotion behind it is better then most.

[[ETM]]

Fully agreed.

[Ezee E]

Only six episodes for this first season.

Well, hopefully the ratings turn out well. I'm sure they will be great for the first episode.

[Dukefrukem]

Great start. Love the show's slow rhythm, which allows Darabont and company to recapture some of the awe and despair that would come from such a scenario (something most ADD-suffering zombie pictures have no interest in), and McCreary's score haunted me during the lady-in-the-park scene.

I agree. I was especially worried about the pacing of the TV series versus the comic.

Read below only if you've read the comic;

[

Show Spoiler

I don't want Rick to lose his hand any time soon.

]

[megladon8]

The only problem I had was [

Show Spoiler

the kissing between Lori and Shane (this implies some sort of romantic feelings Lori has for Shane when in the comics she sleeps with him once when she's feeling her lowest and alone) which doesn't happen in the comics but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they'll make it work.

]

Eh, I really don't give a crap how closely it follows the comic.

As long as it's a good show, that's what matters.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

Ratings for this were huuuuuuge:

AMC's The Walking Dead premiere ratings are enormous: The 90-minute Halloween night debut delivered 5.3 million viewers and a 3.3 adults 18-49 rating.

That's the largest demo audience for any series premiere on any cable network this year.

It's also the highest numbers for any series in AMC's history, and beat most non-sports programs on broadcast Sunday night.

As a point of comparison for the 5.3 number, Mad Men's recent finale drew 2.44 mil.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blo...-ratings-34098

[Henry Gale]

Another article even said that with the immediate encore show of it, the ratings came up to something like 8.1 million viewers total.

Even if it halves itself next week, it's still the highest rated thing on AMC, and maybe even most cable shows. I say most because these are basically True Blood numbers, but even that show didn't even start out with even a third of what it has now.

Very impressive.

[MadMan]

Last night's episode was really quite good. I knew that the show was going to be gory, but they really didn't skimp on the heads exploding whenever the zombies got shot. And of course the scene with the half-eaten woman zombie was really well done. I loved how the episode, ended, too. [

Show Spoiler

Hey dumbass. Yes you, in the tank. Rick's reaction was priceless.

]
The subplot with the guy and his son is something I hope they go back to at some point, as I liked that one a lot.

[Ezee E]

The subplot with the guy and his son is something I hope they go back to at some point, as I liked that one a lot.

Not sure what else they can do with it, but yeah, I liked the actors in that role.

[[ETM]]

Even if it halves itself next week, it's still the highest rated thing on AMC, and maybe even most cable shows.

It had more viewers in the 18-49 demo than the Mad Men finale had total.