Sunday, December 21, 2014

The Walking Dead Season 1





Rick Grimes is a police officer who is shot on duty. He wakes up from a coma and finds himself in the zombie apocalypse. The world has completely changed. Finding himself all alone in the hospital, and it seems the world, Rick begins the search for his family. He travels to Atlanta trying to find them. He must quickly adapt to this post apocalypse world if he hopes to survive.

The television show The Walking Dead is loosely based off the graphic novel series of the same name. The first season mainly corresponds to the first volume: Days Gone Bye and part of the second volume: Miles Behind Us of the graphic novel series. The show uses characters, plot lines, and the driving idea behind the series to create a show that fans of the series will appreciate, while making it work well as a television series.

The author of the graphic novels Robert Kirkman wanted to create a series that examined what would happen to people who found themselves in the zombie apocalypse. How would they behave? How would they live? How would they change from the person they used to be? Personally, I think the show does a better job with the gradual personality changes that a person would experience in this situation. We get to watch as each decision takes a toll on the characters, and how that changes who they are. I also like that the show added some new characters. It created a little more balance, and allows for some creativity in the show.

This is a series that I actually like the show better than the books. I like the idea behind the graphic novels, but do not always care for the execution. I think the show portrays the characters in a more believable way, and is more balanced in the way characters, specifically women, react in the zombie apocalypse. I mainly continue reading the graphic novels because I find it intriguing to see how the author shows certain events and how they might differ in the show. And I really like the idea Kirkman had to try to show how people would react in this scenario.

I think this show is an incredible adaptation of the graphic novel series. It stays true to the main ideas, but does not adhere so closely to the books that it would not work on television. I think this is an important balance that does not always happen in film adaptations. The acting from the main characters also adds a lot to the pleasure of watching this show. It feels believable which is essential in this type of show. You quickly become invested in the characters, which is dangerous, as you never know who will be the next to die.

If you are a fan of the graphic novel series or zombies, I highly recommend watching this show.

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