Walking Dead Finale and Season 1 Review
TS-19
The finale of the Walking Dead makes it very clear what Darabont rightly believes to be the core thrust of the show. Humans are defined by their decisions and by their actions, regardless of circumstance. The human ability to make decisions is what separates us from animals or the walking dead. The show is not about the plot, or how Zombies exist, nor about how closely it will follow the comics. The show is about people, and what makes them who they are.
Last episode, the doors of the CDC had just opened. Inside the CDC, a lone doctor named Jenner informs them there is no cure and, as far as he knows, no real society or civilization left in the world. Despite this awful news, the group is at least safe inside the CDC, and so they enjoy the luxuries of food, showers, and most especially wine.
Some have said that the writer’s decision to have the characters drink alcohol weaken these scenes’s impact; the characters are not truly acting like themselves. Firstly, I don’t think that matters as the characters are speaking honestly and not in a drunken rage. Secondly, alcohol is simply a side effect of being safe for the first time in a long time. It is the sudden reprieve from survival and death that allows the characters the luxury to be emotionally vulnerable. This is especially the case for Shane and Rick.
Shane has had a rough apocalypse; Lori thinks Shane lied about Rick’s death and so he has essentially lost his newly acquired family. Shane, always the pragmatist, hasn’t confronted Lori too openly while they have been in danger. Enclosed in a safe shelter, Shane finally has the ability to let out everything that has been eating away at him for weeks now. Shane’s main point is one that the audience can probably agree with; Lori has ignored the context they are in when evaluating Shane’s decisions, and has completely shut Shane out from their Lori and Carl’s life despite the fact that he has done nothing but love them and keep them safe.
Shane earns our sympathy because of the excellent opening to the episode. As Shane goes to the hospital to save Rick, he witnesses the army gruesomely murdering innocent people. Despite the growing chaos as Zombies flood the hospital as well, Shane fights his way to Rick’s room. During the fire fight, Rick’s machines were unplugged without Shane noticing. Shane has no idea how to operate any of hospital equipment, and it looks as though Rick is dead. There is little blame to be given to Shane, who misdiagnosis Rick as dead because he cannot hear Rick’s heartbeat over the screaming and gunfire.
Shane is a man who saw awful things, risked his life for his friend, failed to save him, and then kept Rick’s family safe by making them his own. Now he has lost everything all over again. So overwhelmed and desperate for any sort of personal connection, he is almost driven to rape Lori.
Rick’s breakdown is far simpler, but arguably more meaningful. Rick feels comfortable to set aside his hero façade in front of Jenner. Jenner is not one of Rick’s flock and Rick is desperate to speak his mind. Rick tells Jenner that he understands that they are all likely to die, and there is nothing to do about it. Rick, like Andrea, understands there is no new world out there. There is only the world of the dead.
In a slightly overlong scene, Jenner shows what happens to the human brain when it becomes a Zombie. As he shows the flickering blue synapse of a human brain, he explains that what they are seeing is actually human memories, emotions and thoughts; the flickering synapse are what make humans who they are. Those synapse stop when you die, and as you resurrect as a zombie, the synapse in the brain steam begin to flicker red. The brains stem is working, but nothing else – only the raw animal instincts. While coldly (pseudo)scientific, this scene’s purpose is rather poetic; living, breathing, and basic instinct are not who we are.
Jenner then suddenly reveals that the CDC is losing power, and it will self-destruct as a safety measure. He locks the group inside out of perceived compassion, as a quick death is better than that of the cruelty of the outside world. As death seems imminent, everyone in the group regress back to primal instincts. Mothers hold their children: men futilely try to break through an indestructible door: Shane resorts to trying to murder Jenner out of rage. Rick convinces Jenner to open the doors by explaining to him that the most important thing is that they make their own decision whether they die in the CDC or die outside. Actions and decisions define us, no matter how right or wrong they are.
That is the core of The Walking Dead. It is the struggle between keeping one’s humanity in a world that breaks humans down into animals. How do we hold onto our morals and beliefs in a world where the instinct to survive overwhelms us? It’s not about what decision is made – some of the group stays behind to die – it is simply about making a decision from your own heart and mind. Jim decided to die alone. Andrea decided to let her sister turn into a zombie. Rick decides that he rather live with his family out in the awful world than die at that moment in the CDC.
It is too bad that the episode is wildly uneven; these insightful themes aren’t as effective as they should be. Most of the issue is merely in pacing, and sloppy plotting near the end. This episode would have been best served over the course of 2 hours instead of 1. There is not enough of slow burn to warrant all the emotional breakdowns midway in the episode. As soon as the audience gets accustomed to the CDC, it is ready to blow up – a plot point that takes up a good 10 minutes. Also, Jenner’s sudden reveal of the CDC’s clock is confusing to say the least. It explodes in 1 hour? It’s a good thing they woke up early.
I am not one to nitpick effects or budget. Babylon 5 and Whedon’s Buffy and Angel are some of the my favorite TV despite their modest productions. However, the entire finally is undone by a series of poorly direct and executed set pieces. Sophia having the grenade was a poor punch line to that set up, but not nearly as poor a punch line as the laughable explosion. It is made worse by the cliché action-movie-dive from Rick. Why not simply throw the grenade, and keep the camera on the group as they hide behind cover. Throw some glass and smoke at them for a simple effect. If you cannot do an effect correctly, hide it. Old movies did it all the time – the audience won’t care. The CDC explosion wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t hold on it for multiple shots, including the final one. During a montage set to wonderful music that shows all of our characters fighting for their life, or accepting death, it is a shame to undo it all with cheap production.
Season 1 Recap
I think Season 1 of The Walking Dead was about as good as we should have expected, even if it wasn’t quite as perfect as we wanted. Episodes 1 and 5 were easily the highlights. Episode 1 was poignant and poetic. Episode 5 was the best and most consistent in its handling of the character drama. No episode was bad, and the complete arc and purpose of the season was a success; it has established the world, the main themes, and the characters of the show.
I think the writer’s shake up – or firing depending on which PR team you listen to – is going to be the best thing to happen to this show. The Walking Dead is not plot driven, nor should it be. When that is the case, tone and consistency is the most important thing. From what I can tell, Darabont is very interested in making The Walking Dead his show. This isn’t the case of a director doing the pilot, and executive producing from afar, like Spielberg does often, or Scorsese with Boardwalk Empire. These changes seem to give Darabont a hand in every aspect of the show. That sort of control is how a show maintains a coherent tone. Assuming his decisions are the right ones, this bodes very well for Season 2.
Anyways, it has been fun. A serious drama based around Zombies is a treat for genre fans. Season 1 was a good start. Let’s hope Season 2 is even better. With it being such a ratings success, Darabont should get the budget he needs, and the control he wants.
Random Thoughts
- The shot of Daryl still hitting the door, after being told it could withstand a rocket, with an ax was hilarious.
- It is pretty ballsy to have the finale contain so few zombies. Outside of the initial flashback with Shane, we don’t see any till the very end.
- That said we got an awesome decapitation.
- The scene between Andrea and Dale was lovely. Dale is probably the best character of the show.
- Merle and Morgan, whats up?
bet’cha 5 five bucks jim comes back as a zombie, and merle comes back as a terminator.
I defended the show to some of my hardcore friends who read the graphic novels. i studied film and understand that sometimes you make sacrifices for the story to fit into the new medium. but at some point, i’m not sure when, i realized that these changes were also to improve the story (not that the original was bad, just needed some tweaks). i love that shane is still alive and that his character is so interesting. that really shows me the potential of where this story line could go. and i think it’s in very capable hands. it’s going to be a hard wait, sitting around until season 2 begins.
Surprised that you didn’t mention that Jenner whispered something to Rick i.e. _______________… I cant wait for that time bomb to go off because its obviously Shane’s
I think ricks Reaction to pulling the pin and dropping the grenade was priceless, and you don’t throw it at a window like a brick its a timed fuse it would bounce off; I think rick would think that through. Is it me or didn’t he grab that grenade last second in one of the episodes?
Love this show can’t wait for season 2
MATT’S EDIT: Sorry, just dont want you to spoil that part of the comic for those who havent read it.
“There is not enough of slow burn to warrant all the emotional breakdowns midway in the episode” This is what I think for a lot of the show. For 3-4 episodes, we were being introduced to characters who died a few episodes later without being really attached to them (Some include Jim, Jenner, the black chick who stayed behind with Jenner (I forgot her name haha), Andrea’s sister (see!? I don’t even remember their names), and even Ed. Instead of feeling really sad (or happy in Ed’s case), I don’t really feel much at all. But eh, might be because I’m a self-diagnosed psychopath <_<. Anyway, I didn't feel the episode was bad, but it definitely wasn't the greatest. I do look forward to Season 2 though (when's that starting?).
My god that comment looks like a parenthesis nightmare.
lol
hmm dunno, i don’t like how the series is developing…, too much huge technicalities that simply cannot “suspend my disebelief”, zombies i can take but:
a) military OVERRUN by slow-as-molasses zombies?, really?, really?, i’m not buying it…
worse is the hospital part in last episode where they show the “evil” militray killing innocents and then all the sudden they’re getting eaten by zombie surprise attack… rrrright….
b) abandoned tanks, dead tank crew inside?, again, WTH?, do you realize that with a lone tank they could wipe out all the zombies in the street in atlanta?, or now zombies spit acid like aliens and disable tanks?, this is very very dodgy, i don’t like it at all….
with the M1028 round it packs 1000 tungsten balls for antipersonnel, i’m pretty sure these would be issued for urban/zombie warfare, so how come we see hordes of zombies in Atlanta and not MOUNTAINS of dead zombies?
c) overran military positions outside CDC “ohh they got overruned” yet there’s what?, 20 scattered dead zombies and a pillbox with a M2 browning there(with a full box of ammo)…, again.. REALLY?
¿what military are we talking about?, ¿defeated irak military?, ¿inept teenagers?, extremely poor and dodgy there…. around a pillbox should be like hundreds, THOUSANDS of dead zombies, a single .50BMG Ball could obliterate several in line….
but no, we get a “cheap overrun”, not buying it…
d) Rick doesn’t even thinks of looting/operating the tank, he’s a policeman yet doesn’t even considers it…., why not try to use the tank rounds as an IED?, again, dodgy….
d2) they NEVER try to check military vehicles/sites for ammo and looting, like the aforementioned pillboxes, tanks, humvees, choppers….
e) “they’re attracted to sound”: sound suppressors in firearms…, small caliber rifles(.22LR has a pew-pew sound) but no, they don’t think about it….
i really hope this picks up in S2, i don’t like much to see all the useless drama that’s appearing between characters(hello, there are zombies out there, there are more important stuff to do than cheap sentimentalism).
Don’t know about you guys, but i found Zombieland(yeah, zombieland) much more “realistic” and practical than walkind dead, look at the rules in zombieland, they should be applying them here!, double tap!, travel in groups(so slow people become fodder), don’t have attachments(people without families will survive better), i mean.. it’s common sense!
Instead of Walking Dead this series is more about “Living Idiots” than killing hordes of zombies and be victorious… all in all, huge dissapointment
I can def. see what your saying but in a way this is what makes the walking dead the walking dead. It’s frustrating, there are so many things where you could say “Come on be a badass, drive the tank” or something like that but the truth is the show/comic is more so focused on the people. The fact that their minds have been so shattered by everything that they can’t even think “maybe I should use a gun then doesn’t attract a horde”. It’s more so a story about trying to find some form of happiness in a world that has gone down the sink hole. To me, the zombies in 3/4 of the plot are just a back drop.
yeah but for me it makes the walking dead into the living idiots, such group of people that waste so many time in nimieties and get into emo breakdowns in a zombiepolcalypse deserve to die or actually are the first one to die.
end up as zombie fodder first.
(like the blonde dork that help her sister until she zombified… no, bad, not practical, you need to whack her out ASAP, then burn her, and she deserves it for not being vigilant when going to the bathroom, screaming like a little girls and getting a chunk eaten out of her… TWICE).
i refer again to “zombieland”, even thought it’s a comedy, i find it portrayed the characters much more better, much more practical and the emo-bunches, old people and fatties
Dunno, don’t have very high hopes for s2 if it continues to be an emo drama as this and the backdrop is already very hare-brained
I just found this site. Love it. I am not schooled in the art of film making so will leave the critiquing there to the professionals. I will address the writing and the story though. I really wanted to like the Walking Dead. The premise is great and the cinematography was good enough for a TV production. With that said, this show was for the most part intellectually insulting. It could more readily be characterized as a lesson on everything you SHOULD NOT DO when trying to stay alive in a post-apocalyptic world of zombies. It was like every movie where the good guy gets the jump on the bad guy who has a gun, then leaves without taking the gun to go face the next group of bad guys. In the story, the population of the United States has been wiped out for the most part. Yet in a country with 100s of millions of firearms–most in civilian hands–these guys can’t find any. So we are to believe according to the story line guns and ammo are hard to come by and are a much sought after commodity. If that weren’t bad enough, they then stumble onto what was obviously some sort of last stand made by a military unit. There are assault rifles and ammo lying everywhere. What do are heroes do? They walk right on through scavenging none of the weapons lying all over the place. If that were not bad enough, the zombies wander the country side looking for live humans to eat. So where do our heroines decide is the safest place to hold up: in a tent encampment in some forest outside Atlanta. Did they not think they might just be better off and a bit safer if they put some sort of obstacle between them and the zombies–such as a building or a wall… just in the off chance of preventing the zombies from walking into their encampment while they sleep? No they did not… and the zombies did what zombies are prone to do and they wandered into their camp eating half of them. The story is so full of non sequiturs from beginning to end to the point it is just frustrating to watch. All I could think of the entire time is potential Darwin Award candidates are the only ones who survived. The bad southern accents of the two lead male characters didn’t help either. I hope the writers get smart really quick. I really want this series to succeed.
I just love the show. Yeah, it could have been done better, but there just isn’t another zombie/survivalist show out there that’s anywhere near as captivating.
The ending explosion was sub-par. The freddiew crew or CorridorDigital could have done better on the VFX.
my moment is when my mother and i went to disney
my moment is went i was it disney and i have a lot of fun and i have a lot of fun there and i wish i want to go back there…
I think you did a really good job reviewing each episode. I just wanted to say a few things…
First of all, I am a HUGE fan of the Boondock Saints movies, and Norman Reedus who played Murphy MacManus in the Boondock Saints series is my favorite actor. When I saw Norman Reedus playing Daryl Dixon I was like “THAT’S NORMAN F**KIN’ REEDUS!!! OH MY GAWD!!!”
And second, In the Call Of Duty: Black Ops zombies map “Call Of The Dead” You can play as Michael Rooker… While playing as him, if you shoot a zombie’s hand off there’s a chance of him saying “Brother… I know how it feels to lose a hand” or something like that… The first time I heard him say that my friends yelled at me for laughing so loudly…
Anyway, that’s all I have to say. I look forward to reading your review for season 2