The Walking Dead...a mini-review on the last episode

[shadowkat]

Just finished watching the Season finale of The Walking Dead, which amongst other things had an incredibly similar attempted rape scene to Buffy S6, Seeing Red, albeit far more realistic. I actually preferred this one to that one. And felt it made a lot more sense. The one in Seeing Red - is jarring, for several reasons - one it makes no logical sense whatsoever that he enters her bathroom. Her house yes, but her bathroom, while she's clearly about to take a bath?? Two she's almost too weak in the scene, considering she only fought a vamp in a graveyard, and fell into a gravestone - this is nothing. And third, it's filmed in stark blacks and whites, then cut in the middle for a commercial, if someone had been flipping channels they'd think they were watching a completely different show. The rest of the episode is photographed/filmed in campy low-production Buffy style, except for that scene. It's like reading a comic book and they switch artists for one panel, then flip back again. While in The Walking Dead - it makes sense that Shane is in the room with Lorie, that he would enter the rec room, and Lori is clearly weaker than he is, yet, still able to stop him - by scratching him and the fact that much like Spike, he doesn't really intend to rape her. That scene was filmed correctly and effectively. The other one - not so much.

Will give the Walking Dead points for being gripping tv. That hour flew by. I was riveted. Also, favorite characters are Andrea and the old man, Sal (?). Was quite worried about them in this episode. Also Lincoln is rather compelling as Rick Grimes, the lead protagonist. It's a good survivalist horror tale, even if it's a tad on the sexist end of the fence, but then so are the Buffy and Spike comics, so I barely noticed. Beginning to think Helen Mirren is right - the vast majority of entertainment, tv, film or comic book (okay less in the tv department perhaps) seems to be targeted to 18-25 year old boys and their penis. Which are oddly quite small at least according to Mirren, I wouldn't know haven't done any measuring. ( of the penis not the boys) .

Comments

meh

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

well I've now watched all of The Walking Dead, and on balance I don't think it was worth my time... even given that I haven't been doing much with my time. I have nothing against a depressing and violent story line (I loved 'Hunger Games') but I need wonderful layered interesting characters to be the pay off for all that darkness. BSG always delivered on those textured characters, but TWD? Not so much. At least for me. There are several characters I would have liked to gotten to know better, but not even one I felt that I knew well.
I imagine this is going to return at some point, but I'm not at all sure I care enough to watch any more of it.

Re: meh

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Sorry for that last comment. Not in the best of moods at the moment.

Re: meh

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

lol
you're entitled....
I'm in a pretty good mood in spite of the big storm we've been having (way below freezing with high winds, but luckily only a few inches of snow) because I'm warm and safe and I don't have to go anywhere today.

And I agree that the filming of WD was beautifully done... I would give more credit to the directors than the writers in this particular show.

Re: meh

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Just got back from apt hunting in the damp, dreary day - although not raining. Also once again engaged in debate with agent who liked a place that I really didn't and struggling to explain why. Although didn't have bad lunch at Thai place...

I've been in a meh mood for a while now - due in part to work, and part to bitter disappointment with certain things.


WD was overhyped. I don't know why the critics are so in love with it. (Alright mostly male critics). I'm guessing the cinematography. The direction and cinematopgraphy are quite brilliant - but then Frank Darbaont won or was nominated for an OSCAR for direction. The writer - I think - is the guy who
did the graphic novels (and comic book writers basically write male romance novels). That scene where Lincoln rides into Atlanta on a horse is quite marvelous. But unfortunately, you are correct, the characters and their inter-relationships are bordering on cliche survival/disaster movie set-ups. Let's see - we have the love triangle, the people who lost siblings (and why did it have to be the woman's sister who died and not the guy's brother, if they'd switched the genders that would have been more interesting), and the stereotypical gender and occupational roles. It plays a bit too closely to the pre-established tropes.

Ugh. Entertainment is disappointing me right now. Off to watch Horton Hears a Who and Meet Me in St. Louis...and maybe Alice by Tim Burton or Nikita.

Re: meh

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

I'm debating if I should take my trash out now (the wind is still gusting at 35 mph so I don't want my trashing flying down the street, but there is no way I'm taking it out later tonight when the temperature reaches -2F), maybe I can wait another week and assume it won't be so windy NEXT Sunday....?

And yeah, it is important to find entertainment to uplift the spirit. I just watched a Warehouse13 that was really a joy (with that cute actor who had played Harry Dresden), and tonight we have a new episode of Leverage! I wasn't that crazy about Glee's Christmas episode, but Sue made an amazing grinch, and Brittany was a wonderful Cindy Lou Who.
(I love my DVR)

Re: meh

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Agree on the Glee Xmas episode...it felt a bit, overdone. I did however like the Misfit Toys number they did, and the bit with Beist and Brittney. It's the Rachel/Finn scenes that I could live without.

Guess you can't take it out on Monday morning? Heard about the storm.
Hoping it doesn't come here. ;-)