When I heard that AMC was going to produce a television series based on the zombie epic "The Walking Dead," I was both concerned and delighted. A bona fide classic in undead lore, "The Walking Dead" graphic novels are brutal and surprising--not really what I would picture for a basic cable TV show (the first season is slated for 6 episodes, we'll see if it goes beyond that). But AMC has produced terrific and prestigious shows like "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad," so I'm pretty stoked to see what they do with this. Add Frank Darabont of "Shawshank Redemption" fame as the creative force behind the show, and we just might have a winner! In anticipation, I've gone back through the volumes of "The Walking Dead" to discover again the many pleasures that this series has to offer. This book contains the following two chapters.
"Chapter Nine: Here We Remain" deals with the aftermath of the fateful prison massacre. It is a decidedly more subdued event as Rick and Carl regroup. There are some genuinely creepy moments as Rick adjusts to his personal losses. But more than anything, he seems to have lost his identity. Rediscovering some of the other survivors, Rick no longer wants to hold a position of authority--he can't deal with the responsibility any longer. A major highlight of this episode involves Rick and Michonne's growing closeness as we finally crack some of her mysterious allure. A necessary chapter of respite, but when new characters show up at the end--I'm not really crazy about the new direction. Spinning a rather ridiculous tall tale about traveling to Washington DC, the new group containing a self-proclaimed "scientist," easily enlist the crew to go with them. A little far fetched considering the circumstances. One of my least favorite for this reason.
"Chapter Ten: What We Become" chronicles the caravan on the initial stages of the journey to Washington DC. While I'm not crazy about the new characters leading this expedition, Abraham does provide an alpha male challenge to Rick. Highlights of this chapter include an eerie dream sequence, a moment of weakness for Maggie, and an act of brutality that bind Rick, Carl and Abraham in a discussion about the animalistic nature of this new world. But perhaps the scariest thing in the series thus far is the "herd" of zombies that is introduced proving, once again, that the calm is always followed by the storm in "The Walking Dead." The sequence leaves our heroes on the run once more. Good, but not great--since the loss at the prison, the group still has some rebounding to do.