The worst The Walking Dead season yet

So, the first half of The Walking Dead's sixth season is over, and the show is going into hiatus. I'm feeling pretty comfortable saying that this was the worst season yet, and this is not a particularily high bar to crawl under, mind you. When the whole show grind to a halt in season 2 because of all the talking, talking, talking, they could at least point to budgetary problems as the source. But that is no excuse now, and the levels of stupid that this show has reached are incredible. Not even that, it has committed the worst sin of a show of its calibre: it's simply boring. 

The Walking Dead Season 2 (Telltale Game) - All that remains review

Finally, the good The Walking Dead gets its much anticipated additional installement! After season 1, which I reviewed here, the first episode of season two is now out. For those of you unfamiliar with the titles, Telltale Games produces these in the unusual series format, releasing the "episodes" one by one. Each episode plays about two to three hours, for a total price of around 25€, which is pretty fair. The gameplay is almost non-existent apart from walking around, clicking stuff and hitting buttons very fast when the game tells you to, amounting to a largely story and character driven game. It worked well in season one, presenting plot choices that actually felt meaningful, delivering good voice acting on engaging character interactions. The question is - does Telltale manage to pull the same stunt twice?

The Walking Dead Season 4 Midseason Finale review

There were some reviewers falling over with joy and excitement over the Midseason Finale of The Walking Dead (the show returns in February): finally, the show was great again! The Mary Sue even dubbed the episode "The Red Wedding of Walking Dead". This is true in a sense - there certainly was a shock value to it, and we lost at least one character that was in a spot of sympathy - but the comparison (and the episode) still fall short. That doesn't mean it's bad. It's the show at its best. But the flaws that plagued the previous season and much of this one persist.

Andrea 2.0

The Walking Dead Season 4 review, Episodes 6-7

Wow, that was fast. I already said in my last review that the return of the Governor bodes ill. And it does, but not for the characters. It's the show that immediately suffers. To get it out of the way, that's not Morrissey's fault. He does the best with the material he's given as the Governor. It's just that it's written so badly. The writing, to return my full circle together with the show, is why I review only two episodes this time. Both of them revolve around the Governor and a new set of bland secondary characters I give a shit about, and they manage to be completely meaningless by making the aforementioned full circle.

Is it a hobo? Is it a governor? It is HOBO GOVERNOR!

The Walking Dead Season 4 review, episodes 1-5

Since the third season was such a major disappointment for me, I initally decided to forego the fourth season entirely and add it to the "series I stopped watching"-post, but my wife insisted on us watching, so I'm currently keeping up with it. I decided against the big recaps of season 3, however, since it didn't seemed meaty enough to me. So instead of recapping, I'd review them in thematic batches. For this post, I'll review "30 days without an accident", "Infected", "Isolation", "Indifference" and "Internment" (I notice a pattern in the titles). 

Destroyed fences are harbingers of doom.

The Walking Dead Season 3 Recap, Episode 16 "Welcome to the tombs"

And the finale for season 3 is over. Man, what a downer. Not because there won't be Walking Dead until fall this year, but because the episode really sucked. The writers seem to be fully in "making shit up as we go along"-mode now. The episode plays some bait-and-switch with us, implying that the gang has decided to leave the prison now, with them all packing up and good to go. Just for a second there I wondered whether they would really leave the prison. It would not be wholly unlogical; the place has become pretty insecure, and they don't even know where Walkers can come in anymore, not to speak of the wide open gate for attacks. But then I remembered the last episodes and thought it was to be a ruse, but I remained a shred of doubt throughout the episode that now can be considered clearly wiped out.

Loaded and ready to go.

The Walking Dead Season 3 Recap, Episode 15 "This sorrowful life"

If you didn't know what "suspension of disbelief" is, just watch the first twenty-some minutes of this episode. You will witness Rick, Daryl and Hershel in all earnesty deciding to hand Michonne over to the Governor, because hell, that guy seems trustworthy and the decision really makes sense, morally and intellectually. But once you grasp that all this is just a setup, forcing the characters in certain positions just to get Merle on the scene, you understand what the writers were going for, and Michael Rooker nails it in this episode, for sure. Too bad he dies at the end of it. Oops, spoiler. 

You'll be missed.

The Walking Dead Season 3 Recap, Episode 14 "Prey"

I wouldn't have thought it possible to care for Andrea. Would you? The latest episode, "Prey", manages to do exactly that: it's suspenseful and exciting as hell, despite the fact that it is a very Andrea-centered episode. Who would have believed? Until now, Woodbury-episodes always fell flat of the prison ones, but this one really has some genuine excitement in it, although the usual problems didn't just decide to go away. But let's tackle this one by one. 

Last week you sucked, this week you don't suck so badly. Way to go!

The Walking Dead Season 3 Recap, Episode 13 "The arrow in the doorpost"

I'm counting myself lucky. Two good episodes in a row. It was almost too much to hope for after the disaster that were some of the episodes after the hiatus. But really, I loved the idea of this episode. The Governor and Rick sit down to talk, and there's not really much going on besides that. The writers managed to make this showdown that's not really one real tense from the get-go. The episode starts with a cold opener, with Rick, Daryl and Hershel (of all people) securing an old warehouse with rusty silos. Suddenly, Rick walks into the Governor who's already here. Obviously, they are here to parley, but the viewers weren't aware, so the rolling titles come as some sort of relief. Neither is the Governor a Lori-esque vision of Rick's demented mind, nor will the threat end rather anti-climactic here. 

The Walking Dead Season 3 Recap, Episode 11 "I Ain't a Judas"

The recent episode is aptly titled. The Not-Judas in question is, of course, Andrea, and boy would I wish she would just get it over with. Seriously, "The Walking Dead" is treading season 2 territory, again. And boy, does that suck. It's like the writers changed Lori for Andrea and are now repeating all the same mistakes. There is way too much screen time sacrificed for Andrea delivering pretty stupid dialogue, and worse, the dialogue concerns stuff everyone except Andrea already knows. Gee, the Governor lies to Andrea about the prison? No shit. He did it only the whole fucking season. Grow a pair, lady! 

Whaaaaaaat? You evil looking guys are actually evil? Who would have thought?

The Walking Dead Season 3, Episode 10 "Dead Men Talking" Recap

After we left Rick cracking in the last episode, we continue a few hours or days later, it's never made clear. Rick scans the area with a pair of binoculars, with which he watches Michonne performing guard duty. It doesn't really become clear as to why she's up and running again since Rick was very adamant in the last episode about throwing her out, but here she is. I'd guess the best explanation is that they threw Tyreese out, and Michonne now falls in the "one black per group" quota again that the series has labored so hard to establish. We won't stay long with the the two, though, and there's not much going on: everybody avoids talking to Rick since he could do unpredictable stuff, and Michonne never was the chatty type. So we leave Rick to his quest for Lori's ghost (whom he chases around the prison, begging to be biter food) and go to Glenn.

Her purse says "Bad Motherfucker".

The Walking Dead, Season 3, Episode 9 "Suicide King" Recap

Hey, kids, the lovely zombies of the neighbourhood are back! The ball is picked up where it was left, with Daryl and Merle facing an angry mob stirred up by the governor. It is surprising that the situation is completely resolved in the teaser, though: after a marky statement about them fighting to the death, Joffrey style, Rick and the others sweep in and save the day. The credits roll, and we're back in Walking-Dead-land. Somehow, I wouldn't have expected such a quick escape from Woodbury for all of them, and it feels a bit rushed. 

The governor in his new badguy stance.

The Walking Dead, Season 3, Episode 8 "Made to suffer" Recap

Woah, that was a rollercoaster ride of a season! It started with something of a cold opener, introducing us to yet another group of survivors. For one moment I thought a reunion with the father and his son from the very first episode was coming for us, but after a few moments I have to sense the error of my ways. New characters, entering the prison. That's going to be interesting. We won't see them for a while, though, as the show carefully centers around the action we're waiting to resolve. 

Meet the new guy

The Walking Dead, Season 3, Episode 7 "When the Dead come knocking" Recap

Poor, poor Glenn. He just gets beaten the shit out of him, but to see the once so reckless runner stand through it so tough is worthy some cheers. We get a little remainder on just what a fucking, disgusting asshole Merle really is. A bully if there ever was one. But Glenn suffered through all of the beating, while Maggie, seperated only by a thin tin wall, heard everything that went on and was forced to use her imagination to paint a picture of what was happening exactly. That placement of hers surely wasn't accidental. 

Because nothing shows you're a nice guy more than threatening to cut noses off.

The Walking Dead, Season 3, Episode 6 "Hounded" Recap

Things are speeding up. After we got the new status quo set up in the previous episodes - Andrea in Woodbury, introducing us to the Governor, and the gang in the prison, minus some old and plus some new members - things are heading toward the inevitable confrontation between the group and the Governor. The focus of this episode was on Rick's state of mind, thankfully going back to normal, and on Michonne/Andrea. Since both storylines still are largely independent from each other, let's talk the prison first. 

There and back again

The Walking Dead Season 3, Episode 5 "Say the Word" Recap

Woah. They turned up the gore and violence, for sure. After the last episode, "Killer within", we just continue this way and see Terminator Rick dismember the zombies some more. But let's go through this step by step. The episode picked off just where we left the last time: Rick crushed on the floor in agony, Carl with a baby in his arms, Michonne and Andrea still at grips over whether to leave or to stay. The first reaction of the gang in the prison is one we can all relate to: after something so devestating, take your mind off it and do something useful. 

Not an option he enjoys.

The Walking Dead Season 3, Episode 2 "Sick" Recap

Episode 1 left us with a big cliffhanger after the emergency amputation of Hershel's leg. Episode 2 picks up exactly where the first one left and leaves Rick, Glenn, Daryl and Maggie at gunpoint with some inmates of the prison who clearly can't believe what they just saw. There's not much time for chit-chat, however, as Rick commands Hershel to be brought back immediately before he bleeds out. The inmates, of course, follow them. They are more afraid of the group than the group is of them. That's a clear sign how times have changed; in season 2, guys like these would have scared the shit out of Rick and the others. Now, they are more a nuisance. 

Can't really take them seriously.

The Walking Dead Season 3, Episode 4 "Killer Within" Recap

Woah, that was an episode tonight. I haven't seen such sadness since the fourth season of "Mad Men", and if you think that comparison is off, brace yourselfs for this episode, because "Killer within" really delivers on the promise in three ways and really is the motif of this episode. Unlike the previous two episodes, we get both character arcs this time around: the Andrea/Michonne/Merle/Governor-square and the gang in the prison. I'm not quite sure whether this works out so well, because the Woodbury-parts drag on and don't reveal anything new. Yeah, Merle wants to search Daryll, big surprose, who didn't see that one coming? Andrea still falls in love with every abusive nazi she happens to find, the Governor has a crush on her and Mishonne walks around, swaggering hips, looking badass and raising concerns without doing anything because she loves Andrea. It feels like we didn't really need these parts, but perhaps we get a payoff in episode 5. 

Honestly, Andrea, your taste in men sucks.

The Walking Dead Season 3, Episode 1 "Seed" Recap

The second season of "The Walking Dead" was not as good as the first one, that is a common sentiment. There's a lot of hatred out there for it, especially since the characters tend to do pretty stupid stuff all the time eating up a lot of the time, but I for one didn't regard it as such an utter failure as many others. But whoever wasn't happy with how things got in season 2 should be more than happy with the first episode of the newly launched season 3, in which the show throws in an entirely different gear. We meet the group after their flight from the herde in the last episode of season 2 still on the run, visibly more professional than before. They routinely kill off walkers and are tougher than ever, but also gaunt and haunted, weary and worn down. From their dialogue we learn that there is a seven-month-gap between season 2 and season 3, but other than that they survived the winter, we don't know much. 

Would you have imagined here doing something useful for a change? Welcome to season 3.

The Walking Dead Season 3, Episode 3 "Walk with me" Recap

After last week's episode showed us the fairing of the Ricktatorship in detail, this week's episode of The Walking Dead returns to Michonne and Andrea. Both were more or less only hinted at in the first episode "Seeds" and get a whole episode dedicated to their story. Oh, and the Governor appears, but we'll save that for later. The episode starts with a helicopter crash of some soldiers, and until Michonne and Andrea spot the smoke from the crash site it's not exactly clear whether it's a flashback or not. It's noteworthy that we still don't know what the story behind the two walkers Michonne's carrying on a chain is, nor who exactly she is and why she carries a samurai sword. Seems like many of that is left for later.

Chicks get dangerous when equipped with swords.