With the recent release of The Walking Dead Season 1 DVD in effect, I thought it would be a good time to go over the series in general, what we’re to expect next season, and a few suggestions I’ll be making to improve the show altogether, at least for my expectations. Mind you, your good sergeant has yet to make his mark on the world of television writing, but there are a few weak points that can be identified (as there are in every show) where Walking Dead may look to improve upon its’ already great record…Speaking of the Undead, and the Underground, and therefore Monsters and The Undergrounds, make sure you stop by our shop and purchase The Undergrounds Season 1 Book here!

SPOILERS AHEAD, MAGGOTS!

To sum up season one, The Walking Dead took Rick, Shane, and many familiar — as well as new (to the graphic novel readers) — characters from the campground outside Atlanta into downtown, finally to a CDC building that was destroyed, in the end, by a scientist (Noah Emmerich) who had given up hope. Hope is not lost in Rick and his family, though where hope has gone, no one knows.

The season dealt with several deaths, some difficult (Amy), others just run-of-the-mill (nameless black woman who exploded with said scientist). As soon as the season ended, it was announced that creator Frank Darabont was ridding the production office of the writing staff, hoping to start fresh for season two. Currently, there’s Darabont, Charlie Adlard, Tony Moore, and Robert Kirkman (graphic novel writer) crafting the season arc and 13 episodes, with the intention of bringing in various freelance writers from time to time. The latest word on the street is that Stephen King and his son, Joe Hill, will be writing an episode either for season two or three, depending on where they might be able to fit the writing into their schedules.

All involved have been tight-lipped on where the show is going, but recently there have been some interviews promoting the first DVD set:

This tidbit was dropped by Kirkman at EW.com: “…we’re going to see Hershel’s farm. We’re looking to take some picturesque rural landscapes and playing with that and coming up with some cool zombie visuals.”

(So we can expect a lot of the drama to take place on the farm, perhaps by the end of the season finally get the death of Shane and even one or two as-yet-unseen characters, and maybe even the return of Merle Dixon in some capacity.)

At the recent C2E2 expo, Jon Bernthal and Laurie Holden spilled the following brains:

• •Shane gets a girl, and it won’t be Lori
• •The new season will begin shortly after the CDC building explosion at the end of season one.
• •Lori may be pregnant (not confirmed, but not ruled out)
• •Main characters will die, new characters will appear (maybe played by Charlie Sheen?)
• •The cause of the zombie outbreak will never be known, ever
• •The zombie outbreak is global

All of the above under consideration, I offer up the following for advice on how to improve the show, take it or leave it.

1. Less explosions. The comic didn’t deal in dynamite, so why should you? Because you’re trying to be the most graphically expensive show ever? Stay small, stay local, it’s what makes the story interesting.

2. Don’t linger on melodrama. Less grieving. Andrea was obviously close to her sister, Amy, but we didn’t know them long enough to justify a ten minute grieving period in one episode, followed by a lingering, drawn-out cry-kill session in the following episode. This is a death that would’ve been better suited for season 2. As someone pointed out to me after the show ended, they’ve been living like this for at least weeks, if not months. They should be hardened to the brutality by now. Maybe the arc of the show is to reveal the slow crawl of the characters towards numbness to humankind, but I’m not subscribing to AMC’s unique storytelling to see something I’ve seen on countless other shows.

3. Which leads me to Rick, the weakest point on the show. He keeps trying to lead, but can’t really make up his mind except to act foolishly. That’s just the push the people need, but if I were in that camp, I wouldn’t follow Rick. He hasn’t shown much leadership yet, he’s barely grown into it by the end of the season. He should’ve start at the top, then faltered and then have to prove himself again. Haven’t seen him on top  of that mountain yet, and frankly, he’s been boring all along. Shane or Dale should’ve curbed Rick’s self-righteous attitude early on, and given him something to fight back against other than “I owe it to him.” The world has moved on from simple payments owed and promises made. Shoulda-Woulda-Coulda, I suppose, but rectify in season 2 by making him a badass whose decisions will lead to undesired, but necessary, results.

4. Get a goal. Move from A to B; must get to XYZ or else the walkers will take us down. Don’t just start hoping to build that better life, aim to plant down and get building, almost rush through it all. Set up a “town” a season for now, then three can return to “on the road” mentality. On the road means short and sweet. Drag us down, we’ll cut you loose. Settling for the season will keep the action local and contained. Also, any conflicts shouldn’t be just mundane lovers’ quarrels but should extend to things like allowing strangers within the group, defining the group, and this helps define the goal and living situation for many months to come, before they must suddenly uproot with the brand new conflicts afoot.

Here’s hoping that “In Darabont We Trust” is not just a fad, and that Stephen King can re-invent himself yet again in the TV format.

You are Dismissed!

Sgt. Angle