The Walking Dead, S2 so far
Here's my thoughts on the current season of The Walking Dead...
I've liked it, overall. At heart, I think the show is strongest when it's more than just Zombie Apocalypse. That's really just the backdrop for the greater, more interesting question: how do you change as a person when the world goes to shit? And in answering that question, in telling the very different human stories of people's reactions to that situation, is where the true heart of the story lies.
That being said, yes, being at the farm has slowed the story down somewhat. But I'm okay with it because we have gotten some characterization gems as a result.
Rick's arc, and how it picks up at the end of the season
Take, for example, Rick. Now, for the record, I do think Hershel is overly naive about the whole situation. He's sheltered, and the walkers aren't sick, they're dead. His decision to keep the walkers alive in the barn was a bad one, and one way or the other, they were going to have to be eliminated.
But Rick was able to recognize the importance of staying on the farm. It's a safe haven, one that he wants now more than ever since he knows Lori's pregnant. I'm okay with the knowledge of his wife's pregnancy motivating him in this way. So to stay on the farm, Rick recognizes that the only way to do it is to use diplomacy with Hershel. Short of killing him outright, it's the only option.
So Rick doesn't want a barn full of walkers, doesn't want to keep walkers alive. But he's willing to go along with Hershel in the short run to achieve his main goal in the long run, of staying on the farm. Which shows why he IS the best leader for the job.
And he's not just naively holding onto trappings of his former life, either. Because when push comes to shove - when it comes time to make the truly impossible decisions - Rick does what needs to be done. He feels responsible for what happened to Sophia, even though it wasn't really his fault, because he was just trying to save her. What happened to her isn't anyone's fault, but Rick will take that blame on himself. So he was the only one who could shoot her, in the end. In the zombie apocalypse, that's what needed to be done, and Rick did it, because he was the only one who could. And my Rick love, which may have waned over the season, shot right back up at that scene. He was amazing.
Shane's arc - crazy, but fascinating as hell
Shane's reaction, OTOH, was wrong. Now, for the record, I do totally get where Shane's coming from. I think he's pretty mentally unhinged at this point, but that makes him an incredibly fascinating character to watch.
Rick was Shane's best friend. Yes, we really have to start there. He was in fact devastated when he thought Rick was dead. And then he did what Rick would have wanted him to - got Lori and Carl to safety. In the course of doing so, he started an affair with/fell in love with Lori. It wasn't anyone's fault. When Rick turned out to be alive, Lori ended her relationship with Shane - of course she did, she chose her husband. Which is fine, but it left Shane in the lurch. He legitimately loved Lori, I think, and losing her made him crazy.
So he acted out, at the CDC, in particular. And I really think it was to make up for what he did that he became so desperate to save Carl. Yeah, he really loves Carl, and partly it was for Rick too, but part of it was definitely to make things up to Lori.
That desperation was what led him to shoot Otis. Now: that's an incredibly inhumane, deplorable, cruel act. No argument there. But he did it because of how desperate he was to save Carl and, yes, to save himself. Once he had done it, however, a switch flipped in Shane's mind. He realized what he was capable of, to save himself and the people he cares about. He started to lose his humanity that night, and it's only been chipping away ever since.
So now Shane's completely unhinged and is making crazy decisions. He still wants to survive and keep the people he loves safe, but that causes him to make mentally unstable decisions. Rick's decision to be diplomatic with Hershel made the most rational sense. Shane's, to unleash the barn full of walkers, really didn't, but I understand how he got to that mentally unstable place.
But the result was that those walkers got out, and Hershel had to watch his family and friends gunned down in front of him. Which is undesirable any way you slice it. So Shane was wrong. Shane's lost it, essentially. But I still find him SO fascinating to watch.
Regaining sympathy for Andrea
Another character whose arc I think I now understand is Andrea. So, for her, I think it all goes back to Amy. Losing Amy, and that grief, drove Andrea to a very sad place. A place where, when Jenner offered them an option at the CDC, she was willing to take it. She wanted to stop fighting, because she didn't have anything left to fight for.
Dale essentially forced her not to stay, and that caused her to feel anger and resentment towards him. And then he took away her gun. Dale's trying to look out for Andrea, but he comes off as being paternalistic and domineering. So that pushes Andrea further over the edge and makes her all gun-crazy. Now, for her, learning to shoot is about being able to defend herself and not being a victim. Her grief over Amy's death has essentially manifested in this refusal to roll over and this desperation to take care of herself. So she's acted a little off this season too, but I get where she's coming from.
A bit on the other characters
I do get Lori's actions too, because of the impossible situation she was placed in. But I feel like she sometimes comes across as whiny or annoying, which is legitimate, I guess.
I really DON'T like Carol. At all. I understand that she faced abuse for many years, but still. A woman who lets others go out and search for her child, doesn't seem to remember said child is missing much of the time, and is wandering around cooking, cleaning and doing laundry? PLEASE. I feel NO sympathy for her and really don't like her at all.
I sort of get where Dale is coming from. He is trying to protect the group. But he comes across as really domineering and incredibly naive. Hiding the guns was a stupid move. Trying to act like Andrea's father is creepy and inappropriate. I get his actions, mostly, but sometimes he really rubs the wrong way.
I really liked Glenn in the first couple of episodes of last season. This season, he's had more to do, and I do like him overall, but I wish they'd do more with his character. I liked Maggie initially and still do for the most part, but I hope her character doesn't get more annoying.
Daryl, it goes without saying, is the fan favorite of the show. I too think he's awesome and badass, and also has a great heart. So, yay Daryl, but I don't really need to say anything else, given how much everyone already loves him.
So this season so far has given us a more in-depth look at the characters. Which I appreciate. I'd like a more balanced division of action with characterization, but so far, I'm happy.
I've liked it, overall. At heart, I think the show is strongest when it's more than just Zombie Apocalypse. That's really just the backdrop for the greater, more interesting question: how do you change as a person when the world goes to shit? And in answering that question, in telling the very different human stories of people's reactions to that situation, is where the true heart of the story lies.
That being said, yes, being at the farm has slowed the story down somewhat. But I'm okay with it because we have gotten some characterization gems as a result.
Rick's arc, and how it picks up at the end of the season
Take, for example, Rick. Now, for the record, I do think Hershel is overly naive about the whole situation. He's sheltered, and the walkers aren't sick, they're dead. His decision to keep the walkers alive in the barn was a bad one, and one way or the other, they were going to have to be eliminated.
But Rick was able to recognize the importance of staying on the farm. It's a safe haven, one that he wants now more than ever since he knows Lori's pregnant. I'm okay with the knowledge of his wife's pregnancy motivating him in this way. So to stay on the farm, Rick recognizes that the only way to do it is to use diplomacy with Hershel. Short of killing him outright, it's the only option.
So Rick doesn't want a barn full of walkers, doesn't want to keep walkers alive. But he's willing to go along with Hershel in the short run to achieve his main goal in the long run, of staying on the farm. Which shows why he IS the best leader for the job.
And he's not just naively holding onto trappings of his former life, either. Because when push comes to shove - when it comes time to make the truly impossible decisions - Rick does what needs to be done. He feels responsible for what happened to Sophia, even though it wasn't really his fault, because he was just trying to save her. What happened to her isn't anyone's fault, but Rick will take that blame on himself. So he was the only one who could shoot her, in the end. In the zombie apocalypse, that's what needed to be done, and Rick did it, because he was the only one who could. And my Rick love, which may have waned over the season, shot right back up at that scene. He was amazing.
Shane's arc - crazy, but fascinating as hell
Shane's reaction, OTOH, was wrong. Now, for the record, I do totally get where Shane's coming from. I think he's pretty mentally unhinged at this point, but that makes him an incredibly fascinating character to watch.
Rick was Shane's best friend. Yes, we really have to start there. He was in fact devastated when he thought Rick was dead. And then he did what Rick would have wanted him to - got Lori and Carl to safety. In the course of doing so, he started an affair with/fell in love with Lori. It wasn't anyone's fault. When Rick turned out to be alive, Lori ended her relationship with Shane - of course she did, she chose her husband. Which is fine, but it left Shane in the lurch. He legitimately loved Lori, I think, and losing her made him crazy.
So he acted out, at the CDC, in particular. And I really think it was to make up for what he did that he became so desperate to save Carl. Yeah, he really loves Carl, and partly it was for Rick too, but part of it was definitely to make things up to Lori.
That desperation was what led him to shoot Otis. Now: that's an incredibly inhumane, deplorable, cruel act. No argument there. But he did it because of how desperate he was to save Carl and, yes, to save himself. Once he had done it, however, a switch flipped in Shane's mind. He realized what he was capable of, to save himself and the people he cares about. He started to lose his humanity that night, and it's only been chipping away ever since.
So now Shane's completely unhinged and is making crazy decisions. He still wants to survive and keep the people he loves safe, but that causes him to make mentally unstable decisions. Rick's decision to be diplomatic with Hershel made the most rational sense. Shane's, to unleash the barn full of walkers, really didn't, but I understand how he got to that mentally unstable place.
But the result was that those walkers got out, and Hershel had to watch his family and friends gunned down in front of him. Which is undesirable any way you slice it. So Shane was wrong. Shane's lost it, essentially. But I still find him SO fascinating to watch.
Regaining sympathy for Andrea
Another character whose arc I think I now understand is Andrea. So, for her, I think it all goes back to Amy. Losing Amy, and that grief, drove Andrea to a very sad place. A place where, when Jenner offered them an option at the CDC, she was willing to take it. She wanted to stop fighting, because she didn't have anything left to fight for.
Dale essentially forced her not to stay, and that caused her to feel anger and resentment towards him. And then he took away her gun. Dale's trying to look out for Andrea, but he comes off as being paternalistic and domineering. So that pushes Andrea further over the edge and makes her all gun-crazy. Now, for her, learning to shoot is about being able to defend herself and not being a victim. Her grief over Amy's death has essentially manifested in this refusal to roll over and this desperation to take care of herself. So she's acted a little off this season too, but I get where she's coming from.
A bit on the other characters
I do get Lori's actions too, because of the impossible situation she was placed in. But I feel like she sometimes comes across as whiny or annoying, which is legitimate, I guess.
I really DON'T like Carol. At all. I understand that she faced abuse for many years, but still. A woman who lets others go out and search for her child, doesn't seem to remember said child is missing much of the time, and is wandering around cooking, cleaning and doing laundry? PLEASE. I feel NO sympathy for her and really don't like her at all.
I sort of get where Dale is coming from. He is trying to protect the group. But he comes across as really domineering and incredibly naive. Hiding the guns was a stupid move. Trying to act like Andrea's father is creepy and inappropriate. I get his actions, mostly, but sometimes he really rubs the wrong way.
I really liked Glenn in the first couple of episodes of last season. This season, he's had more to do, and I do like him overall, but I wish they'd do more with his character. I liked Maggie initially and still do for the most part, but I hope her character doesn't get more annoying.
Daryl, it goes without saying, is the fan favorite of the show. I too think he's awesome and badass, and also has a great heart. So, yay Daryl, but I don't really need to say anything else, given how much everyone already loves him.
So this season so far has given us a more in-depth look at the characters. Which I appreciate. I'd like a more balanced division of action with characterization, but so far, I'm happy.