In Defense of… AMC’s The Walking Dead
Not everyone sees eye-to-eye. You might love something that’s reviled by most others. When we at PoP! feel like that, we make an argument In Defense Of…
*It’s been a few weeks since the finale, but still… Spoilers ahead, kids*
AMC’s The Walking Dead is a certified hit. Even so, there are people online every single week that manage to find something to complain about (I’m as shocked as you are). More often than not, those complaints come with comparisons to the comic book of the same name. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that I was definitely vocal in the first half of the second season with regards to Sophia. I was more than ready for them to move on and find that kid. But when we finally got the payoff, it hit me in the gut. The barn scene was a great reveal, even if the build-up took a little longer than I might have liked. But I didn’t even remember Sophia was in the comics at all until I re-read the first trade recently, so my beef was purely based on storytelling, not a comparison to the books.
Sure, the show has its flaws. The characters don’t always make the best decisions and it’s not exactly lightning-fast in its pacing. Still, The Walking Dead manages to garner mostly positive reviews until they do something that’s a radical departure from the comics. The group going to the CDC in Atlanta drew ire from comic fans, but that was nothing compared to when Dale and Shane died in season two.
When Dale bit the dust, it was definitely a surprise. He had a long run in the books before meeting his maker, so most reader certainly didn’t see it coming… And they were mad. But I think Dale’s untimely demise reinforces one of the purest principles of the comic series: anyone can die at any time. No one is safe. The outrage for Shane’s death is more of a puzzler. Not only was Shane’s character on a downward spiral he had no real chance of coming out of, but he died in issue 6 of the comics. He’s been on borrowed time all year. So Carl didn’t shoot him. So what? His death scene in the show a hundred times better than the rushed end he got in the comics. It’s a powerful scene made better by great performances from Andrew Lincoln and John Bernthal.
The finale brought with it two big moments (or at least teases) that fans of the comics have been waiting for: the debut of fan-favorite Michonne and the first glimpse of the prison. The prison is without a doubt where the comic series really started to find its legs. I’d say that the show is already more solid than the print version at this point in their respective stories. Still, these are benchmark moments for the series. Fans are excited, as they should be, but let’s not for one second expect a direct adaptation of the books now. We certainly haven’t gotten it thus far (where’s Tyrese, already!?). Is that such a bad thing? If you want to read about Dale’s further adventures, read the comics. They’re out there and easy to find (especially these days).
No matter what happens on the show and no matter how far it deviates from the comics, I’m fine with it. If it’s good, it’s good. If it’s bad, it’s bad. I’m not going to let a comparison to the comic affect my enjoyment of the TV series. The man who has written every word these characters have spoken in the comics and plotted every single one of their stories is very actively involved in the TV show. If he’s okay with it, what room do we have to complain? Why would we want the same stories regurgitated to us anyway? Why not enjoy both the surprises and the familiar parts?
There’s so much to like about The Walking Dead, it seems like some people are going out of their way to complain about it. But that’s what the internet is for, isn’t it? With any luck, the prison story will bring enough familiarity that those folks will knock it off and enough surprises that the more rational viewers can enjoy a new experience. I’m already looking forward to Michonne and Andrea coming up on the prison together, even though it didn’t happen in the comics that way. How about that?
Filed Under: Columns • In Defense Of...
I find it funny that I had a conversation with someone that hates that the walking dead strays from the comic, but yet this person loves the X-Men movies.
now that’s just hilarious
I think Mike and myself had this exact conversation about three weeks ago.
I loved The Walking Dead. I haven’t read the comics, I’m not sure if I want to know what’s coming next based on the comics. I enjoy the way the writers are developing the show. I’m just getting started developing my zombie blog http://zombieloverblog.com.
I love the fact that The Walking Dead TV show deviates from the books myself. I feel that they have kept enough of the books that it is familiar but they have also changed enough that it still makes for surprises and keeps me wondering what is going to happen next. I remember about halfway through season one Lori was asking me some questions about the show and I had to reply “I honestly can’t explain what is going to happen next because there have been several things that are new to me already that they may wind up taking the show into a whole new place than it is in the books”.
I like that the book and show are different. I just didn’t like how Dale died, it seemed to simple of a death for the man who was suppose to be the moral high ground of the group. And I had been waiting for Shane to die, I agreed he was on borrowed time. I thought his death in the show was good. My main gripe in the show is Carl and Lori.
One of the tags for this article is “zimbies” what is a zimbie?
“Why would we want the same stories regurgitated to us anyway?”
I was with you the whole article, until this. Adaptations walk a fine line. And while I have been enjoying the show and most of the changes, let’s not forget most of us are watching the show for a reason – because we DO love the source material. So for me, the story’s not being regurgitated to me, it’s seeing the artists depiction come to life. So when Hollywood starts tampering with that artist depiction that fans fell in love with, some level of backlash is to be expected.
but it’s really not Hollywood, it’s robert kirkman himself. in many interview (like the nerdist podcast) he said as far as he looks at it this is a different “worldline” and they are playing with it as the feel will work best for the show.
the artist is changing his own art, if that’s the reason for the backlash, well it’s his toys he can play with them as he fells
Just because the original creator is involved doesn’t always mean the changes are for the better. George Lucas, anyone?
Personally, I really haven’t minded the changes. But I can understand people who don’t appreciate tampering with stories they’ve come to really enjoy, even if I don’t necessarily agree.
I love both the books and the movies separately and completely. I know we ragged on some things about the show on the PoP! Cast episode I had the privilege to be on, but every complaint was with a smile. It was like teasing your best friend for all his faults: you have some laughs but you love him like a brother on the whole and you’d slaughter anyone who tried to bring real hate. Screw the nay-sayers, Walking Dead is friggin’ brilliant!