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Season premiere review: 'The Walking Dead' - 'What Lies Ahead': Deer, Jesus

Rick and friends head out on the highway but get stuck in a traffic jam

By Alan SepinwallSunday, Oct 16, 2011 10:30 PM

Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) and Carol (Melissa Suzanne McBride) hide from "The Walking Dead" in the season 2 premiere.

Credit: AMC

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"The Walking Dead" is back for its second season. I already published my advance review of the season, and I have a few specific thoughts on the premiere coming up just as soon as I keep the sun on my left shoulder...

"The thing is... I could use a little something to help us keep going." -Rick

If we define the idea of a "great drama" of the modern era as one with indelible characters and/or important things to say about society, then "The Walking Dead" is likely never going to qualify for greatness. But if we define it as a drama that's executed to the highest possible level within its sub-genre, then "The Walking Dead" has a shot, and a much better one given how well season 2 started out.

The 90-minute episode, written by Robert Kirkman, with some parts directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton and others by Ernest Dickerson, did a terrific job of plunging us back into the zombie apocalypse with that long set piece on the highway. While horror stories are often defined by motion and noise - lots of people running and screaming - here was one all about silence and stillness, where any kind of big fight against the walkers would have ended in everybody dying. Just expertly assembled, and the slow, quiet nature of it gave us an even better opportunity than usual to admire Greg Nicotero's makeup work.

Things slowed down a bit after that, but there were a few more gripping zombie engagements, and some promising mysteries established: where did Sophia go? Where is the emergency signal coming from, and is anyone alive on the other end? And who shot Carl?

The character work - other than the usual strong fraying-at-all-edges performance by Andrew Lincoln as Rick - was a bit less compelling, but it also wasn't helped by the long hiatus between the abbreviated first season and this one. It took me a few minutes into Andrea's argument with Dale to remember that he had guilted her into leaving the CDC with her, for instance, or to orient myself on exactly how Shane and Lori had left things after he drunkenly came onto her. That said, the performances were all quite good, and the idea of Shane and Andrea running off together - not because of any bond they have, but just because each wants to be rid of the group - could be very interesting.

But on this show, men plan and then zombies lurch, or little girls go missing, or little boys get shot while trying to approach a still deer. Shane may want to get away, Rick may want to get to Fort Benning, Andrea may want to be dead, but they have too many other problems to deal with first.

This was a good start to the season, and I liked next week's episode a lot as well. I'm not sure if there's ever going to be enough meat here for extended episodic analysis, but the plan is to say at least a bit about each episode and then open up the discussion. And however much or little I write, let me remind you of the specific rules for discussing this show:

1)No Spoilers.

2)This includes any discussion of the previews for the next episode.

3)This includes any discussion of storylines from the comic that haven't happened yet in the timeline of the TV show. (And, yes, the show has and will continue to deviate from the comic in some ways, but for the sake of those instances where they're going to be the same, I don't want people talking about something from issue 50 when we're watching episode 11.)

4)This includes anything you've seen or read elsewhere about anything that has not happened within the context of the episodes that have already aired.

Anything in violation of any of these points gets deleted. Nice and simple. Talk about what has already happened on the show, no more, no less.

What did everybody else think?

Alan Sepinwall
Sr. Editor, What's Alan Watching

Alan Sepinwall has been reviewing television since the mid-'90s, first for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger, and now for HitFix. His new book, "The Revolution Was Televised," about the last 15 years of TV drama, is for sale at Amazon. He can be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com

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Next 236 Comments

Ellby

How did those zombies sneak up on them on the highway??
October 16, 2011 at 10:35PM EST Reply to Comment
- k_nguyen93 Yeah that part was confusing. You can argue Rick couldn't see because he was on the ground and Dale was watching Glen fix the RV and Shane find the water.
  October 16, 2011 at 10:47PM EST
- troopermsu The group had all moved forward into the mass of cars. Dale was on the lookout on top of the RV, but he was looking forward exclusively. I kept asking myself: "Why is he only looking forward and not to all directions?"
  October 16, 2011 at 11:25PM EST
- SirBrackalot I think they were just passing through...still....that curve in the road was quite large wasn't it...lol???
  October 16, 2011 at 11:52PM EST
- deadhead everyone looking forward and noone looking from where they just came...
  
  October 17, 2011 at 9:13AM EST
- Kevin I think no one looked in that general direction for about a minute, and that's long enough for a herd of zombies to sneak up on them.
  October 17, 2011 at 3:00PM EST
- namelol In the comic, herds would just head in any direction, there could of been one in the forest that heard the RV break down and they all started heading in that direction. The guy on the RV seemed like he was only looking forward.
  October 17, 2011 at 3:44PM EST
- kennerly I assumed the herd emerged from the woods next to the highway and then just started stumbling along the highway because of the barricade on that side prevented them from easily crossing and just going back into the woods. Since they didn't pass the herd on the way up I assume the herd was traveling through the woods and probably heard their cars and the engine of that motorcycle and decided to head towards the highway.
  October 18, 2011 at 8:53AM EST
Ted

That was a waste of time. An hour and a half of wandering around the highway, with no plot advancement of any significance. Why in the world did they need an extended hour and a half for that? It seemed like a mid-season filler episode for when they're running low of plot ideas.
October 16, 2011 at 10:36PM EST Reply to Comment
- John I think you might be watching the wrong show...the entire premise is, "where do people go when they have nowhere to go?" The set-piece of the herd on the highway was beautifully suspenseful, and we're left with a couple high-stakes threads...namely, where did Sophia go and how do you fix a life-threatening wound on a child with no hospital? I was on the edge of my seat the whole time PRECISELY because there's no obligation to source or narrative...I would believe anyone (save Rick and his wife) could die at a moment's notice.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:06PM EST
- jcpdiesel21 Sadly, I have to agree with this. I am fine with the show diverging from the comics, but did they really have to spend close to the entire episode searching for Sophia? And then they didn't even find her by the end. Plus, I am annoyed that T-Dog is still alive. He doesn't add anything to the show, and his arm getting cut and him scrambling around to hide form the herd was such a tease.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:06PM EST
- Ron mexico Totally disagree. This didn't feel like filler to me at all. If anything, the 90 minutes, for me, flew right by (kind of like Darabont's Shawshank Redemption). If this is anything like the comic book, the show is about surviving and getting to the next day. I enjoy seeing the delight from small surprises (like Shane's finding the water truck) interspersed with the tension of scenes like the herd coming through. The love triangle with Shane/Rick/Lori, Andrea's estrangement, I'm not in any rush to have those storylines resolved immediately.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:09PM EST
- Daniel Please stop. Please. I understand you are fans of the show. I get it. But please.... stop. Don't impose a jaded view of storytelling to apologize for the how. Please... It wasn't good. We write stories a certain way for a reason. There was NO plot advancement, just underwhelming heavy heavy dialogue. Again, stop trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. The premiere just wasn't very good.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:15PM EST
- John What storyline wasn't advancing? As someone who hasn't read the comics, I don't even know what was being stalled, if anything. So please don't insult my intelligence as a viewer for disagreeing with you. I was very entertained for 90 minutes, and can't wait for the next episode.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:18PM EST
- sepinwall Folks, rule #1 around these parts: TALK ABOUT THE SHOW, NOT EACH OTHER.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:19PM EST
- blockparty gotta agree-- nothing happened this episode. and for the premiere of season 2, i was expecting something really great. this was not memorable at all.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:26PM EST
- ron mexico I think it's clear that expectations are very different for the show. In his vision for the show, Kirkman is more interested in the "how" than the why of survival in difficult circumstances. So you spent considerable time watching Rick autopsy a zombie as part of his search for a missing girl and warily search the empty tent. I would buy that the dialogue was a bit heavy handed, that the burden of leadership and making difficult choices could have been a bit more elegantly handled - but overall I'm a happy camper. A lot of zombie films don't seem to capture the weary day-to-day practicalities of survival in the zombie apocalypse, instead moving from one set-piece to another, so I appreciate the different focus WD has.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:50PM EST
- SirBrackalot Also, I thought that all brain function was dead except for basic functioning??? So what was the zombie on the RV looking around for with such an inquisitive search, eyes full of wonderment and analytical reasoning...Shouldn't he be bumping into things, chewing on stuff...just sayin"
  October 16, 2011 at 11:51PM EST
- joel Apparently none of you watched Lost or 24, two very popular plot-centric action shows where numerous episodes were devoted to very little actual plot development in order to deliver suspense, character development, and introduce new subplots.
  
  You may not have liked it, but calling it bad writing because they were searching for a missing girl is really unfair. The world has ended. If you think about it, surviving that would be a very mundane existence. Even the graphic novel itself has been punctuated by short bursts of action after long periods of tension and uncertainty. What were you expecting, exactly? Die Hard with the undead?
  October 17, 2011 at 1:38AM EST
- Joseph Totally agree, Joel. The show is what it is (character drama set against zombie apocalypse) and this was fairly well established in the first six episodes. I can't imagine anyone watching those first 6 and being surprised/disappointed in the 7th. If you liked the first season, this was more of the same -actually better than the second half of that season - and if you didn't, why are you still watching?
  October 17, 2011 at 1:50AM EST
- Sourabh It had to have been a great episode, because despite not having any plot advancement, it was still immensely entertaining.
  October 17, 2011 at 7:22AM EST
- jcpdiesel21 I've watched Lost and 24, so I am very familiar with episodes of shows not advancing the plot by leaps and bounds. The problem that I have with this show is that everything else that was going on didn't make up for it. If the characters were more engaging, I could have overlooked the fact that the group didn't advance very far or find Sophia by the end. But for me, it just felt like it plodded along with constant searching in the woods that got old after a while. I think it's because my expectations have been raised by shows like Breaking Bad that feel riveting even when there isn't a whole lot of plot advancement.
  October 17, 2011 at 9:35AM EST
- gershomatl I agree with sirbrackalot. I was thinking the same thing when I saw that. That was bad zombie acting (if there is such a thing).
  October 17, 2011 at 10:49AM EST
- I am wondering if the meaningless of the comic where Kirkman promises that we will never know the answers will work on television. That CDC episode already gave us more information than the comic ever did. The larger television audience is going to have far different expectations and won't be as happy with nihlism.
  
  A season priemere usually has some establishment of the season's them or overriding arc. This seemed like a mid season episode and I think folks are right to be disappointed.
  October 17, 2011 at 11:11AM EST
- Rufus Jones EPISODE SYNOPSIS: While trying, without success, to find the child of another member of the party, the hero manages to get his own son shot.
  
  To those of us who were unhappy about some of the arbitrary and illogical writing in Season Four of BREAKING BAD, the show served as a reminder of how the other half lives.
  
  "How did Jesse not notice that Saul's oafish bodyguard was picking his pocket?" He's nothing compared to the genius who's serving as lookout for the entire party-- who managed to not notice about 50 zombies.
  
  But at least we know why he's the lookout. Nobody else-- including the guy in charge of getting the new hose-- noticed that he fixed the radiator.
  
  "Why didn't anyone argue with Gus when he insisted on trying to kill Tio himself?" Same reason nobody thinks to run after the hero when he pursues the girl-- they said they needed to do it themselves.
  
  "Why does Skyler send Ted the money without first making sure he will pay his debt to the IRS? The same reason the hero instructs the girl to hide in a tree until he is out of sight-- then wander wander back through the woods alone rather than waiting for him to return. It's more exciting to see whether they can do it without help
  
  "Why does Jesse tell Walt never to speak to him again, but not want him dead?" Same reason the hero's wife wants her would-be rapist to maintain his close bond with her child and the Nazi from season 1 risks his own life to save the bloody Negro-- human beings are deep and complex.
  
  I realize that some people are willing to suspend their disbelief than others... but some of this stuff is ridiculously bad. The mom, who sees her daughter run off with zombies in hot pursuit, doesn't follow her.
  
  A deer that has spent weeks trying to evade zombies isn't jumpier than deers normally are (which is "very")-- but stands quietly, waiting for the prepubescent boy to... I don't know-- have sex with it?
  
  We're told that any noise, no matter how small, is enough to attract zombies. But the church that has recorded bells being blasted through the PA every few minutes isn't surrounded by them.
  
  I came back for the same reason I watched the first six episodes-- people whose opinion I trust swore that WALKING DEAD was very nearly as good as MAD MEN or BREAKING BAD.
  
  I find myself wanting to seek out the comic book to learn whether the characters are behave as stupidly and as arbitrarily as they do on TV. Did the original really have a violent. crude racist who hated women-- and then suddenly risked his own life to save a wounded Negro? I've seen wrestling storylines more naturalistic than that.
  
  Did the hero-- who led everyone to the CDC only to realize it was a waste-- really just decide to travel to Fort Benning without knowing whether there is any reason to go? Did the people who followed him on a wild-goose chase really decide to do it again?
  
  You know it's kinda sad when Alan-- who has been one of the show's biggest defenders-- writes "I forgot that these two characters had became enemies."
  
  The problem isn't that the hiatus was too long-- it was that the characters were so unmemorable that their situation and their motivations didn't stick in anyone's mind.
  
  I might come back simply because it's easier not to break the habit of watching AMC Sundays at 10 (especially since THE GOOD WIFE, which is orders of magnitude better, keeps me in front of the TV untoi 10).
  
  And by the way, it is possible to think a scene is pretty good-- but also feel that it makes absolutely no sense when viewed in context with the other scenes.
  October 17, 2011 at 11:35AM EST
- joel @jcpdiesel21: I agree with you that the characters are weak, just as they were in the comic. I can't remember now, but it seemed like 30 issues past by before Kirkman developed anyone beyond Rick, his wife, and Shane.
  
  While I think the core cast could display a bit more charisma, the writing of the characters and their repetitive dialogue is this show's biggest weakness.
  October 17, 2011 at 2:40PM EST
- Namelol Oh what ever, it had plenty of development, Shane is gripping with insanity as he has lost everything he wanted to protect. Rick is still the leader and is struggling with the role as his plans seem to come apart, Sophia is lost and he feels it's his fault, the whole reason they had the scene where he was in the church asking for guidance was he was uncertain of his decisions. Yeah, there was some a lot of irrational behavior that people may consider "whining", but that's not a problem with the show, that's a problem with the viewer, it's the apocalypse and they want perfect, rational human beings. I could go on and on, but this is getting rantish.
  October 17, 2011 at 3:57PM EST
- Kitty O Preach it, Rufus Jones I agree with everything (except the "Negro" appellation--what decade is this?). What makes this show so frustrating is that it *could* be good, but there are so many ridiculous, obvious things wrong with it.
  October 17, 2011 at 11:49PM EST
- Dave I Hey Rufus. Nice post.
  
  I MOSTLY agree with you. I think Walking dead is easier to explain a lot of this stuff away because the people are supposed to be conflicted (hence redneck guy is racist, but not outright evil or truly hating black people like his still-out-there-somewhere brother and maybe they started to grow a pack mentality, Us vs. Them, Shane is obviously in love with Lori and a longtime family friend, etc.) and flawed (people could easily freak and NOT go after the girl being chased by zombies, well, maybe not, but I can at least see how MOST would freeze, not to mention Rick's doing this all on the fly so I cut him some slack, and they have to go SOMEWHERE). Even if they are stretches, they seem less convoluted than my problems with Breaking Bad. That said, those are minor gripes (for both shows) and do not overshadow the otherwise greatness of both.
  
  As for Carl the Deer Whisperer, the loud and very regular church bells, or the world's worst lookout? Beats me. Well, except the church bells. The Zombies would have long ago discovered that, realized there was no food even with the sound, and moved along. Really, the deer was the part that took me out of the show more than anything else happening to date.
  
  I would say the comic is a bit better in regards to some of the stuff you mentioned. They still go to places, but there's more direct reason for them to head off to Destination X by and large. Still, they are pretty much nomads at this point out of necessity. They cannot just squat down and live by themselves forever. And it totally makes sense to have them look at the big Govt./Military establishment as destinations. What safer than a large, well-trained group of friendlies with automatic assault rifles and tanks?
  
  -Cheers
  October 18, 2011 at 3:56PM EST
@jeremythesollie

What is it with Darabont and shooting children?!
October 16, 2011 at 10:36PM EST Reply to Comment
- CrdCollctr Don't know if this qualifies as a spoiler, and if it does, I apologize, but this wasn't exactly Darabont. It came from the comic. Not exactly frame for frame, but Carl was shot in the woods by an at the time unknown shooter in one of the early issues.
  October 19, 2011 at 3:06AM EST
Zombie #1

That ending was awesome and the character development is really getting better. I hate Sophia's mother, she's useless.
October 16, 2011 at 10:37PM EST Reply to Comment
- Brandon Hate Carol?! Are you kidding? She's one of the characters who shows great potential! You must be mad!
  October 16, 2011 at 10:42PM EST
- Jim No way. Carol is dead weight.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:01PM EST
- SirBrackalot I know, just "my daughter, where's my daughter...I have to live for my daughter...LOL"
  October 16, 2011 at 11:55PM EST
- Elevation I'd be fine at this point with Carol, Sophia, and Dale all turning into zombies. They are about as useful as a broomstick to the group at this point.
  October 17, 2011 at 1:58AM EST
- Def Dale repairs stuff.
  October 17, 2011 at 9:29AM EST
- gershomatl Walt...my boy...have you seen my son?
  October 17, 2011 at 10:20AM EST
- kennerly Obviously you guys have no children. If you did you would realize her reaction is pretty spot on. In a zombie apocalypse you'd be pretty worried if your kid went missing. I think if she were just like oh well Sohpia is gone let's just move on with our lives, that would be pretty unbelievable.
  October 18, 2011 at 9:01AM EST
- Dave I Hey Gershomatl, Claire came to mind for some reason as well.
  October 18, 2011 at 3:57PM EST
Stef

I'm so happy this show is back. I really noticed the silence and stillness you discussed, it worked very well this episode. I can't think of another show that juxtaposes such moments of beauty with horror and tragedy the way this one does.
October 16, 2011 at 10:38PM EST Reply to Comment
- Brandon I can't agree more!
  October 16, 2011 at 10:45PM EST
Sheldon

They better not chicken out and have the shooter end up to be a kindly surgeon or something...
October 16, 2011 at 10:39PM EST Reply to Comment
- RT It'll be a hapless farm hand ...
  October 16, 2011 at 10:43PM EST
- JB It's be awesome if it were Merle (whom we haven't seen since the pilot episode of season 1).
  October 17, 2011 at 10:12AM EST
- BJ Merle was in episode 2. Pilot was mostly just Rick.
  October 17, 2011 at 10:32AM EST
Fuzzbrain

Just being honest, I would have rather watched an hour long episode with limited commercials than a 90 min episode with 30 minutes of commercials. The makeup work in this show is top-notch; the show is practically surviving on the visuals.
October 16, 2011 at 10:40PM EST Reply to Comment
- sam God the commercials were horrible!
  October 16, 2011 at 11:52PM EST
- SirBrackalot true, it's all about the makeup and special effects...right on fuzzbrain!
  October 16, 2011 at 11:56PM EST
- JR I agree, this easily could have been a one hour episode with less commercials like the premiere last season. They also could have shortened or cut some of the scenes later in the episode that dragged a bit to make it a tighter, better episode.
  October 17, 2011 at 1:25AM EST
- JBS The first half-hour had zero commercials in order to get people hooked before giving them a chance to leave since most people would flip away during a commercial. This resulted in an unusually large number of commercials during the middle 3rd, but the last half hour was back to a normal amount. So, there wasn't an excessive number of ads, just uneven distribution (and I guess people notice it more when there are a lot rather than a little).
  October 17, 2011 at 10:05AM EST
- kennerly The needed those commercials to make money for AMC. If you had been reading some recent press releases concerning AMC's current financial state you would know that milking these shows, Breaking Bad, Walking Dead, Mad Men for profit is essential to keeping the network afloat. All these high quality special effects and period pieces and on location shoots require a lot of money.
  October 18, 2011 at 9:03AM EST
Matt from Raleigh

These may be the stupidest zombie survivors I've ever seen. They couldn't be bothered to grab one of those military vehicles at the CDC? I think I saw a Humvee with a 50 cal. They couldn't stop to pick up an M-16 or two? Just annoying.

I will say that we seem to be getting more action or as has been said, "More walking, less talking".

I'm a zombie fan so I'm in for the duration but this show could be so much more.
October 16, 2011 at 10:42PM EST Reply to Comment
- k_nguyen93 They were surrounded by zombies remember?
  October 16, 2011 at 10:45PM EST
- Chapel Hill There probably wasn't enough time to hotwire one of those Humvees, especially since there was no guarantee they were in working order, but I'd have definitely tried to pick up a couple of M-16's.
  October 16, 2011 at 10:53PM EST
- Matt from Raleigh They had time to wait around for Dale and Andrea to show up and while not really shown it didn't feel like they were in hurry to leave after the CDC went up in flames. I'm thinking the keys might have been in the ignition.
  
  Of course these are the same people that were living in tents with zombies in the area.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:01PM EST
- chuckie Yeah, there were a couple of times when I thought "if these people are humanity's last hope, we are doomed." But I still enjoy the show.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:06PM EST
- Chapel Hill Agreed that their survival skills leave something to be desired, but then again, the security of a humvee might be outweighed somewhat by their fuel inefficiency. The cars they came with may indeed have been the better choice.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:25PM EST
- Military Humvees don't have keys, just a knob that turns like an ignition switch, so hot-wiring was not necessary, but I'm with Chapel Hill, if fuel is at a premium, leave the Humvees alone, about 8 mpg plus they're diesel which would be harder to find than gasoline
  October 17, 2011 at 1:27AM EST
- Adam I completely agree Dan. I would add to your comment the following actions:
  
  1. Rick and Dale somehow didn't manage to see a pack of a hundred or so zombies until they were about 10 ft away even though they had high ground on a relatively flat surface and binoculars
  
  2. Andrea pretty much only needing to just not make a sound deciding that would be a great time to mess around putting her gun back together (this was understandable giving the terror she must have gone through but it doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid. She'd have been swarmed by the rest if she fired a shot at the zombie in the camper).
  
  3. T-Dog trying to kneel down behind a car door and managing to rip wide his arm and it looked like slice open his brachial and spill about 10 gallons (a plot point that wasn't followed up on btw).
  
  4. Shane deciding that upon finding the water jugs, which might be the most precious resource they'll need to find even above bullets and fuel, that it would be wise to immediately waste 1/12 of that supply be an impromptu interstate shower.
  October 17, 2011 at 3:56AM EST
- JB Matt - agreed. And now that they're on that empty stretch of highway - with like a zillion cars on it - why don't they ditch the always-breaking-down camper for a better vehicle??
  October 17, 2011 at 10:15AM EST
- BJ You can live in the camper. I'd rather sleep in that than in a tent.
  October 17, 2011 at 10:37AM EST
- Mark in Omaha Agree with above, plus:
  If the zombies are walking and came up behind them, where did they come from? Wouldn't they have overtaken them? Maybe they came down an on-ramp?
  If Dale was on the roof and the skylight was open, why couldn't he have whispered to Andrea to hide?
  Why was the door of the RV open in the first place?
  How did that zombie manage to lurch his way up the steps of the RV, what was IT supposed to be looking for?
  Evidently there isn't enough money in the budget for automatic weapons.
  Where was Rick in the first shot and what the heck was he doing? Spewing random dialog into a radio with no one on the other end. Did he think it was going into voice mail?
  Are we supposed to believe the bullet went through the deer, then hit Carl?
  What happened to Shane's Jeep, where did (can't think of his name) find a Harley? Can you think of a less practical vehicle? Makes enough noise to (literally) raise the dead.
  October 17, 2011 at 12:19PM EST
- someideas While noisy, a motorcycle would allow what's-his-face to navigate obstacles that would stop the other vehicles. He'd be able to scout ahead of the main group with greater ease. And Rick is talking into the radio to try to contact the other what's-his-face from the pilot who he promised to try to contact at a specific time of day every day. And considering we don't even know what kind of gun we're dealing with, it's perfectly conceivable that the bullet should be able to penetrate the deer and hit Rick's son.
  October 17, 2011 at 3:03PM EST
- Mark in Omaha No it's perfectly conceivable unless you were using a military round. For hunting you use a nosed round that will flatten out causing massive damage but does not simply go out the other side with no change to its speed or trajectory.
  October 17, 2011 at 3:19PM EST
- Mark in Omaha I meant "not pefectly conceivable".
  October 17, 2011 at 3:20PM EST
- someideas Right, but this is not necessarily some experienced hunter with an appropriate hunting rifle we're talking about. It could just be someone who pilfered some guns from dead military personnel and is hunting deer with whatever he has on hand. If you see the gun that shot the kid next week and want to take issue, that's fine, but you shouldn't do so until you have all the facts.
  October 17, 2011 at 5:20PM EST
- Anthony Foglia "Where was Rick in the first shot and what the heck was he doing? Spewing random dialog into a radio with no one on the other end. Did he think it was going into voice mail?"
  
  I assume he was talking to the character played by Lennie James in the first episode. Or more precisely, talking on the radio in case James's character was listening, like he said he would in the first episode. Metatextually, it's a way to both dump exposition, and give us a glimpse into a character who always has to put on a brave face in front of everyone else.
  October 17, 2011 at 11:57PM EST
Brandon

I really enjoyed this premiere episode! The character development was excellent, and I can't wait to see more! I love all the characters, and the whole show in general.
October 16, 2011 at 10:44PM EST Reply to Comment
- Trilby You are easy to please, or a friend of the showrunner.
  October 17, 2011 at 12:10PM EST
Jim

Alan, I really wish you didn't have to qualify your enjoyment of the show with talk about how it's genre work. You can enjoy the show on its own merits. Prefacing each review with the eye wink towards its seemingly inferior subject matter as if to keep it at arms length is getting old.
October 16, 2011 at 10:44PM EST Reply to Comment
- Mij I like the show for what it is, but I don't think it will ever transcend the limitations of the genre. It accomplishes most of what it sets out to do, and in that sense it's a success, but given the subject matter, I don't think we'll ever be able to call it a great show.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:03PM EST
- Miles It's repetitive, has awful dialogue and half of the characters are underdeveloped, probably permanently. It is good for what it is - a zombie show. Nothing I saw in this season premiere leads me to believe it'll ever be anything more. No reason to get upset about it, but it just can't stand on its own.
  October 17, 2011 at 10:40AM EST
- MIJ Dale, Andrea, the lady who had the abusive husband, her daughter, and TJ are all characters who could die and it probably wouldn't bother me. Not a great sign. The show would be improved immeasurably if I actually cared about them.
  October 17, 2011 at 11:21AM EST
- dead souls This show isn't enjoyable on its own merits. The premiere was a total snooze.
  October 17, 2011 at 6:05PM EST
J

Dear God, so many commercials....... I don't know how you viewed it Alan, but the slow feel got completely interrupted by the seemingly copious amount of commercial interruptions, especially in the last half hour.
October 16, 2011 at 10:45PM EST Reply to Comment
- k_nguyen93 Don't the press get kits? Pretty sure that's the case because someone leaked it online last year.
  October 16, 2011 at 10:50PM EST
- troopermsu I used the FF button on my DVR.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:29PM EST
- I find the easiest way to enjoy the show is downloading it via iTunes season pass.
  October 17, 2011 at 8:59PM EST
SazzyMCH

I loved it, and am so glad it's back for a proper season. The slow, quiet highway scene was just brilliant.
October 16, 2011 at 10:59PM EST Reply to Comment
- Except it isn't back for a proper season. It's back for a half season, followed by a 3 month break, then the second half of the season.
  October 17, 2011 at 2:47AM EST
zombieeee

man that was a lot of commercials. It felt like i was doing wind sprints. 3 minutes...commercial...4 minutes...commercial. I liked the episode though. The characters are frustrating, but look at it this way, most of them are sure to get eaten, anyway. a couple things: 1. how did the zombies not smell the guy with the blood pouring out of his arm? 2. isn't the RV breaking down repeatedly a perfect metaphor for the plot breakdowns? 3. the autopsy scene was pretty fantastic - CSI: Deadlanta
October 16, 2011 at 11:01PM EST Reply to Comment
- k_nguyen93 The zombies couldn't smell T-Dog after Daryl put the zombie body on him. Remember the guts in season 1?
  October 16, 2011 at 11:47PM EST
- Repeating myself I think the zombies can recognize you by scent in that if they see you and you don't smell like a rotting corpse, they will know something's up. I shouldn't think that they'd be able to locate humans by smell alone because most humans can't do that and I don't think zombification would appreciably enhance the senses.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:59PM EST
- SirBrackalot autopsy scene great, but the actors renditions of smelling the contents of the stomach and such, soooo contrived, not the best acting and reacting in the world. I hope they take an acting course at some point. And what about the white dude who plays the cop: Did he like go on a HUGE diet between blowing up the CDC and the Season Premiere,,,just sayin' His face looked a little drawn and emaciated....just sayin'...not to mention other flaws...he he he...or in other words, other posts...LOL
  October 17, 2011 at 12:00AM EST
- If you don't like the commercials I recommend an iTunes season pass.
  October 17, 2011 at 9:00PM EST
zombieeee

CSI: Deadlanta
October 16, 2011 at 11:01PM EST Reply to Comment
GarySF

This show is definitely better on DVD than with all the commercials. The frequent breaks tonight were just aggravating. Season 1, Ep.1 on the DVD was a mere 67 minutes long, I'm guessing this was about 62 or 63.
October 16, 2011 at 11:01PM EST Reply to Comment
Sheri

"Came onto her"???
That was assault. Not an advance.
Also, what species of deer was that?
October 16, 2011 at 11:02PM EST Reply to Comment
- trustmeimadoctor I believe it was a long horned thestral, a.k.a. Carcharadon carcharias.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:16PM EST
- SirBrackalot that was the fake ass antler species...LOL
  October 17, 2011 at 12:02AM EST
- Tiffany Thank you! That was very close to being rape.
  October 17, 2011 at 12:36AM EST
- Al Capone What! F@ckin deers......
  October 17, 2011 at 2:55AM EST
- Mark in Omaha It wasn't a White-tail, the rack was wrong.
  October 17, 2011 at 1:02PM EST
zombee

CSI: Deadlanta

October 16, 2011 at 11:02PM EST Reply to Comment
- Doug Funny Please stop making this joke.
  October 17, 2011 at 12:08AM EST
Sheri

"came onto her"????
That was assault, not an advance.
Also, what species of deer was that?
October 16, 2011 at 11:02PM EST Reply to Comment
LindyK

Guilt and redemption,that's what it's all about.
October 16, 2011 at 11:03PM EST Reply to Comment
BMK

I thought it was pretty good for what it was. It re-established the setting, which was needed since it's been so long. But wow, the commercials just hurt this show so much. I know, I know, I could DVR it, but I shouldn't have to. I never had to for Breaking Bad (though comparing the two is unfair to WD, which will never be on that level).

The show is entertaining but it relies so much on gimmicks and atmosphere. It loses so much steam every time they cut away, especially tonight. It was hardly a 90 minute episode. It felt more like a normal sized episode, stretched out by massive amounts of commercials.

October 16, 2011 at 11:03PM EST Reply to Comment
- Trilby Well, there was the preceeding marathon to re-establish. After watching a few of those, the premier was just more of the same. I'm out.
  October 17, 2011 at 12:14PM EST
- done with this Too many cliches and silly conversations. While the girl is missing, the people go to a church instead of looking for her. And for all those cars on the road with keys, they didn't even take one? These people don't seem to be looking for supplies or gasoline or food, just setting off on one dumb trip after another. For a show that's supposed to be about surviving a zombie apocalypse, it could have been done so much better.
  October 18, 2011 at 3:27AM EST
GarySF

Liked the season opener, some of the images were downright creepy (like the veil-covered zombie in the church). Also surprised by the revelation that Dale is feigning the problems with the RV so as to postpone the "needs of the many" conversation. And thought the conversation between Dale and Andrea about her planned suicide (which was previewed on the website), was well-written and very well-played by both of them.
October 16, 2011 at 11:05PM EST Reply to Comment
- J I think Dale just meant it that circumstance, to avoid talk of leaving Sophia behind, i dont think he's been tampering with the vehicle the entire time
  October 16, 2011 at 11:49PM EST
GarySF

Wow, was thinking during the stomach-cutting scene how this show just loves to push the limits. I thought the guts scene in season 1 was one of the most disgusting things I've seen on television, but I think this outdid that.
October 16, 2011 at 11:09PM EST Reply to Comment
GarySF

Liked the zombie herd scene as much as the next guy, but thought that the walkers should've smelled all our survivors. Wasn't it established in episode two, Guts, that they can smell people, which is why Rick and Glenn coated themselves in zombie guts in the first place?
October 16, 2011 at 11:11PM EST Reply to Comment
- War Chief Shake Zula Hm. I smell inconsistency/plot hole. Maybe unspoken "zombies lose sense of smell over time" deal. Although I also remember something about "they need to visually observe their prey before they can put a smell to them"...or something.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:31PM EST
- Repeating myself I think the zombies can recognize you by scent in that if they see you and you don't smell like a rotting corpse, they will know something's up. I shouldn't think that they'd be able to locate humans by smell alone because most humans can't do that and I don't think zombification would appreciably enhance the senses.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:54PM EST
- War Chief Shake Zula Viable theory. But it needs to be laid out onscreen a little more clearly next time.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:57PM EST
- Yep It can get tricky to lay out too much exposition. Maybe they should just do what Game of Thrones does and have the characters talk about all that stuff while having sex.
  October 17, 2011 at 12:15AM EST
- JR I questioned that as well, but on the aftershow Robert Kirkman pretty much said that they're not bloodhounds, meaning they aren't just walking around trying to locate humans by scent. If they saw them and smelled them up close then they would be able to detect if they were human or not, otherwise they wouldn't, so hiding underneath a car would be good enough.
  October 17, 2011 at 1:36AM EST
- RU Serious The smell issue was problematic for me, until I started to remember that it wasn't that they were smelling for humans. They were smelling other zombies, and NOT smelling humans. It's like pitching off your breaking ball, it's backwards. The zombies see body and connect the smell to it. If they see a body with no corresponding dead smell, they identify it as a human. If they don't see a body, then they can't connect "no smell" to that object. It's just that there isn't anything to smell, so they keep going. Now, why show all the blood from TDog if you're (a) not going to make it a salient plot point (they ptached it up with what looked like a shin gaurd from a kid's soccer gear) or (b) the zombies can't smell it, I don't know. It seems pointless to show how much blood the guy lost if there's no ill effect, and if the threat can't use it as a tracer. It's just gore for gore's sake.
  October 17, 2011 at 10:09AM EST
- joel The smell-thing has been poorly established so far, but what I found glaring was the church: if the bell is going off automatically over and over again, that place should be zombie-central as the undead are (apparently) attracted to sound. But this also raises the question of why the electricity is still on weeks after society has melted down? Wouldn't public utilities be the first thing to fail if society broke down?
  October 17, 2011 at 2:45PM EST
- Abe I did wonder what was powering that bell.
  October 17, 2011 at 3:06PM EST
John

I have to say, Alan, I'm disappointed in myself. I was SURE your tagline was going to be "as soon as I put off a 'needs of the many outweigh the needs to few' discussion as long as I can..."
October 16, 2011 at 11:15PM EST Reply to Comment
War Chief Shake Zula

Feels good for this to be back on the air. Especially since every other genre show I've watched since last year's finale have amounted to a pile of s___.

I'd love to see how they progress from where w/ regards to Carl getting shot. There could be any number of interesting possibilities (although letting him die would be lame. He helps enhance the Shane/Lori dynamic).

That highway scene was intense.
October 16, 2011 at 11:28PM EST Reply to Comment
troopermsu

I liked the episode. Couple of questions: I thought the zombies could differentiate humans from zombies by scent. When Andrea stabbed the zombie in the eye, blood got all over her. Wouldn’t that infect her? Or is just the saliva that is poisonous?
October 16, 2011 at 11:31PM EST Reply to Comment
- My Opinion I think she'll be fine, but yeah I was definitely thinking that she'd want to rinse that stuff off. And I think the zombies can recognize you by scent in that if they see you and you don't smell like a rotting corpse, they will know something's up. I shouldn't think that they'd be able to locate humans by smell alone because most humans can't do that and I don't think zombification would appreciably enhance the senses.
  October 16, 2011 at 11:53PM EST
- Col Bat Guano Don't spend too much time trying to analyze how the infection is passed along. The show sure hasn't bothered to come up with a consistent explanation.
  October 17, 2011 at 12:01AM EST
- JR I thought that if you get their blood in your mouth then you could get infected, but I might be mistaken. Maybe I'm thinking of some other zombie movie.
  October 17, 2011 at 1:39AM EST
- Sr That would make sense, but it hasn't been established in the show as a means of transmission. In the second episode of season 1, they said not to get blood on their skin or in their mouths, but they may just have been trying to be cautious. Nobody in the series has been infected that way. You may be thinking of 28 Days Later.
  October 17, 2011 at 9:03AM EST
claire

Write a comment...*shock and awe* amazing... but loosing BOTH the children... really. Wow
October 16, 2011 at 11:32PM EST Reply to Comment
- JimAbbott'sRightHandMan I wondered before the Season 2 Premiere if something like this had to happen. If for no other reason than because of the child actors' aging, like why they had to come up with excuses to get rid of the kids on "Lost."
  October 17, 2011 at 7:12AM EST
- Ron Mexico As far as the kids growing that will be a very interesting issue. TWD seems setup for a healthy run, and if the storyline only advances weeks or a month over the course of entire seasons, the kids will start looking a bit strange...
  October 17, 2011 at 9:15AM EST
SirBrackalot

so can someone tell me what the dialogue was between Andrea and Dale this episode that was sooooo compelling, soooo wonderful, sooo amazing??? I was reading this post on facebook and don't want to be caught all a-ghast and gash-like without an answer...thanks.
October 16, 2011 at 11:49PM EST Reply to Comment
miamipuck

Alan,

Don't take this the wrong way but you should be nut punched for liking that first episode, it was bad.

BTW I was joking..........if anyone lacks a sense of humor...........Not about the EP is stunk.
October 16, 2011 at 11:52PM EST Reply to Comment
- miamipuck It stunk.......sorry.
  
  October 16, 2011 at 11:53PM EST
sam

The commercials were incredibly intrusive and excessive. I've never seen so many intrusive commercials in a premier. Especially a hit show like this!
October 17, 2011 at 12:00AM EST Reply to Comment
- Bobby Amen to that, too many commercials. I found myself wishing hbo or showtime had this series instead. Amc has way too many commercials!
  October 17, 2011 at 12:32AM EST
- Miles Was that your feeling during the first half hour or so when there were ZERO commercials? They were heavier in the back end of the episode because you didn't get any to start - I much prefer this way. Also, if you like a big-budget, low-ratings show, you should really appreciate every commercial.
  October 17, 2011 at 10:49AM EST
- Drew I hit fast forward on my DVR.
  October 17, 2011 at 1:27PM EST
- This show is incredibly expensive to produce, thus the need for all of the commercials.
  
  For commercial-free viewing, try an iTunes season pass. It's $23 and comes with web-only extras.
  October 17, 2011 at 9:04PM EST

Season premiere review: 'The Walking Dead' - 'What Lies Ahead': Deer, Jesus

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Alan Sepinwall Recaps & Reviews

Comments

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Ellby How did those zombies sneak up on them on the highway??

k_nguyen93 Yeah that part was confusing. You can argue Rick couldn't see because he was on the ground and Dale was watching Glen fix the RV and Shane find the water.

troopermsu The group had all moved forward into the mass of cars. Dale was on the lookout on top of the RV, but he was looking forward exclusively. I kept asking myself: "Why is he only looking forward and not to all directions?"

SirBrackalot I think they were just passing through...still....that curve in the road was quite large wasn't it...lol???

deadhead everyone looking forward and noone looking from where they just came...

Kevin I think no one looked in that general direction for about a minute, and that's long enough for a herd of zombies to sneak up on them.

namelol In the comic, herds would just head in any direction, there could of been one in the forest that heard the RV break down and they all started heading in that direction. The guy on the RV seemed like he was only looking forward.

Ted That was a waste of time. An hour and a half of wandering around the highway, with no plot advancement of any significance. Why in the world did they need an extended hour and a half for that? It seemed like a mid-season filler episode for when they're running low of plot ideas.

John What storyline wasn't advancing? As someone who hasn't read the comics, I don't even know what was being stalled, if anything. So please don't insult my intelligence as a viewer for disagreeing with you. I was very entertained for 90 minutes, and can't wait for the next episode.

sepinwall Folks, rule #1 around these parts: TALK ABOUT THE SHOW, NOT EACH OTHER.

blockparty gotta agree-- nothing happened this episode. and for the premiere of season 2, i was expecting something really great. this was not memorable at all.

SirBrackalot Also, I thought that all brain function was dead except for basic functioning??? So what was the zombie on the RV looking around for with such an inquisitive search, eyes full of wonderment and analytical reasoning...Shouldn't he be bumping into things, chewing on stuff...just sayin"

Sourabh It had to have been a great episode, because despite not having any plot advancement, it was still immensely entertaining.

gershomatl I agree with sirbrackalot. I was thinking the same thing when I saw that. That was bad zombie acting (if there is such a thing).

Kitty O Preach it, Rufus Jones I agree with everything (except the "Negro" appellation--what decade is this?). What makes this show so frustrating is that it *could* be good, but there are so many ridiculous, obvious things wrong with it.

@jeremythesollie What is it with Darabont and shooting children?!

CrdCollctr Don't know if this qualifies as a spoiler, and if it does, I apologize, but this wasn't exactly Darabont. It came from the comic. Not exactly frame for frame, but Carl was shot in the woods by an at the time unknown shooter in one of the early issues.

Zombie #1 That ending was awesome and the character development is really getting better. I hate Sophia's mother, she's useless.

Brandon Hate Carol?! Are you kidding? She's one of the characters who shows great potential! You must be mad!

Jim No way. Carol is dead weight.

SirBrackalot I know, just "my daughter, where's my daughter...I have to live for my daughter...LOL"

Elevation I'd be fine at this point with Carol, Sophia, and Dale all turning into zombies. They are about as useful as a broomstick to the group at this point.

Def Dale repairs stuff.

gershomatl Walt...my boy...have you seen my son?

Dave I Hey Gershomatl, Claire came to mind for some reason as well.

Stef I'm so happy this show is back. I really noticed the silence and stillness you discussed, it worked very well this episode. I can't think of another show that juxtaposes such moments of beauty with horror and tragedy the way this one does.

Brandon I can't agree more!

Sheldon They better not chicken out and have the shooter end up to be a kindly surgeon or something...

RT It'll be a hapless farm hand ...

JB It's be awesome if it were Merle (whom we haven't seen since the pilot episode of season 1).

BJ Merle was in episode 2. Pilot was mostly just Rick.

Fuzzbrain Just being honest, I would have rather watched an hour long episode with limited commercials than a 90 min episode with 30 minutes of commercials. The makeup work in this show is top-notch; the show is practically surviving on the visuals.

sam God the commercials were horrible!

SirBrackalot true, it's all about the makeup and special effects...right on fuzzbrain!

JR I agree, this easily could have been a one hour episode with less commercials like the premiere last season. They also could have shortened or cut some of the scenes later in the episode that dragged a bit to make it a tighter, better episode.

k_nguyen93 They were surrounded by zombies remember?

Chapel Hill There probably wasn't enough time to hotwire one of those Humvees, especially since there was no guarantee they were in working order, but I'd have definitely tried to pick up a couple of M-16's.

chuckie Yeah, there were a couple of times when I thought "if these people are humanity's last hope, we are doomed." But I still enjoy the show.

Chapel Hill Agreed that their survival skills leave something to be desired, but then again, the security of a humvee might be outweighed somewhat by their fuel inefficiency. The cars they came with may indeed have been the better choice.

Military Humvees don't have keys, just a knob that turns like an ignition switch, so hot-wiring was not necessary, but I'm with Chapel Hill, if fuel is at a premium, leave the Humvees alone, about 8 mpg plus they're diesel which would be harder to find than gasoline

JB Matt - agreed. And now that they're on that empty stretch of highway - with like a zillion cars on it - why don't they ditch the always-breaking-down camper for a better vehicle??

BJ You can live in the camper. I'd rather sleep in that than in a tent.

Mark in Omaha No it's perfectly conceivable unless you were using a military round. For hunting you use a nosed round that will flatten out causing massive damage but does not simply go out the other side with no change to its speed or trajectory.

Mark in Omaha I meant "not pefectly conceivable".

Brandon I really enjoyed this premiere episode! The character development was excellent, and I can't wait to see more! I love all the characters, and the whole show in general.

Trilby You are easy to please, or a friend of the showrunner.

Jim Alan, I really wish you didn't have to qualify your enjoyment of the show with talk about how it's genre work. You can enjoy the show on its own merits. Prefacing each review with the eye wink towards its seemingly inferior subject matter as if to keep it at arms length is getting old.

Mij I like the show for what it is, but I don't think it will ever transcend the limitations of the genre. It accomplishes most of what it sets out to do, and in that sense it's a success, but given the subject matter, I don't think we'll ever be able to call it a great show.

MIJ Dale, Andrea, the lady who had the abusive husband, her daughter, and TJ are all characters who could die and it probably wouldn't bother me. Not a great sign. The show would be improved immeasurably if I actually cared about them.

dead souls This show isn't enjoyable on its own merits. The premiere was a total snooze.

J Dear God, so many commercials....... I don't know how you viewed it Alan, but the slow feel got completely interrupted by the seemingly copious amount of commercial interruptions, especially in the last half hour.

k_nguyen93 Don't the press get kits? Pretty sure that's the case because someone leaked it online last year.

troopermsu I used the FF button on my DVR.

I find the easiest way to enjoy the show is downloading it via iTunes season pass.

SazzyMCH I loved it, and am so glad it's back for a proper season. The slow, quiet highway scene was just brilliant.

Except it isn't back for a proper season. It's back for a half season, followed by a 3 month break, then the second half of the season.

k_nguyen93 The zombies couldn't smell T-Dog after Daryl put the zombie body on him. Remember the guts in season 1?

If you don't like the commercials I recommend an iTunes season pass.

zombieeee CSI: Deadlanta

GarySF This show is definitely better on DVD than with all the commercials. The frequent breaks tonight were just aggravating. Season 1, Ep.1 on the DVD was a mere 67 minutes long, I'm guessing this was about 62 or 63.

Sheri "Came onto her"???That was assault. Not an advance.Also, what species of deer was that?

trustmeimadoctor I believe it was a long horned thestral, a.k.a. Carcharadon carcharias.

SirBrackalot that was the fake ass antler species...LOL

Tiffany Thank you! That was very close to being rape.

Al Capone What! F@ckin deers......

Mark in Omaha It wasn't a White-tail, the rack was wrong.

zombee CSI: Deadlanta

Doug Funny Please stop making this joke.

Sheri "came onto her"????That was assault, not an advance. Also, what species of deer was that?

LindyK Guilt and redemption,that's what it's all about.

Trilby Well, there was the preceeding marathon to re-establish. After watching a few of those, the premier was just more of the same. I'm out.

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The Walking Dead is updated

Ellby

How did those zombies sneak up on them on the highway??

Ted

That was a waste of time. An hour and a half of wandering around the highway, with no plot advancement of any significance. Why in the world did they need an extended hour and a half for that? It seemed like a mid-season filler episode for when they're running low of plot ideas.

Kitty O Preach it, Rufus Jones I agree with everything (except the "Negro" appellation--what decade is this?). What makes this show so frustrating is that it could be good, but there are so many ridiculous, obvious things wrong with it.

@jeremythesollie

What is it with Darabont and shooting children?!

Zombie #1

That ending was awesome and the character development is really getting better. I hate Sophia's mother, she's useless.

Stef

I'm so happy this show is back. I really noticed the silence and stillness you discussed, it worked very well this episode. I can't think of another show that juxtaposes such moments of beauty with horror and tragedy the way this one does.

Sheldon

They better not chicken out and have the shooter end up to be a kindly surgeon or something...

Fuzzbrain

Just being honest, I would have rather watched an hour long episode with limited commercials than a 90 min episode with 30 minutes of commercials. The makeup work in this show is top-notch; the show is practically surviving on the visuals.

Brandon

I really enjoyed this premiere episode! The character development was excellent, and I can't wait to see more! I love all the characters, and the whole show in general.

Jim

Alan, I really wish you didn't have to qualify your enjoyment of the show with talk about how it's genre work. You can enjoy the show on its own merits. Prefacing each review with the eye wink towards its seemingly inferior subject matter as if to keep it at arms length is getting old.

J

Dear God, so many commercials....... I don't know how you viewed it Alan, but the slow feel got completely interrupted by the seemingly copious amount of commercial interruptions, especially in the last half hour.

SazzyMCH

I loved it, and am so glad it's back for a proper season. The slow, quiet highway scene was just brilliant.

zombieeee

CSI: Deadlanta

GarySF

This show is definitely better on DVD than with all the commercials. The frequent breaks tonight were just aggravating. Season 1, Ep.1 on the DVD was a mere 67 minutes long, I'm guessing this was about 62 or 63.

Sheri

"Came onto her"???
That was assault. Not an advance.
Also, what species of deer was that?

zombee

CSI: Deadlanta

Sheri

"came onto her"????
That was assault, not an advance.
Also, what species of deer was that?

LindyK

Guilt and redemption,that's what it's all about.

GarySF

Wow, was thinking during the stomach-cutting scene how this show just loves to push the limits. I thought the guts scene in season 1 was one of the most disgusting things I've seen on television, but I think this outdid that.

GarySF

Liked the zombie herd scene as much as the next guy, but thought that the walkers should've smelled all our survivors. Wasn't it established in episode two, Guts, that they can smell people, which is why Rick and Glenn coated themselves in zombie guts in the first place?

John

I have to say, Alan, I'm disappointed in myself. I was SURE your tagline was going to be "as soon as I put off a 'needs of the many outweigh the needs to few' discussion as long as I can..."

troopermsu

I liked the episode. Couple of questions: I thought the zombies could differentiate humans from zombies by scent. When Andrea stabbed the zombie in the eye, blood got all over her. Wouldn’t that infect her? Or is just the saliva that is poisonous?

claire

Write a comment...shock and awe amazing... but loosing BOTH the children... really. Wow

SirBrackalot

so can someone tell me what the dialogue was between Andrea and Dale this episode that was sooooo compelling, soooo wonderful, sooo amazing??? I was reading this post on facebook and don't want to be caught all a-ghast and gash-like without an answer...thanks.

miamipuck

Alan,

Don't take this the wrong way but you should be nut punched for liking that first episode, it was bad.

BTW I was joking..........if anyone lacks a sense of humor...........Not about the EP is stunk.

sam

The commercials were incredibly intrusive and excessive. I've never seen so many intrusive commercials in a premier. Especially a hit show like this!