[US TV] The Walking Dead

[karohemd]

Just watched the first episode and it was excellent.
They got the atmosphere right, the prosthetics effects are very good (just a shame the splatter is CGI, it never looks right), the acting is good and the writing is excellent (actually better than the comic). This is where the important bit comes in in horror: you care/feel about the characters, be they the good guys or the twats, i.e. there are people you like and want to live and those you want to die painfully (just one so far, readers of the comic will know who I mean).
The first episode loosely follows the first and a half issues (Rick rides into Atlanta and meets the horde), with some padding that works very well for setting the atmosphere.



- first major change: TV: Rick shoots the zombie outside the police station (behind the chainlink fence) while in the comic Morgan prevents him. TV: it's a cop (apparently one Rick didn't like). Comic: random guy in dungarees.
- annoying change: when Rick is on his way to Atlanta, they cut ahead to the camp outside the city and Shane kisses Lori in the tent
- when Rick rides into Atlanta, he sees a helicopter before the zombies close in. Where did that come from? (Note: I've only read up to issue 22)
- I assume the guy on the radio at the end of the ep will turn out ot be Glenn.

Comments

[nelladarren.livejournal.com]

Who is the annoying character? I haven't read the comic (I don't have the patience for comic books) and just from seeing episode one there was no one I immediately want to die painfully. :o)))

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Hm, maybe it's not as obvious in the TV version, after all, but it's Shane (dark haired guy who kissed Lori in the tent).

[nelladarren.livejournal.com]

Oh, right - I disliked him in the very first scene but it's not always easy to determine if a character is meant to be an arse or if he behaves like one because the writers think that's how a good ol' chap *is supposed to* behave. :o)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Good thing I know what happens to him (which hopefully they won't change). ;o)
Interestingly, his arsiness is only revealed later in the comic which starts with the shootout that only lasts a couple of panels and has basically no dialogue to speak of.

[devalmont.livejournal.com]

I can confidently say that the helicopter is relevant later on. I've read up to #48 because Kim's parents very kindly gave it to me when I was last up there (Kim's dad working for a comic company is AWESOME.)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Right, thanks.
And yes, that is awesome.